Cancer Center Offers Outpatient CAR-T Cell Therapy

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Baton Rouge becomes first in region to provide groundbreaking treatment without hospital stay.

Feb. 6, 2026 at 1:15am

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Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has become the first facility in the region to offer CAR-T cell therapy, a personalized immunotherapy for blood cancers, entirely in an outpatient setting. This shift from extended hospital stays to daily clinic visits promises to dramatically improve the patient experience and potentially expand access to this life-saving treatment.

Why it matters

The move to an outpatient model for CAR-T cell therapy represents a significant advancement, as it allows patients to receive treatment from the comfort of their own homes. This change is expected to improve patient well-being and quality of life during the treatment process, as well as potentially increase access to the therapy for those living in rural areas or with limited support systems.

The details

CAR-T cell therapy involves extracting a patient's white blood cells, genetically modifying them to target and destroy cancer cells, and then infusing the 'enhanced' cells back into the patient. Historically, this process required extended hospital stays due to the potential for complications. However, increased experience with the therapy and the use of preventative medications to manage side effects have made it possible for Mary Bird Perkins to offer the treatment entirely in an outpatient setting.

  • Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, became the first facility in the region to offer CAR-T cell therapy in an outpatient setting in February 2026.

The players

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center

A cancer treatment facility in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, that has become the first in the region to offer CAR-T cell therapy entirely in an outpatient setting.

Dr. Andy Dalovisio

The director of the Myeloma, Lymphoma, and Cellular Therapy Program at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center, who explains the process and benefits of the outpatient CAR-T cell therapy model.

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What they’re saying

“We're going to take your immune system and kind of send it to boot camp.”

— Dr. Andy Dalovisio, Director of the Myeloma, Lymphoma, and Cellular Therapy Program

“It means better night's sleep. It means being around your pets and your families and your loved ones and eating home-cooked food.”

— Dr. Andy Dalovisio, Director of the Myeloma, Lymphoma, and Cellular Therapy Program

What’s next

Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center is actively exploring clinical trials for using CAR-T cell therapy to treat sarcoma, demonstrating the expanding potential of this innovative immunotherapy approach.

The takeaway

The shift to an outpatient model for CAR-T cell therapy at Mary Bird Perkins Cancer Center represents a significant advancement in cancer treatment, as it promises to improve the patient experience, increase access to this life-saving therapy, and pave the way for its application in other cancer types.