CAR T-Cell Therapy and Checkpoint Inhibitors Together?
CAR T-cell therapy positive response rates in aggressive leukemias and lymphomas are impressive, but relapse or progression does occur in some patients after initial response. Is there a way to address this?
The ZUMA-6 studies are now underway to evaluate the effectiveness of a combined immune checkpoint inhibitor (anti-PD-L1) and CAR T-cell regimen. Kite Pharma is investigating Genentech’s approved PD-L1 drug atezolizumab (Tecentriq) alongside KTE-C19 in patients with refractory, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DBCL). This research will determine if the combination can cause a cohesive effect and extend KTE-C19’s activity.
According to a Feb. 2017 report in Hematology and Oncology from Dr. Sattva S. Neelapu at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, clinical trials are looking at whether progression or loss of effectiveness occurs when T cells become exhausted after interacting with the tumor. If indeed this is the case, researchers are also evaluating whether immune checkpoint blockade can reactivate the exhausted T cells.
