Is Axicabtagene Ciloleucel safe while breastfeeding?
Here is what NIH LactMed, the U.S. National Library of Medicine's authority on medicines and breastfeeding, reports about Axicabtagene Ciloleucel. This is a summary of that source — not our own verdict.
Effects on the breastfed infant
Two mothers who received CAR-T cell therapy, one for transformed follicular lymphoma and the other for large B-cell lymphoma. One mother conceived spontaneously 10 months after axicabtagene ciloleucel. At delivery, she had a B-cell count of zero. Her female infant had a low B-cell count and a low IgG at birth and was started on prophylactic penicillin V. She was discharged home well and was breastfed (extent and duration not stated). At 4 weeks of age, the infant was thriving; her B lymphocyte count had normalized, but she continued to have a low IgG. She met age appropriate developmental milestones, and her physical examination was normal. She received her routine vaccinations as per the Irish national schedule and continued penicillin V prophylaxis. At 6 months of age, the infant was thriving and developmentally appropriate. She had 12/12 pneumococcal serotype-specific antibody titers above the protective range of 0.35 mg/mL, Haemophilus influenzae type B IgG titer above the optimum protective level (5.76 mg/L), and a protective tetanus IgG antibody titer (1.65 IU/mL). At 11 months of age, her penicillin prophylaxis was stopped, and she was discharged from immunology follow-up. The mother conceived 34 months after axicabtagene ciloleucel. She had a normal B-cell count at delivery. Her infant had a normal B-cell count at birth and was partially breastfed (extent and duration not stated). The infant s CD19 count on day 1 of life was also normal. No further follow-up was reported.[ 2 ]
Effects on milk supply
Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Levels in milk
Maternal Levels. A 35-year-old woman with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma received axicabtagene ciloleucel CAR T-cell therapy and achieved metabolic complete response. Five years later she became pregnant and delivered a healthy infant. Follow-up blood tests demonstrated persistent CAR T-cells with confirmation on T-cell clonality screening. Her breastmilk had detectable CAR T-cells.[ 1 ] Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.
Source: NIH LactMed (National Library of Medicine).
Educational summary of an authoritative source — not medical advice. Never start, stop, or change a medicine while breastfeeding without confirming with your doctor.