bridging therapy
Interim treatment given while awaiting definitive therapy, commonly used before CAR-T cell therapy availability.
Full Definition
Bridging therapy refers to temporary treatment administered to control disease progression while awaiting the manufacture and delivery of definitive cellular therapy, particularly CAR-T cell products. The manufacturing process for personalized cellular therapies can take several weeks, during which aggressive hematologic malignancies may progress rapidly. Bridging therapy aims to maintain disease control without compromising the patient's performance status or eligibility for subsequent definitive treatment. Options include reduced-intensity chemotherapy, targeted agents, or radiation therapy, selected based on disease characteristics and patient factors.
Usage
Usage note: Always use as compound noun; avoid 'bridge therapy' variant
In Context
- "The patient received bridging therapy with ibrutinib while awaiting CAR-T cell manufacturing." — Treatment plan documentation
- "Effective bridging therapy prevented disease progression during the four-week manufacturing period." — Clinical outcomes report