Treatment of CD20-directed Chimeric Antigen Receptor-modified T cells in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma: an early phase IIa trial report

Genetic modification of patients’ own immune cells is showing promise as a treatment for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Wei-dong Han and co-workers at the Chinese PLA General Hospital in Beijing have published an early report on a successful Phase IIa clinical trial of the therapy. They extracted immune T-cells from 11 NHL patients, then engineered the cells to attack a specific protein antigen on the surface of the cancerous lymphoma cells. The modified cells were then transfused back into the patients to attack the cancer. The patients selected for the trial had relapsed or refractory NHL, for which the prognosis is very poor. Nine participants responded positively, with six complete remissions and three partial remissions. There were no severe toxicity problems. Patients are now being recruited for a large-scale trial of this promising therapy.