Further Progress in CAR-T-Cell Therapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Seventy percent of children and young adults with relapsed or refractory ALL achieved remission.

Autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells — genetically modified and expanded ex vivo to target the CD19 antigen expressed on most B-cell malignancies — have been shown to be a highly promising cellular immunotherapy for relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL; NEJM JW Oncol Hematol Oct 15 2014).

Now, investigators have conducted a phase I trial to assess CAR-T-cell dosing, response, and toxicity in 20 patients (age range, 1–30 years) with relapsed or refractory B-precursor ALL (B-ALL). Of these patients, six had primary refractory B-ALL, and eight had relapsed after prior allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (SCT).

Results were as follows:

2 patients had unsuccessful CAR-T-cell generation and did not respond to therapy.
14 patients…

Reviewing Author

Michael E. Williams, MD, ScM

Disclosures

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

Grant/Research SupportJanssen

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