{"entity":{"id":"crs","kind":"term","name":"Cytokine release syndrome (CRS)","aka":[],"tldr":"A flood of inflammatory signals when immune cells are activated en masse, causing fever, low blood pressure, and sometimes organ failure.","summary":"Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is a flood of inflammatory signals released when immune cells are activated en masse, producing fever, low blood pressure and sometimes organ failure. It occurs with CAR-T cell therapy, T-cell engagers and some other bispecifics, is graded by ASTCT criteria and is managed with tocilizumab, which blocks the IL-6 receptor, and steroids. Step-up dosing and prophylactic tocilizumab reduce its incidence, and outpatient administration of bispecifics is now possible. The term is referenced by the Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, Multiple myeloma and Small-cell lung cancer entries, by the drug records for Tisagenlecleucel, Lisocabtagene maraleucel, Epcoritamab, Xaluritamig and Pasritamig, and by the ELIANA trial.","asOf":"2026-09-04","wikipedia":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytokine_release_syndrome","links":[{"label":"Wikipedia","url":"https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cytokine_release_syndrome"},{"label":"Lymphoma Action: CAR-T cell therapy","url":"https://lymphoma-action.org.uk/information-and-support/lymphoma-treatment/car-t-cell-therapy"}],"tags":[],"related":[],"cancers":["dlbcl","primary-mediastinal-b-cell-lymphoma","follicular-lymphoma","mantle-cell-lymphoma","non-hodgkin-lymphoma"],"sections":[],"technologies":["car-t","t-cell-engager"],"targets":[],"drugs":[],"companies":[],"institutions":[],"pathways":[],"terms":[],"trials":[],"people":[],"bottlenecks":[],"keyPapers":[],"journals":[],"dependsOn":[],"notes":["Lymphoma: Lymphoma Action says almost everyone treated with engineered T-cell therapy has some level of cytokine release syndrome, that it most commonly develops within 10 days of the infusion, and that most cases are mild and easily treated. The signs it lists are fever and chills, a rapid heart rate, low blood pressure, low oxygen, headache, and feeling or being sick. Severe cases are treated with oxygen, fluids, steroids and tocilizumab, and usually improve within a few days. Around one person in five who has this treatment needs intensive care."],"category":"Side effects"},"route":"/terms/crs/","neighbours":{"cancer":[{"id":"all-leukemia","kind":"cancer","name":"Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia","route":"/cancers/all-leukemia/"},{"id":"dlbcl","kind":"cancer","name":"Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma","route":"/cancers/dlbcl/"},{"id":"extensive-stage-sclc","kind":"cancer","name":"Extensive-stage small-cell lung cancer","route":"/cancers/extensive-stage-sclc/"},{"id":"follicular-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Follicular lymphoma","route":"/cancers/follicular-lymphoma/"},{"id":"mantle-cell-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Mantle cell lymphoma","route":"/cancers/mantle-cell-lymphoma/"},{"id":"multiple-myeloma","kind":"cancer","name":"Multiple myeloma","route":"/cancers/multiple-myeloma/"},{"id":"neuroblastoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Neuroblastoma (paediatric)","route":"/cancers/neuroblastoma/"},{"id":"non-hodgkin-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (all types)","route":"/cancers/non-hodgkin-lymphoma/"},{"id":"primary-mediastinal-b-cell-lymphoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Primary mediastinal (thymic) large B-cell lymphoma","route":"/cancers/primary-mediastinal-b-cell-lymphoma/"},{"id":"all-paediatric-relapsed","kind":"cancer","name":"Relapsed and refractory acute lymphoblastic leukaemia in children","route":"/cancers/all-paediatric-relapsed/"},{"id":"myeloma-relapsed-refractory","kind":"cancer","name":"Relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma","route":"/cancers/myeloma-relapsed-refractory/"},{"id":"sclc","kind":"cancer","name":"Small-cell lung cancer","route":"/cancers/sclc/"},{"id":"uveal-melanoma","kind":"cancer","name":"Uveal melanoma","route":"/cancers/uveal-melanoma/"}],"technology":[{"id":"rejuv-tx-prolonged-cytopenias","kind":"technology","name":"Blood counts that do not come back after CAR-T: ICAHT","route":"/technologies/rejuv-tx-prolonged-cytopenias/"},{"id":"car-t","kind":"technology","name":"CAR-T cell 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autoleucel","route":"/drugs/brexucabtagene-autoleucel/"},{"id":"elranatamab","kind":"drug","name":"Elranatamab","route":"/drugs/elranatamab/"},{"id":"emapalumab","kind":"drug","name":"Emapalumab","route":"/drugs/emapalumab/"},{"id":"epcoritamab","kind":"drug","name":"Epcoritamab","route":"/drugs/epcoritamab/"},{"id":"idecabtagene-vicleucel","kind":"drug","name":"Idecabtagene vicleucel","route":"/drugs/idecabtagene-vicleucel/"},{"id":"letetresgene-autoleucel","kind":"drug","name":"Letetresgene autoleucel","route":"/drugs/letetresgene-autoleucel/"},{"id":"lisocabtagene-maraleucel","kind":"drug","name":"Lisocabtagene maraleucel","route":"/drugs/lisocabtagene-maraleucel/"},{"id":"obecabtagene-autoleucel","kind":"drug","name":"Obecabtagene autoleucel","route":"/drugs/obecabtagene-autoleucel/"},{"id":"pasritamig","kind":"drug","name":"Pasritamig","route":"/drugs/pasritamig/"},{"id":"talicabtagene-autoleucel","kind":"drug","name":"Talicabtagene 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