The recent European Medicines Agency (EMA) approval of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, axicabtagene ciloleucel and tisagenlecleucel, means the imminent arrival of health technology assessment (HTA) submissions to HTA agencies. HTA requires identification of all resources and organizational impacts pertaining to an intervention. Rapid review is a form of knowledge synthesis that abbreviates certain methodological aspects of systematic reviews to produce information in a timelier manner. Considering the time-sensitive nature of CAR T-cell HTAs, the aim of this research was to conduct a rapid review to identify the institutional requirements for the provision of a CAR T-cell program.

A Rapid Review protocol was developed and registered in PROSPERO. Electronic databases, EMBASE and MEDLINE, and grey literature were searched. All study designs published in English after the year 2000 were included. Studies pertained to the use of CAR T-cells in adult and pediatric patients with solid and hematological malignancies. No restrictions were placed on the comparators or study setting. Primary outcomes were organized into two categories: (i) resource use, (ii) processes relating to implementation of CAR T-cell programs. Secondary outcomes included associated costs of implementation and barriers to successful implementation. Screening, review, and extraction of relevant data was conducted by a single reviewer. Extracted data included publication details, population and setting, study characteristics, outcomes and outcome measures, and strengths and limitations of research. Data was synthesized by means of thematic analysis.

Results indicate that the provision of a CAR T-cell program in Ireland will require the establishment of bespoke infrastructural support. This includes additional outpatient facilities, ICU resources, and nursing capacity. Close relationships will need to be formed between hematology, ICU and neurology.

The findings of this Rapid Review will inform the assessment of organizational impacts associated with the introduction of a CAR T-cell program, ensuring a robust HTA assessment.