Search Results

Tocilizumab

Tocilizumab is approved for the treatment of adults and pediatric patients 2 years of age and older with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell-induced severe or life-threatening cytokine release syndrome (CRS).

CRS, which is caused by an overactive immune response, has been identified as a potentially severe and life-threatening side effect of CAR T cell therapy for certain cancers.

The Fruits of Our Funding

Advances in cancer research seem to be occurring at dizzying speed these days.

Understanding molecular determinants of immune evasion to CAR-T cells at single clone resolution

Cellular immunotherapies such CAR-T cells are now firmly established as major pillars of anti-cancer therapy particularly in B-cell malignancies. However, despite their remarkable success in mediating an objective clinical response in up to 90% of patients, long-term durable remissions remain confined to only a minority of patients. It is now increasingly apparent that genetic evolution through the acquisition of new mutations cannot solely explain the molecular basis for therapeutic resistance.

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Lymphoma diagnosis, survival rate by age, prognosis, and treatment

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Development of a novel BCL2L1 armored CAR T-cell and a tumor-immune interactome in multiple myeloma

Novel immune approaches have revolutionized the treatment paradigms in multiple myeloma (MM) with deep responses seen in heavily pretreated patients. However responses are largely not durable with significant gaps remaining in our understanding of the mechanisms mediating the immune escape to to CAR T cells and T cell engagers.

Toward improvement of BCMA/CST6-CAR-T therapy to target both myeloma cells and bone resorption

We have observed that non-glycosylated CST6 proteins suppress osteoclast differentiation and function without causing immunosuppression. We aim to determine whether BCMA-CAR-T cells which are engineered to secret CST6 proteins kill myeloma cells and suppress bone lytic lesions without immune suppressive effects in myeloma. Our ultimate goal is to develop a CAR-T-cell based immune therapy to prevent bone loss and disease progression in myeloma patients.

Bold goal, bold action

As we observe World Cancer Day, I’m reflecting on my own family’s experience with blood cancer, the children with blood cancer I have had the honor of knowing, and the many individuals and families who have been impacted by a blood cancer diagnosis.

Our work at The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) has had a positive impact on so many, but we can do even more to accelerate progress for the blood cancer patients we serve.

Improving Bispecific CD20/CD19 CAR T-cell Therapy to Overcome Resistance Mechanisms in B-cell Malignancies

The objective of this proposal is to improve bispecific anti-CD20/anti-CD19 CAR T-cell activity and persistence by understanding impact of cell manufacturing parameters on final engineered CAR-T product and determining resistance mechanisms in relapsing patients. We will analyze patient apheresis, final CAR-T product, and peripheral blood samples from subjects enrolled on an ongoing clinical trial (NCT04186520). Data from these studies will advance CAR T-cell therapies for lymphoma patients.

Opening the CAR(T) Door to Get Your Patients to Therapy

Car T-Cell Therapy in Children and Adults with Blood Cancers

More Progress on LLS-Supported CAR T-cell Immunotherapy

CAR T-cell Therapy: A Hopeful Option in Cancer Treatment

CAR T-cell Therapy in Pediatric ALL: Austin's Story

Suggested Reading - CAR T-Cell Therapy: What to Expect

CAR T-Cell Therapy: What to Expect Before, During and After by Susan K. Stewart
Published by Blood & Marrow Transplant Information Network, 2020, 26 Pages
ISBN 978-1-7337268-4-9

CAR T-cell therapy is an exciting new treatment currently approved by the U. S. Food and Drug Administration for patients with certain types of lymphoma or acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Researchers are studying whether it can help other cancer patients as well. If you are considering CAR T-cell therapy, this easy-to-read colorful booklet will help you understand what to expect when going through treatment.

For more information click here

CAR T-Cell Therapy: What to Expect Before, During and After

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Side Effects Treatments

An Emerging Target for Myeloma Therapy Could Prove a Game-Changer

A phase 1 study of CB-010, a CRISPR-edited allogeneic CAR-T targeting CD19, in patients with B-cell NHL

In February 2021, LLS made an equity investment in Caribou Biosciences to support "A Phase 1, Multicenter, Open-Label Study of CB-010, a CRISPR-Edited Allogeneic Anti-CD19 CAR-T Cell Therapy in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory B Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma." Caribou is a leading clinical-stage biotechnology company, co-founded by CRISPR pioneer and Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna, Ph.D., using next-generation CRISPR genome-editing technology to develop “off-the-shelf” (allogeneic) CAR therapies for hard-to-treat blood cancers.

A phase 1 study of CB-012, a CRISPR-edited allogeneic CAR-T targeting CLL1, in patients with acute myeloid leukemia

In February 2021, LLS made an equity investment in Caribou Biosciences to "Support allogeneic CD371 (CLL-1) CAR development for acute myeloid leukemia." Caribou is a clinical-stage biotechnology company, co-founded by CRISPR pioneer and Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna, Ph.D., using next-generation CRISPR genome-editing technology to develop “off-the-shelf” (allogeneic) CAR therapies for hard-to-treat blood cancers.

A phase 1 study of CB-011, a CRISPR-edited allogeneic CAR-T targeting BCMA, in patients with multiple myeloma

In February 2021, LLS made an equity investment in Caribou Biosciences to support "A Phase 1, Multicenter, Open-Label Study of CB-011, a CRISPR-Edited Allogeneic Anti-BCMA CAR-T Cell Therapy in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Multiple Myeloma."  Caribou is a leading clinical-stage biotechnology company, co-founded by CRISPR pioneer and Nobel Prize winner Jennifer Doudna, Ph.D., using next-generation CRISPR genome-editing technology to develop “off-the-shelf” (allogeneic) CAR therapies for hard-to-treat blood cancers.

Two Survivors Moving Mountains for Blood Cancer Care

CAR T-cell therapy in central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma: a study in safety and efficacy and a model in which to study mechanisms of neurotoxicity

CAR T-cells are highly effective in lymphoma but limited by a profound and potentially fatal toxicity involving the central nervous system (CNS). Little is known about how CAR T-cells eliminate lymphoma cells in the CNS nor how this therapy causes toxicity. I will study CAR T-cells in patients with CNS lymphomas with the goal of expanding CAR T-cell indications. I will also examine serial blood and CNS samples to understand neurologic toxicity to inform new therapies to control this toxicity.

Improving outcomes of multiple myeloma using TGF-beta resistant BCMA-targeted CAR T cells

Immunotherapy using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, or CARTs for short, holds great promise for improving outcomes and survival of patients with relapsed and/or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM). Next-generation “armored” CARTs that can overcome transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) dependent immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment may provide deeper and more durable disease control than the TGF-beta sensitive CART products currently in clinical use.