Smart Cells, Smarter Trials: How CAR-T Cell Therapy And Digital Health Are Changing Cancer Care

By Viani Figueroa Vazquez and Anthony T. Everhart

CAR-T cell therapy represents a revolutionary shift in oncology, reprogramming a patient’s own immune system to recognize and destroy cancer cells. As of 2025, seven CAR-T therapies have received FDA approval for various blood cancers, delivering unprecedented remission rates in diseases once deemed incurable. With over 1,200 CAR-T candidates in global development and expanding applications in solid tumors and autoimmune diseases, the field stands at a pivotal inflection point.

Yet CAR-T’s success depends on more than biology; it relies on digital innovation to ensure safety, equity, and patient-centered care. Tools such as real-time symptom diaries and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) enable continuous monitoring, early detection of adverse events, and improved regulatory reporting. These digital solutions have supported clinical development for three of the seven currently approved CAR-T therapies, powering critical trial operations from randomization and supply management to patient engagement.

As the next generation of cell-based therapies emerges, integrating digital health technologies will be essential for advancing efficacy, safety, and patient experience — bringing the transformative potential of CAR-T to more patients worldwide.