Dr. Ruan on Future Research With CAR T-Cell Therapy in MCL

Jia Ruan, MD, PhD, associate professor of clinical medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, discusses future research with CAR T-cell therapy in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

In July 2020, the FDA approved the CAR T-cell therapy brexucabtagene autoleucel (Tecartus) as a treatment for patients with relapsed/refractory MCL. The approval was based on findings from the phase 2 ZUMA-2 trial in which the CAR T-cell product elicited an 87% objective response rate and a 62% complete response rate in this patient population. Despite the impressive efficacy rate, toxicity remains a concern with CAR T-cell therapy, says Ruan.

Future research efforts with CAR T-cell therapy are looking to bring the modality into earlier lines of therapy, says Ruan. Additionally, combining the therapy with other agents may augment the effectiveness of brexucabtagene autoleucel while minimizing potential toxicities, Ruan explains.

Additional research is also needed to determine which patients are best suited to receive CAR T-cell therapy. Currently, younger, fit patients are eligible; however, finding ways to bring CAR T-cell therapy to older patients with comorbidities is critical because this patient population comprises a large proportion of patients with MCL, concludes Ruan.