Using voice recordings to monitor for nerve damage during cancer cell therapy

Researchers at Memorial Sloan Kettering are testing whether voice recordings can be a simple, practical way to monitor for nerve damage (a known side effect) in people receiving CAR T-cell therapy. During this treatment, your immune cells are modified in a lab and then returned to your body to fight cancer. The study team wants to understand if tracking small changes in your voice over time — using your smartphone — could help doctors catch nerve problems early.

CAR T-cell therapy is effective against certain blood cancers, but it can sometimes damage the nervous system and affect speech or thinking. Right now, doctors rely on manual tests and patient reports to catch these side effects. This study is exploring whether voice recordings could provide an easier, more continuous way to spot nerve damage before it becomes serious.