About Your CAR T Cell Harvesting

This information will help you get ready for your CAR T cell collection (harvesting) at MSK. It explains what to expect before, during, and after your procedure.

CAR T cell harvesting is a procedure that collects T cells (a type of white blood cell). They will be sent to a lab to have a new gene added to them. This is called genetic modification. The new gene will help them find and kill cancer cells. Once the T cells have this new gene, they are called CAR T cells.

For more information, read CAR T Cell Therapy: A Guide for Adult Patients & Caregivers

T Cell Harvesting Procedure

Your harvesting procedure will be at one of these locations:

MSK Schwartz Building Lobby
1250 1^st Ave. (between East 67^th and East 68^th streets)
New York, NY 10065
212-639-7643

Apheresis Unit on the 12th floor
David H. Koch Center for Cancer Care at Memorial Sloan Kettering
530 East 74^th Street (between York Avenue and the East River)
New York, NY 10021
646-608-3142

Before Your T Cell Harvesting Procedure

Blood donor room appointment

Most people have their T cells harvested using an intravenous (IV) catheter, also called an IV line. This is a thin, flexible tube that’s put into a vein in your arm.

At your Blood Donor Room appointment, a nurse will check the veins in your arms to see if they’re healthy enough for the procedure. If they’re not healthy enough (for example, they’re too small), then we will not use IV lines for your harvest.

Instead, you will have a leukapheresis (LOO-kuh-feh-REE-sis) catheter placed into a large vein in your upper chest. A leukapheresis catheter is a type of IV catheter.

The catheter will be placed before your procedure and removed a few hours after your procedure. Your care team will give you more information, along with the resource About Your Tunneled Catheter

Eat high-calcium foods

As your T cells are harvested, your blood calcium level (the amount of calcium in your blood) may drop. On the day before and the day of your procedure, have food or drinks high in calcium, such as dairy products. You should also bring a high-calcium snack to eat or drink during your procedure. This can help keep the level of calcium in your blood from getting too low during your procedure.

If you are between the ages of 19 and 50, you should aim to have 1,000 mg (milligrams) of calcium every day. After age 50, you should aim to have 1,200 mg of calcium every day.

It’s also important to drink enough liquids before your procedure. This will make it easier for your nurse to place the IV lines for your procedure. You can tell if you’re drinking enough liquids by checking the color of your urine (pee). If it’s pale yellow or lighter, you’re drinking enough. If it’s darker, you need to drink more.

During Your T Cell Harvesting Procedure

Your procedure will be done while you’re on a bed or in a recliner chair. You can watch TV, read, or use your smartphone or tablet during your procedure. A family member or friend may sit with you. If you feel cold, you can ask for blankets to keep you warm.

You will be connected to a machine by your IV line, leukapheresis catheter, or central venous catheter (CVC). The machine will take the T cells out of your blood then return the rest of your blood to your body. At the same time, you will get blood thinner medication through your IV line or catheter. This will help prevent blood clots.

Your procedure will take about 3 to 5 hours. During this time, your donor room nurse will watch for side effects and give you medications if you need them. If you get numbness or tingling in your fingertips or around your mouth, tell your donor room nurse. These are signs that your calcium level is low. Your donor room nurse can give you calcium tablets to help with this.

After Your T Cell Harvesting Procedure

If you had IV lines in your arms, your donor room nurse will remove them and apply bandages to prevent bleeding. Leave the bandages on for at least 3 hours. Do not leave them on for longer than 5 hours. That can cut off your circulation (blood flow).

If there is bleeding when you remove the bandages, apply gentle but firm pressure on the IV sites. Press firmly on the sites with a clean, dry gauze pad, towel, or cloth. Keep pressing for 3 to 5 minutes, applying pressure until the bleeding stops. If the bleeding does not stop, call your healthcare provider.

After a harvesting session, you may have bruising at your IV sites. You may also feel tired. Ask your healthcare provider when you can go back to doing your regular activities. Most people can do so right away.

Use cold washcloths or icepacks to help reduce swelling or bruising at the needle site during the first 24 hours. If discomfort continues after 24 hours, apply heat, such as a warm washcloth or a heating pad.

If you had a leukapheresis catheter, your donor room nurse will schedule an appointment to remove it soon after your harvest.

When to Call Your Healthcare Provider

Call your healthcare provider if you have any of the following:

• A fever of 100.4 °F (38 °C) or higher.
• Flu-like symptoms.
• Any redness, bleeding, drainage, swelling, or pain around your catheter site or at the IV sites.
• Numbness or tingling in your lips, hands, or feet.
• A lot of pain on the left side of your body.
• A bad headache or any neurological (nerve) changes, such as:
  • Changes in vision.
  • Changes in short-term or long-term memory.
  • Changes in mobility (your ability to move).
  • A hard time speaking.
  • Any other concerning symptoms.