CAR-T cell therapy is one of the most advanced treatments for certain blood cancers. It uses a patient’s own immune system — specially modified T-cells — to find and destroy cancer cells. For B-cell cancers such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, two common targets are CD19 and CD22.

What is CD19 CAR-T?

  • Main use: CD19 CAR-T is the most established form of CAR-T therapy. It is widely used for B-cell ALL in children and young adults, and for certain types of B-cell lymphoma in adults.
  • How it works: The modified T-cells are programmed to attack cancer cells that display the CD19 marker.
  • Limitation: Some patients relapse if their cancer cells stop expressing CD19.

What is CD22 CAR-T?

  • Main use: CD22 CAR-T is usually considered when patients relapse after CD19 therapy, or if their cancer cells do not show CD19 anymore.
  • How it works: The T-cells are engineered to target the CD22 protein instead.
  • Advantage: Provides a new option for patients who no longer respond to CD19 therapy.

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Key Difference Between CD19 and CD22 CAR-T

CD19 CAR-T → Often the first-line CAR-T therapy for B-cell cancers.
CD22 CAR-T → An option for patients who relapse or lose CD19 expression.
Both approaches give doctors more tools to fight relapsed or resistant disease.

CAR-T in Israel

Israeli hospitals provide access to both CD19 and CD22 CAR-T therapies for international patients. Treatment choice depends on the type of cancer, previous treatments, and the patient’s unique medical situation.

Key Sources

  1. Relapse and Resistance to CAR-T Cells and Blinatumomab in ALL - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  2. Anti-CD22 CAR-T Cell Therapy as a Salvage Treatment in B Cell - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  3. A systematic review and meta-analysis of CD22 CAR T-cells alone - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  4. CD19/CD22 targeting with cotransduced CAR T cells to prevent antigen-negative relapse after CAR T-cell therapy for B-cell ALL - pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
  5. CD22-Directed CAR T-cell Therapy Overcomes CD19 Relapse in LBCL - targetedonc.com

Date of publication: October 21, 2025