CAR T-Cell Therapy a ‘Really Exciting’ Development in Treatment of Lymphomas – Curetoday.com
Posted: May 22, 2020 at 2:51 pm
The evolution of CAR T-cell therapy has been an exciting development for the treatment of all lymphomas, including mantle cell lymphoma, according to Dr. Ian Flinn.
BY Dr. Ian Flinn
The evolution of CAR T-cell therapy has been an exciting development for the treatment of all lymphomas, including mantle cell lymphoma, according to Dr. Ian Flinn.
In an interview with CURE, Flinn, the director of lymphoma research at Sarah Cannon Research Institute, discussed the use of CAR T-cells to treat lymphomas, as well as how the ZUMA-2 trial is shaping up to influence the treatment of patients with mantle cell lymphoma.
Transcription:
CURE: I'm curious about the ZUMA-2 trial. I know that you're an investigator on that trial. So, if you could talk a little bit about the drug, what it targets, how it works in the body and where things are with that study so far.
Flinn: ZUMA-2 is a clinical trial looking at a CAR T-cell product that targets CD19, which is an antigen on a lot of lymphomas, in this case mantle cell lymphoma, in patients who have had multiple prior therapies for their mantle cell lymphoma, and who are really no longer responding.
So, in this trial, we administered CAR T-cells to these patients. And after giving them some what's called lymphodepleting chemotherapy, and then infuse the CAR T-cells into the patients, we saw a really pretty remarkable outcome.
First (let me offer) a little bit about what a CAR T-cell is. Its a white blood cell, a lymphocyte, that is harvested from the blood of a patient. It's then sent to a central manufacturing facility, where a gene is inserted into the lymphocyte to have the lymphocyte activate as well as target the lymphoma. In this case, it's targeting that antigen called CD19, that's present on most B cell lymphomas and most all the mantle cell lymphoma, many other types of lymphoma as well.
So, it's a really exciting development in the treatment of all lymphomas and in certain forms of leukemia. A similar CAR T-cell product had previously been shown to be very effective in patients with an aggressive form of lymphoma, known as large cell lymphoma. And studies in that patient population led to the approval of CAR T-cells for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, who also similarly were not really responding to any agents anymore. The therapy had really run the course of what conventional treatments (could offer). And in that patient population there was about a 40%, what looks like long term cure rate for that patient population, so really fabulous results in large cell lymphoma.
And so, in this trial, this trial ZUMA-2, we're hoping to see similar activity in patients with, again, very difficult-to-treat mantle cell lymphoma, patients who already had standard of care therapies such as a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, and chemo immunotherapy. And we saw very remarkable results. Two-thirds of patients achieved a complete remission in this study, and the follow up is relatively short, but in a subgroup of patients that have been followed for more than two years on, about 40% of patients remain in remission.
So, this would be the first CAR T-cell product that will be available to patients with mantle cell lymphoma?
Right. This would be the first CAR T-cell product that's available for mantle cell lymphoma patients. We hope to see FDA approval sometime this summer. It's been submitted to the FDA for approval, and they have certain timelines that the FDA has to make. And based on that, we know that we should hear the latest by August on whether this drug will be approved.
Is there anything else that people should know about this particular study?
I think the other thing to know is when anybody is looking at any kind of therapy, is what are the risks and benefits of this? It sounds wonderful, augmenting the immune system and you're harnessing the immune system to fight the cancer, which is really what this is doing. But it does have side effects. And, and those side effects are sometimes scary.
There's something called cytokine release syndrome, where basically as I explain it to patients, it's like someone's getting the worst flu of their life. I mean, sometimes they can have fevers as high as 104 (degrees). But when you think about it, that's kind of what we're wanting. We want the immune system to be turned on. We want it to go after this lymphoma, what it thinks is foreign. (But) then we've learned better ways of decreasing those side effects now by using other medications to decrease the incidence and severity of cytokine release syndrome.
The other toxicity is called neurological toxicity, or neurotoxicity, and this can be very disturbing to patients and their family members. Because it can sometimes range from just being a little bit sleepy to people being in a full coma. Luckily, nobody died in this study from this, and we're getting better at intervening earlier to decrease the severity of neurologic toxicity. And so, for the vast majority of patients, it's reversible, but it's definitely something for patients who are considering this (drug) to talk to their doctor about.
Read more here:
CAR T-Cell Therapy a 'Really Exciting' Development in Treatment of Lymphomas - Curetoday.com
- Gene Therapy | Doctor | Patient.co.uk [Last Updated On: May 23rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: May 23rd, 2015]
- Gene Therapy | Doctor | Patient [Last Updated On: June 9th, 2015] [Originally Added On: June 9th, 2015]
- Dr Rajiv Desai Blog Archive GENE THERAPY [Last Updated On: August 23rd, 2015] [Originally Added On: August 23rd, 2015]
- Local Doctor Leads Study Of Gene Therapy Treatment For ... [Last Updated On: March 19th, 2016] [Originally Added On: March 19th, 2016]
- Breast Cancer Risk Factors: Genetics [Last Updated On: August 24th, 2016] [Originally Added On: August 24th, 2016]
- Worlds Leading Biomarkers Congress | CPD Points ... [Last Updated On: September 22nd, 2016] [Originally Added On: September 22nd, 2016]
- Why the super-rich are ploughing billions into the booming 'immortality industry' - Evening Standard [Last Updated On: July 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 1st, 2017]
- What to Know About Charlie Gard, the Terminally Ill Baby Trump Wants to Help - TIME [Last Updated On: July 4th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 4th, 2017]
- Cancer treatment is swiftly moving toward individualized molecular and genetic tools that Sparrow Cancer Center's ... - City Pulse [Last Updated On: July 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 7th, 2017]
- Tumor gene testing urged to tell if drug targets your cancer - ABC News [Last Updated On: July 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 7th, 2017]
- Tumor gene testing urged to tell if drug targets your cancer | KRQE ... - KRQE News 13 [Last Updated On: July 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 8th, 2017]
- Tumor gene testing urged to tell if drug targets your cancer - The ... - The Mainichi [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2017]
- Charlie Gard: Medical experts weigh in on case of terminally-ill baby - The Independent [Last Updated On: July 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 10th, 2017]
- High-tech solutions top the list in the fight against eye disease - Engadget [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2017]
- 'Prehab' therapy helps cancer patients prepare for treatment - KTBS [Last Updated On: July 12th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 12th, 2017]
- Baby Charlie remains on life support as parents fight doctors for experimental treatment - CBC.ca [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2017]
- Novel cancer treatment wins endorsement of FDA advisers - Washington Post [Last Updated On: July 13th, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 13th, 2017]
- Ocean Springs parents fight to save 3-year-old daughter from fatal genetic condition - WGNO [Last Updated On: July 31st, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 31st, 2017]
- US doctor who wanted to treat Charlie Gard had 'financial interest' says Great Ormond Street - Metro [Last Updated On: July 31st, 2017] [Originally Added On: July 31st, 2017]
- New cancer therapy in clinical trial at Nebraska Medical Center has ... - Omaha World-Herald [Last Updated On: August 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 1st, 2017]
- Scientists successfully doctor human embroyo - Examiner Enterprise [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2017]
- WBZ-TV Riders Take On Pan-Mass Challenge - CBS Boston / WBZ [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2017]
- Gene editing breakthrough: Perspective from a geneticist and a pastor - WTSP 10 News [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2017]
- Indian-origin doctor helps gene editing of human embryos - Times of India [Last Updated On: August 7th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 7th, 2017]
- New Gene Therapy for Vision Loss Proven Safe in Humans ... [Last Updated On: August 8th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 8th, 2017]
- Springfield Mom Works to Raise Awareness after Son Diagnosed with Rare Genetic Disorder - KSMU Radio [Last Updated On: August 9th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 9th, 2017]
- Cancer's Newest Miracle Cure - TIME [Last Updated On: August 10th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 10th, 2017]
- Families with kids with Jordan's Syndrome meet for study to learn more about rare gene mutation - FOX 5 DC [Last Updated On: August 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 11th, 2017]
- Springfield Mom Works to Raise Awareness after Son Diagnosed with Rare Genetic Disorder - KRCU [Last Updated On: August 11th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 11th, 2017]
- Exclusive interview with Discovery's First in Human sickle cell ... - Monsters and Critics.com [Last Updated On: August 18th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 18th, 2017]
- DHK - Representative Chris Walsh, 66, non-Hodgkin lymphoma (a white blood cell cancer), Framingham, with Dr ... - WEEI.com [Last Updated On: August 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 21st, 2017]
- Life Lessons: Next generation testing - WFMZ Allentown [Last Updated On: August 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 21st, 2017]
- Potential therapy for eye condition - WTAJ [Last Updated On: August 21st, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 21st, 2017]
- New 3D-drug screening aims to ease economic burden of rare muscle diseases - Medical Xpress [Last Updated On: August 22nd, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 22nd, 2017]
- Doctor on new cancer treatment: 'genetically engineered, tumor-killing factory' - The Business Journal [Last Updated On: August 23rd, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 23rd, 2017]
- Baltimore 5K Aims to Raise Awareness about Sickle Cell Disease - Afro American [Last Updated On: August 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 25th, 2017]
- Stanford Center Hopes to Take Stem Cell and Gene Therapies to a New Level - Sickle Cell Anemia News [Last Updated On: August 25th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 25th, 2017]
- Gilead is buying Kite Pharma, a cancer-fighting Santa Monica biotech firm, for $11.9 billion - Los Angeles Times [Last Updated On: August 30th, 2017] [Originally Added On: August 30th, 2017]
- Man describes new FDA-approved gene therapy for leukemia that changed his life - fox4kc.com [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2017]
- First gene therapy to treat cancer gets FDA approval; UM only Michigan hospital to use it - Detroit Free Press [Last Updated On: September 1st, 2017] [Originally Added On: September 1st, 2017]
- Why the federal government urgently needs to fund more cancer research - Los Angeles Times [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2017]
- New 'hit-and-run' gene editing tool temporarily rewrites genetics to treat cancer and HIV - GeekWire [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2017]
- UTSA Presidential Lecture featuring Leonard Pinchuk - UTSA Today [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2017]
- South Bend man a 'walking miracle' after cancer treatment breakthrough - South Bend Tribune [Last Updated On: September 6th, 2017] [Originally Added On: September 6th, 2017]
- Gene therapy - Doctor.ndtv.com [Last Updated On: May 18th, 2018] [Originally Added On: May 18th, 2018]
- what is gene therapy? - Bluebird Bio [Last Updated On: May 24th, 2018] [Originally Added On: May 24th, 2018]
- Oncotype DX: Genomic Test to Inform Breast Cancer Treatment [Last Updated On: September 29th, 2018] [Originally Added On: September 29th, 2018]
- Gene Therapy: The Future of Vision Treatment [Last Updated On: February 21st, 2019] [Originally Added On: February 21st, 2019]
- Gene Therapy Questions | FAQs - Dana-Farber/Boston ... [Last Updated On: April 22nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 22nd, 2019]
- Gene therapy might be a cure for "bubble boy disease ... [Last Updated On: April 24th, 2019] [Originally Added On: April 24th, 2019]
- Xconomy: SMA Moment: Will Gene Therapy Shift Treatment ... [Last Updated On: May 2nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: May 2nd, 2019]
- A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Factor IX ... [Last Updated On: May 26th, 2019] [Originally Added On: May 26th, 2019]
- Targeted Therapy | Treating Mesothelioma - Mesothelioma Hub [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2019]
- Why the focus of autism research is shifting away from searching for a 'cure' - NBCNews.com [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2019]
- Here's What Happened to Dr. Sharpe on 'New Amsterdam' Details! - Distractify [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2019]
- Gene therapy drug priced at $2 million saves North Carolina babys life - WTKR News 3 [Last Updated On: September 26th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 26th, 2019]
- Pollard and Norris in the race for Pos. 2 of the Public Hospital District 4 - Snoqualmie Valley Record [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2019]
- Three to be honored as Distinguished Clay High School Alumni - Press Publications Inc. [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2019]
- Nearly Half of Poland's SMA Patients on Track to Get Spinraza, Experts Say - SMA News Today [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2019] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2019]
- Genentech to Present Results of First Prospective Trial Using Blood-based Next Generation Sequencing Which Successfully Identifies People for... [Last Updated On: October 2nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 2nd, 2019]
- Beyonc's father Mathew Knowles has breast cancer: Here's what you need to know about the disease in men - Yahoo Lifestyle [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2019]
- Study Measures Prognosis for Breast Cancer Patients with High 21-gene Recurrence Score Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy Plus Endocrine Therapy -... [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2019]
- Beyoncs father diagnosed with breast cancer - Houston Chronicle [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2019]
- What one doctor thinks about drug shortages and how to solve them - STAT [Last Updated On: October 4th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 4th, 2019]
- The facts about breast cancer awareness | News - The Albany Herald [Last Updated On: October 8th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 8th, 2019]
- Metastatic Breast Cancer: What You Should Know - University of Michigan Health System News [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2019]
- John Geyman on the Failure of Obamacare the Medical Industrial Complex and the Single Payer Solution - Corporate Crime Reporter [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2019]
- Quebec to cover revolutionary cancer treatment for types of leukemia and non-Hodgkins lymphoma - CTV News [Last Updated On: October 11th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 11th, 2019]
- Deepak Chopra Has Never Been Sick - The New Yorker [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2019]
- Daughter drew inspiration from mom in battle with breast cancer, stresses early detection - Gainesville Daily Register [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2019]
- Cleft palate or lip is one of the most common birth defects worldwide, but do you know what it is? - ABC News [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2019]
- Pearland family fighting to get $2.1 million drug for toddler with rare genetic disease - KHOU.com [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2019]
- Gene-Therapy Treatment Could Help People with Macular Degeneration - Healthline [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2019]
- A Netflix Series Explores the Brave New World of Crispr - WIRED [Last Updated On: October 18th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 18th, 2019]
- Save your child from paediatric cancer: Know what to look out for - TheHealthSite [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2019]
- The 'Magic' Behind Every Successful Blockbuster Drug - DailyWealth [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2019]
- $2.1 million drug approved for Pearland toddler with rare genetic disease - KHOU.com [Last Updated On: October 19th, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 19th, 2019]
- Genentech's Tecentriq in Combination With Avastin Increased Overall Survival and Progression-free Survival in People With Unresectable Hepatocellular... [Last Updated On: October 22nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 22nd, 2019]
- Why Are More Black Women Dying From the Most Common Reproductive Cancer? - Mother Jones [Last Updated On: October 22nd, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 22nd, 2019]
- 5 Biotech and Pharmaceutical Innovation Trends in 2019 - BioSpace [Last Updated On: October 23rd, 2019] [Originally Added On: October 23rd, 2019]