Open AccessUse of a maturity model for facilitating the introduction of CAR T-cell therapy—Results of the START CAR-T project
Author(s) -
Stéfania Bramanti,
Matteo Giovanni Carrabba,
Alice Di Rocco,
Elena Fabris,
Luca Gastaldi,
Paolo Locatelli,
Maria Chiara Tisi
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
global and regional health technology assessment
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2283-5733
pISSN - 2284-2403
DOI - 10.33393/grhta.2022.2340
Subject(s) - generalizability theory , chimeric antigen receptor , maturity (psychological) , medicine , cell therapy , health care , multidisciplinary approach , process management , immunotherapy , cancer , psychology , business , cell , developmental psychology , social science , genetics , sociology , biology , economics , economic growth
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies are novel immunotherapies for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. They are administered in specialized centers by a multidisciplinary team and require the careful coordination of all steps involved in manufacturing and using cellular therapies. The Maturity Model (MM) is a tool developed and used for assessing the effectiveness of a variety of activities. In healthcare, it may assist clinicians in the gradual improvement of patient management with CAR T-cell therapy and other complex treatments.Methods: The START CAR-T project was initiated to investigate the potential of a MM in the setting of CAR T-cell therapy. Four Italian clinics participated in the creation of a dedicated MM. Following the development and test of this MM, its validity and generalizability were further tested with a questionnaire submitted to 18 Italian centers.Results: The START CAR-T MM assessed the maturity level of clinical sites, with a focus on organization, process, and digital support. For each area, the model defined four maturity steps, and indicated the actions required to evolve from a basic to an advanced status. The application of the MM to 18 clinical sites provided a description of the maturity level of Italian centers with regard to the introduction of CAR T-cell therapy.Conclusion: The START CAR-T MM appears to be a useful and widely applicable tool. It may help centers optimize many aspects of CAR T-cell therapy and improve patient access to this novel treatment option.