Authors:
David L. Porter, Wei-Ting Hwang, Noelle V. Frey, Simon F. Lacey, Pamela A. Shaw, Alison W. Loren, Adam Bagg, Katherine T. Marcucci, Angela Shen, Vanessa Gonzalez, David Ambrose, Stephan A. Grupp, Anne Chew, Zhaohui Zheng, Michael C. Milone, Bruce L. Levine, Jan J. Melenhorst, and Carl H. June
Summary:
Immunotherapy is one of the most promising avenues of cancer therapy, with the potential to induce sustained remissions in patients with refractory disease. Studies with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)–modified T cells have paved the way in patients with relapsed and refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Porter et al. now report the mature results from their initial CAR T cell trial. CAR T cell persistence correlated with clinical responses, and these cells were functional up to 4 years after treatment. No patient who achieved complete remission relapsed, and no minimal residual disease was detected, suggesting that in a subset of patients, CAR T cells may drive disease eradication.
Source:
Science Translational Medicine; Vol. 7, Issue 303, 303ra139 (09/02/15)