The cardio–neuro–psycho–oncological axis in modern cellular and bispecific antibody therapies: A perspective on brain–heart interactions, autonomic vulnerability, and patient-centered monitoring
Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy and T-cell-engaging bispecific antibodies have transformed hematologic oncology, but their toxicities frequently cross organ-based boundaries. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS), immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), cardiovascular stress, autonomic dysregulation, sleep disruption, fatigue, and psychological distress may overlap in time and amplify one another. This perspective proposes a cardio–neuro–psycho–oncological framework for immune effector therapy. The model integrates inflammatory and endothelial activation, neurological and cognitive vulnerability, cardiovascular and autonomic regulation, and patient-reported burden. Rather than replacing established CRS and ICANS grading, it supports baseline risk stratification, longitudinal multimodal monitoring, actionable escalation pathways, and survivorship-oriented follow-up. It further distinguishes essential, recommended, and exploratory monitoring components and emphasizes therapy-specific monitoring needs, privacy-preserving implementation, workload-sensitive workflows, and prospective validation. Prospective studies should evaluate whether combined brain–heart–autonomic and patient-reported monitoring improves toxicity prediction, functional recovery, and quality of life as immune effector therapies move into broader patient populations.
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