Bijal Shah, MD, of the Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, suggests ways in which chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy can be optimised for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Highlighting data from the ZUMA-2 (NCT02601313) and ZUMA-3 (NCT02614066) trials of brexucabtagene autoleucel, and studies of tisagenlecleucel in pediatric ALL patients, Dr Shah discusses the impacts of tumor burden on the efficacy of CAR-T therapies and the need for improved bridging strategies. Dr Shah also comments on the potential benefits of novel agents such as blinatumomab, inotuzumab ozogamicin and venetoclax prior to CAR-T therapy, and the use of CAR-T therapy in earlier settings as a consolidation therapy. This interview took place during the ninth annual meeting of the Society of Hematologic Oncology (SOHO 2021) congress.