Navigating AE Management for Cellular Therapy Across Hematologic Cancers

In a conversation with CancerNetwork® at the 2025 National Immune Cell Effector Therapy Conference, Tiba Al Sagheer, PharmD, BCOP, BCACP; Rebecca Gonzalez, PharmD, BCOP, FASTCT; and Syeda Saba Kareem, PharmD, BCOP, spoke about their presentations on managing adverse effects (AEs) across different hematologic malignancy populations. At the meeting, Al Sagheer, Gonzalez, and Kareem presented their ideas for treating patients with lymphoma, leukemia, and multiple myeloma, respectively.1-3

Al Sagheer is a pharmacy quality improvement coordinator and transplant/cellular therapy and hematology clinical pharmacy specialist at Miami Cancer Institute of Baptist Health South Florida. Gonzalez is a clinical pharmacy specialist in blood and marrow transplantation and cellular immunotherapy at Moffitt Cancer Center. Kareem is a clinical pharmacy supervisor in malignant hematology at Moffitt Cancer Center.

Across different disease states, the presenters outlined the most common toxicities associated with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, bispecific antibodies, and other novel immunotherapies. Additionally, they described strategies for reducing the severity of AEs such as cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome as well as other oral, dermatological, and nail toxicities. Other key considerations for preserving quality of life among those receiving cellular therapy included risk-stratifying patients based on tumor burden and inflammatory markers at baseline to inform prophylactic measures.

Each presenter shared key takeaways for treating patients who experience treatment-related AEs based on their individual presentations. Al Sagheer emphasized that it is not “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to therapy, as providers must tailor their use of specific drugs, prophylactic measures, and anti-infective medication to each individual patient. Kareem noted that cellular therapy represents an evolving field, as toxicity mitigation strategies will continue to change over time as new data emerge. Finally, Gonzalez underscored the intimate nature of the cellular therapy field, which presents opportunities to collaborate with other institutions and receive guidance on managing complex cases.

References

1. Al Sagheer T. Mastering the management of adverse effects from cellular therapies in lymphoma. Presented at: 2025 National Immune Cell Effector Therapy Conference; July 26, 2025; Orlando, FL.
2. Gonzalez R. Navigating the challenges: managing adverse effects of cellular therapies in ALL. Presented at: 2025 National Immune Cell Effector Therapy Conference; July 26, 2025; Orlando, FL.
3. Kareem SS. Management of adverse events of CAR-T and T-cell engagers in myeloma. Presented at: 2025 National Immune Cell Effector Therapy Conference; July 26, 2025; Orlando, FL.