Dr. Brentjens on CD19-Targeted T Cells in Leukemia

Renier J. Brentjens, MD, PhD, associate professor, chief, Cellular Therapeutics Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, discusses clinical responses in patients with chronic lymphoblastic leukemia (CLL) or acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) following infusion with CD19-targeted T Cells.

Brentjens says researchers have found that CLL tumors are sensitive to C19-targeted T cells, as about 30-50% of treated patients achieve either a partial remission or complete remission. Brentjens says this patient population is heavily pretreated and that this level of response is remarkable.

In the setting of ALL, Brentjens says, there was a 100% response rate in the first 5 patients that were tested. Typically, a 20-30% response rate is expected.

Brentjens says these T cells can clearly provide clinical benefit to patients with leukemia.