Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cells are a promising immunotherapeutic option in relapsed/refractory lymphoproliferative diseases but are associated with significant toxicity. In part of the patients, CAR-T infusion is followed by excessive inflammation that leads to endothelial activation towards a prothrombotic phenotype.

This project aims at investigating the role of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in this life-threatening reactions, by assessing the ability of circulating EVs obtained from patients with lymphoproliferative diseases undergoing CAR-T cell treatment to promote a pro-thrombotic behavior in functional endothelial assays recently developed in our lab. The correlation between EV profile and clinical outcomes will provide insights useful to develop EVs as biomarkers to be used in patient selection and follow-up.