Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia – VJRegenMed

Outcomes of children and young adults with B-ALL following tisa-cel reinfusion

Anya Kerkache — Thu, 09 Mar 2023 11:31:48 +0000

Kevin McNerney, MD, MSc, Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL, shares the results of a retrospective study evaluating the safety and efficacy of tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) reinfusion in children and young adults with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Overall, the study showed that second CAR-T infusions were well tolerated, allowed patients to achieve a complete remission (CR) or re-establish B-cell aplasia (BCA), and could be used as a bridge to transplant. However, most remissions were brief and BCA was limited. This interview took place at the 2023 Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings of ASTCT and CIBMTR® held in Orlando, FL.

These works are owned by Magdalen Medical Publishing (MMP) and are protected by copyright laws and treaties around the world. All rights are reserved.

CAR-T therapy in acute and chronic leukemias: current applications and future outlooks

Anya Kerkache — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 10:35:19 +0000

John Gribben, MD, DSc, FRCP, FRCPath, FMed Sci, Barts Cancer Institute, London, UK, shares some insights into clinical indications for CAR-T therapy in acute and chronic leukemias, highlighting recent updates and challenges in this space. Prof. Gribben first discusses the role of CAR-T therapy in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), drawing focus on the two approved products in this malignancy. Prof. Gribben then goes on to explain mechanisms of resistance to CAR-T therapy in ALL, and ongoing research in this space. Following this, Prof. Gribben discusses updates and challenges with the use of CAR-T therapy in T-cell malignancies and acute myeloid leukemia (AML), and concludes by highlighting challenges with developing efficacious CAR-T products for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), which may be overcome by combining CAR-T cells with Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors. This interview took place at the EBMT-EHA 5th European CAR T-cell Meeting held in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

These works are owned by Magdalen Medical Publishing (MMP) and are protected by copyright laws and treaties around the world. All rights are reserved.

Exploring the potential role of CD7-targeting CAR-T cells in T-ALL

Anya Kerkache — Wed, 08 Mar 2023 10:35:18 +0000

Maksim Mamonkin, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, shares some insights into the promise of CD7-targeting CAR-T therapies for the treatment of patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Dr Mamonkin explains methods used to develop these products, and further highlights the promising activity that has been observed in ongoing clinical trials. This interview took place at the EBMT-EHA 5th European CAR T-cell Meeting held in Rotterdam, The Netherlands.

These works are owned by Magdalen Medical Publishing (MMP) and are protected by copyright laws and treaties around the world. All rights are reserved.

Overcoming barriers in treating liquid tumors with T-cell therapies

Simon Ng — Thu, 07 Apr 2022 13:19:56 +0000

Michela Consonni, PhD, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Millan, Italy, comments on what needs to be addressed to optimize chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell and T-cell receptor (TCR) therapies for leukemias and lymphomas. Further research is required to discover novel antigen targets solely expressed on tumors to avoid off-target side effects and to prevent antigen escape. Additional TCRs are also necessary for TCR-T cells to be compatible with a wider range of human leukocyte antigens (HLAs). Dr Consonni additionally highlights the risk of graft versus host disease (GvHD) in patients receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). This interview took place at the International Conference on Lymphocyte Engineering (ICLE) 2022.

Horizon scanning in anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy

admin_vjr_user — Tue, 22 Jun 2021 13:25:14 +0000

Marco Alessandrini, PhD, Antion Biosciences SA, Geneva, Switzerland, provides an overview of the advances seen so far in anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy research but highlights that there are still improvements to be made in terms of safety, efficacy and feasibility of these therapies. Future research should focus on improving treatment-related cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and central nervous system (CNS) conditions, improving treatment efficacy relative to standard of care and improving the accessibility of anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy in less sophisticated healthcare environments. This interview took place during the American Society for Cell & Gene Therapy 24th Annual Meeting 2021.

CAR T-cells in adult ALL

Marta Palhas — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 14:08:28 +0000

CD19-directed CAR T-cells have been approved for use in children and young adults up to the age of 25 years with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Arnon Nagler, MD, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel, outlines the use of CAR T-cells in adult ALL. Several prognostic factors for CAR-T therapy’s success have been identified, including platelet count before CAR-T infusion, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level, and mutated p53. Additionally, Prof. Nagler discusses if CAR T-cells are the definitive therapy for ALL or a pathway to allogeneic transplant. Finally, Prof. Nagler shares new approaches for CAR T-cells in ALL, including CD22-directed CAR T-cells, sequential administration of CD19 and CD22 CAR T-cells, bispecific CARs, and allogeneic CAR T-cells. This interview took place during the 3rd European CAR T-cell Meeting.

Novel strategies to optimize CAR T-cell therapy

Marta Palhas — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 14:08:27 +0000

Arnon Nagler, MD, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Aviv, Israel, discusses approaches to optimize CAR T-cell therapy. CAR T-cell therapies have achieved impressive outcomes in hematological malignancies. However, setbacks such as limited CAR T-cell persistence after infusion, high relapse rates, resistance, and toxicities continue to be experienced. Prof. Nagler outlines novel strategies to improve CAR T-cell function, including novel constructs, new targets, bispecific CAR-T cells, and allogeneic CAR-Ts. This interview took place during the 3rd European CAR T-cell Meeting.

Progression of CAR-T trials in China

Marta Palhas — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 14:08:26 +0000

Jianxiang Wang, MD, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China, gives an overview of the current CAR T-cell trial activities in China. Prof. Wang highlights the progression of the bispecific CAR-T targeting CD19 and CD22 and the BCMA and CD19 bispecific CAR-T, both manufactured in the FasT CAR-T platform. A novel TCR-based extracellular complex, STAR (synthetic TCR and antigen receptor), is being investigated in China. STAR T-cells may have improved persistence after infusion. Lastly, Prof. Wang discusses a new CD7-CAR T-cell product against T-cell malignancies. This interview took place during the 3rd European CAR T-cell Meeting.

CAR-T trials to watch in China

Marta Palhas — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 14:08:26 +0000

Jianxiang Wang, MD, Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China, shares key Chinese CAR-T clinical trials to look out for. Two different clinical trials investigating CD19 CAR T-cells for non-Hodgkin lymphoma are almost completed, and approval is expected soon in China. Additionally, clinical trials studying BCMA CAR T-cell therapy for multiple myeloma are also making good progress. Lastly, Prof. Wang highlights clinical trials evaluating CD19 CAR T-cells for relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), particularly for adults. This interview took place during the 3rd European CAR T-cell Meeting.

Second CD19-targeted CAR T-cell infusion for R/R B-cell malignancies

Marta Palhas — Fri, 26 Feb 2021 14:08:26 +0000

CD19 CAR T-cells are transforming the treatment of relapsed or refractory (R/R) B-cell malignancies. However, complete responses are not seen in all patients, and in a significant proportion, these responses are not durable. Jordan Gauthier, MD, MSc, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, discusses second infusions of CD19 CAR T-cells (CART2) as a possible approach to improve outcomes in patients with R/R B-cell malignancies. An analysis of the outcomes after CART2 in patients with R/R acute lymphoblastic leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia treated on a Phase I/II clinical trial of CD19 CAR T-cells of defined composition showed that CART2 was feasible and safe in most patients. Additionally, two modifiable pre-treatment factors independently associated with better outcomes after CART2 were identified. This interview took place during the 3rd European CAR T-cell Meeting.