Ochsner LSU Health–Feist-Weiller Cancer Center in Shreveport, Louisiana, is now providing CAR T-cell (Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell) therapy to eligible patients in the Shreveport-Bossier area and across North Louisiana.

What is CAR T Cell Therapy?

CAR T therapy is designed to enhance the immune system’s ability to recognize and target cancer cells more effectively. It works by collecting a patient’s own infection-fighting white blood cells, called T-cells, and modifying them to recognize and attack the specific proteins found on the patient’s cancer cells.

These modified cells are then multiplied and infused back into the patient’s bloodstream, where they seek and destroy cancer cells. This treatment is like a targeted, living medicine made specifically for each patient.

A Breakthrough for North Louisiana

Ochsner LSU Health is the sole provider of CAR T therapy and other blood cancer treatments in the region. Having advanced treatments available locally reduces the burden of travel for patients in North Louisiana and surrounding communities.

Research shows that when patients can receive cancer treatment close to home, supported by their families and communities, health outcomes improve. Patients who maintain strong social support systems are more likely to complete their treatment plans, manage side effects effectively, and experience better overall quality of life during and after care.

According to David Callecod, Ochsner LSU Health CEO, “This is a defining moment for healthcare in North Louisiana. Our community deserves access to the same life-saving treatments available anywhere in the country, and we are proud to deliver exactly that.”

Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.