CAR T-Cell Therapy for Cancer: Updates and Challenges for Response Assessment

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment landscape for multiple hematologic malignancies, demonstrating a clear curative potential in select cases. Since 2017, 7 CAR T-cell products have indications approved by the Food and Drug Administration, and research is continuously evolving with the intent of enhancing CAR T-cell efficacy while reducing side effects and the risk of relapse. Nuclear medicine has played a crucial role throughout this optimization process, assisting initial staging, treatment response assessment, and adverse-effect monitoring. This review provides an introduction to CAR T-cell therapy and highlights gold-standard nuclear medicine practices and imaging innovations for use in the care of oncology patients. Additionally, it emphasizes the need for continuing innovation in medical imaging as the field progresses.