BiTE therapy is becoming more widely used, especially with blood cancers (think things like leukemia, lymphoma, or multiple myeloma). It can also be used with certain solid tumors (such as lung cancer). BiTE stands for bispecific antibody therapy. These types of treatments are also known simply as “bispecifics.” While there are different forms of these treatments, many are immunotherapies. Bispecific therapies are man-made proteins that have two arms which allow them to work on two different things in the body at once.

BiTE treatments can help the immune system work directly against cancer cells in the body. The antibodies bring your immune cells and cancer cells together, enabling the T-cells in the body (part of the immune system) to attach to the cancer cells. The T-cells then destroy the cancer cells.

BiTE therapy can have side effects such as cytokine-release syndrome or CRS. This can be serious, and the healthcare team monitors patients closely for this when they are undergoing BiTE therapy, especially with the first treatment. Symptoms of cytokine release syndrome include fever and low blood pressure. The patient may develop chills or have a fever. Another possible side effect of BiTE therapy is ICANS which is a neurological side effect. It stands for immune cell associated neurotoxicity syndrome. ICANS can happen with CAR T-cell therapy as well. There is a range of ICANS symptoms. Not everyone who gets BiTE therapy will have ICANS. It can manifest quickly or slowly, and can make it difficult to write or speak.

Learn more about BiTE therapy here:

https://www.elyriahoc.com/our-services/bite-therapy

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/bispecific-antibody-therapy/about/pac-20594103

Bispecifics are often used when other treatments stop working. They are showing promise with other cancers as well! Researchers continue to study these drugs and expand their uses.

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