Targeting Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia with Reprogrammed T Cells

Infusion of redirected autologous T cells induced complete remission in a patient with refractory disease.

Whereas therapeutic monoclonal antibodies have become a mainstay for the treatment of B-cell lymphomas and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the ability to generate a cellular immune response has proven more challenging. Now, investigators have used a lentiviral vector construct to create a chimeric T-cell population that was able to bind the CLL surface protein CD19 and coexpress CD137 (a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor family) to enhance target cell destruction via enhanced T-cell activation.

This case report describes a patient with treatment-refractory, poor-risk CLL (del 17p, complex cytogenetics) who underwent harvest of autologous T cells for ex vivo transduction of the chimeric CD19/CD137 receptor. After pretreatment w…

Reviewing Author

Michael E. Williams, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAbbVie; AstraZeneca; Beigene; Janssen; Pharmacyclics

Grant/Research SupportJanssen

Editorial BoardsAmerican Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Hematology Longitudinal Knowledge Approval Committee

Michael E. Williams, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAbbVie; AstraZeneca; Beigene; Janssen; Pharmacyclics

Grant/Research SupportJanssen

Editorial BoardsAmerican Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Hematology Longitudinal Knowledge Approval Committee