CAR-T cell therapy marks medical milestone at LUMC
Leiden University Medical Centre (LUMC) has taken an important step in the application of innovative cell therapies: for the first time in the Netherlands, a patient with a severe autoimmune disease has been treated with CAR-T cells. This treatment was carried out within the centre of expertise for neurological lupus and marks a possible breakthrough for patients for whom regular therapies are insufficient. The use of CAR-T cell therapy, which is already being used successfully in oncology, may offer new perspectives for conditions in which the immune system attacks the body. Thanks to years of investment in knowledge, infrastructure and collaboration between haematologists and rheumatologists, the LUMC is the first centre in the Netherlands to be able to apply this advanced therapy clinically for autoimmune diseases.
From cancer care to autoimmune diseases
CAR-T cell therapy was originally developed for the treatment of certain types of cancer, in which modified T cells specifically target and destroy cancer cells. Promising results have now been achieved abroad in patients with autoimmune diseases, such as lupus, in which the immune system attacks the body itself. Although CAR-T has only been used for cancer in the Netherlands so far, the recent treatment at the LUMC represents an important breakthrough. For the first time, this cell therapy has been used in a patient with a severe autoimmune disease, exploring a new treatment pathway.
Breakthrough in treatment
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In February 2025, the LUMC became the first hospital in the Netherlands to treat a patient with a severe autoimmune disease using CAR-T cell therapy. Thanks to a one-off authorisation, the innovative treatment could be used on someone with neurological lupus. The results are promising: the autoantibodies disappeared and the patient showed clear physical improvement. This milestone marks an important step towards future clinical studies.
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In lupus, the immune system produces harmful antibodies against the body itself. This is caused by so-called auto-reactive B cells. CAR-T cell therapy focuses on eliminating these B cells. In this treatment, the patient's own T cells are genetically modified so that they specifically recognise and destroy the disease-causing B cells — even in hard-to-reach tissues such as the spinal cord or organs. CAR-T may thus offer long-term remission or even a cure for serious autoimmune diseases such as lupus.
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Following the initial successful treatment, the LUMC is investigating how CAR-T cell therapy can be used more widely in autoimmune diseases. New clinical studies are being prepared to further test its safety and effectiveness. In addition, work is being done on standardisation, reimbursement and wider application within the Netherlands. The aim is to make CAR-T available to more patients with difficult-to-treat autoimmune diseases in the long term.
