Baton Rouge, La.-based Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute — part of FMOL Health — was the first in Louisiana to administer CAR-T therapy in an outpatient setting.
Two leaders from the cancer institute, Nakhle Saba, MD, and Susan Foret, shared more about the milestone with Becker’s and what it means for the future of cancer care in Louisiana.
Dr. Saba is the director of the lymphoma and CAR-T program, and Ms. Foret serves as vice president of the cancer institute.
Editor’s note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: CAR-T has traditionally required inpatient monitoring because of toxicity risk. What gave your team confidence that outpatient delivery could be done safely?
Dr. Nakhle Saba: CAR-T therapy has traditionally required inpatient monitoring due to toxicity risk but growing national experience and updates to REMS requirements have made outpatient delivery possible for carefully selected patients. Our confidence was built through the development of a comprehensive outpatient cellular therapy program supported by a dedicated cell therapy unit, highly trained multidisciplinary teams, and our experience safely managing advanced immunotherapies in the outpatient setting.
Patients must meet strict safety criteria, including clinical stability, caregiver support and temporary lodging near the hospital for rapid access to care. Following infusion, patients undergo daily evaluations, remote vital sign monitoring and scheduled telehealth check-ins, with 24/7 clinical access and immediate inpatient admission available if complications arise.
This highly structured approach allows us to safely expand access to CAR-T therapy while keeping patients close to home and their support systems.
Q: From a health system perspective, what does transitioning CAR-T to the outpatient setting represent strategically?
Susan Foret: FMOL Health has engaged in a system collaboration to ensure that the cutting-edge treatment options are available for our cancer patients. The implementation of the CAR-T outpatient program at FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute reflects a coordination of care to ensure safe delivery for the time that the patient is diagnosed through their recovery phase.
Intensive training, coordination of resources, both inpatient and outpatient, and ancillary services have met several times weekly over the past 18 months in preparation for this program to ensure the best outcomes for the patients that we are honored to serve.
Q: What does having outpatient CAR-T available locally mean for your patient population and community?
NS: Having outpatient CAR-T therapy available locally at FMOL Health | Our Lady of the Lake Cancer Institute is transformative for our patients and community. Historically, many patients needed to travel long distances or remain hospitalized for extended periods to receive this level of treatment. Delivering CAR-T therapy in an outpatient setting allows eligible patients to access highly advanced cellular immunotherapy while remaining close to home, their families and established support systems.
For patients undergoing complex cancer treatment, maintaining that connection to home and community can significantly improve both the treatment experience and overall recovery, while expanding access to care across our region.
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