News

A new triple therapy approach using a checkpoint inhibitor and T-cell therapy is showing considerable promise in the treatment of Merkel cell carcinoma.

Based on the results of the phase 2 ZUMA-1 trial in patients with refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Kite Pharma has submitted for, and received, a priority review for its chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell treatment, axicabtagene ciloleucel.

Higher doses of the kinase inhibitor brigatinib as second-line therapy for ALK-positive non–small-cell lung cancer may be an option for some patients.

More than one-third of patients with metastatic uveal melanoma had objective tumor regression when treated with adoptive transfer of autologous tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes.

This review will highlight the survival impact that rituximab therapy has had on major lymphoid malignancies, such as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma. We will also discuss alternative anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies.

Researchers at Seattle Children's Research Institute announced the first-in-human clinical trial aimed to extend remission for children and young adults with leukemia treated with CAR T-cell immunotherapy.

Ruben Niesvizky, MD, discusses some of the exciting advances, the potential of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, and emerging combination regimens on the horizon in multiple myeloma.

It is increasingly important that nurses recognize cytokine release syndrome and other side effects that can be triggered by treatment with engineered CAR T-cell therapies.

The first cerebral edema death in the ZUMA-1 CAR T-cell therapy trial was disclosed today by Kite Pharma on a conference call with investors announcing the company’s first quarter financial results.

JUNO Therapeutics announced that it hopes to accelerate its process for developing CAR T cells from weeks to just 2 days.

Stephen M. Ansell, MD, PhD, discusses the potential of immunotherapy agents in lymphoma, ongoing clinical trials, and where this blends in with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy.

While there are many hurdles to overcome before the technology could be ready for commercial use, the experiment shows what could be possible for people living with diabetes.

Low disease burden prior to treatment with CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy appears to be a positive prognostic factor for long-term survival outcomes of patients with relapsed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

A novel target, B-cell maturation antigen, has been identified for future therapeutic development as chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for patients with multiple myeloma.

Administration of autologous HER2-specific CAR-modified virus specific T Cells was safe and had clinical benefit for some patients with progressive glioblastoma, a disease with limited effective therapeutic options.

Consolidation therapy with lenalidomide, bortezomib, and dexamethasone (RVD), when used in conjunction with stem cell transplantation, extended progression-free survival compared with RVD alone in patients with multiple myeloma.

Sophie Papa, MD, discusses the early-phase results and the logic behind studying CAR T-cell therapy in solid tumors, such as head and neck cancer.

The FDA has granted a breakthrough therapy designation to tisagenlecleucel-T (CTL019) for use as a treatment for adult patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after the failure of at least 2 prior therapies.

Using state-of-the-art gene editing technology, researchers have discovered a promising target to treat atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (AT/RT), a highly aggressive and therapy-resistant brain tumor.

Investigators at Virginia Commonwealth University Massey Cancer Center discuss the current treatment for children with high-risk neuroblastoma including high-dose chemotherapy, surgery, stem cell transplantation, radiation therapy, isotretinoin, and immunotherapy.

Kinase oncoproteins and growth factors both activate the proto-oncogene c-FOS and DUSP1, allowing the persistence of residual leukemia cell populations despite tyrosine kinase inhibitor therapy.

Frederick L. Locke, MD, discusses the ZUMA-1 trial in non-Hodgkin lymphoma and the next steps going forward.

Axitinib was a promising newcomer in the renal cell carcinoma field when it was introduced as a second-line therapy 5 years ago. Now it is being displaced by newer therapies, a development that may serve as a harbinger for the evolution of treatment patterns in other tumor types with a bounty of novel agents.

Alfred L. Garfall, MD, discusses the latest developments with CAR T-cell therapy in hematologic malignancies

The flexibility of CAR T cells to perform multiple functions was associated with the level of clinical activity elicited for patients with advanced non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, according to a retrospective analysis presented at the 2017 AACR Annual Meeting.

Results of a phase II trial showed that more than 80% of patients with refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma achieved objective responses to treatment with the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy axicabtagene ciloleucel.

Low pretreatment disease burden improved durability of CAR T-cell therapy in patients with relapsed B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

The FDA has granted a priority review designation to tisagenlecleucel-T as a treamtnet for pediatric and young adult patients with relapsed and refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, making it the first CAR T-cell therapy to enter regulatory review.

The EMA’s Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use has recommended approval of nivolumab for the treatment of patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck following progression on platinum-based therapy.

Michel Sadelain, MD, PhD, discusses CRISPR and its effect on CAR T cells.