According to the National Cancer Institute, the foundations of cancer treatment have typically been surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Now, however, immunotherapy has become what many in the cancer community now call the "fifth pillar" of cancer treatment.One that is emerging onto the scene is an approach called adoptive cell transfer (ACT), collecting and using patients' own immune cells to treat their cancer. There are several types of ACT, but the one that seems to be closest to producing a treatment approved by the Food and Drug Administration is called CAR T-cell therapy.In this fascinating segment, Dr.Shalini Shenoy discusses this exciting new therapy, when it might be available to the public, and when to refer to a specialist.
