New Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Cancers, Autoimmune Disease
Adoptive cellular therapy has shown promise for treating leukemia, lymphomas, and autoimmune diseases, according to Michael Milone, MD, PhD, who had spoken at the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) Summer Meeting this past weekend.
The therapies tisagenlecleucel-T (CTL019) and axicabtagene ciloleucel (KTE-C19) are currently being reviewed by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma. In these therapies, researchers have engineered T-cells with certain derived parts of antibodies containing the specificities of those antibodies. These cells are then engaged through the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) and directed toward other cells, such as B-cells.
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CAR T-cell therapies like these could also potentially be used to treat autoimmune diseases like pemphigus vulgaris. Dr Milone compared CTL019 to rituximab, which targets the CD20 molecule on B-cells.
However, unlike previous therapies, this treatment is engineered to target the specific B-cells that make antibodies for desmoglein molecules, rather than targeting all B-cells. The therapy, administered via plasmapheresis, has shown promising responses among patients.
“Cellular therapy for cancer was recently approved by the FDA,” Dr Milone said. “It is on the verge of becoming a standard of care for patients with leukemia and lymphomas. It is possible to think about how we might apply these technologies to patients with autoimmune-mediated disease, particularly those with B-cell mediated diseases.”
—Christina Vogt
Reference:
Cellular therapy a new tool for treating cancer, autoimmune diseases [press release]. New York, NY. American Academy of Dermatology. https://aadmeetingnews.org/2017-summer-meeting-dailies/cellular-therapy-a-new-tool-for-treating-cancer-autoimmune-diseases/. Accessed on July 31, 2017.