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Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has transformed cancer treatment, yet relatively few studies have investigated the impact of the therapy on longitudinal patient quality of life – an aspect of care that often suffers from receiving traditional intensive cancer medications, such as chemotherapy. 
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A new study shows that some effective cancer treatments, such as CAR-T cells, significantly improve quality of life six months after receiving therapy. To conduct the study, researchers recruited 103 patients aged 23 to 90 years with a diagnosis of blood cancer from April 2019 to November 2021. The researchers administered self-reported questionnaires measuring quality of life variables at time intervals including before CAR-T cell infusion and one week, one month, three months, and six months after CAR-T cell infusion. Quality of life was measured using a 27-item questionnaire known as the General Cancer Therapy Functional Assessment, which is composed of four different subscales (physical, functional, emotional, and social). Psychological distress was measured using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Finally, major depressive symptoms were measured using the PHQ-9, and symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder were measured using the Posttraumatic Stress Checklist. While most study participants eventually experienced an improvement in quality of life, approximately 20% of patients experienced persistent physical and psychological symptoms, which at times interfered with their quality of life.