Dr. Papa on Leukapheresis Manufacturing Approach in Head and Neck Cancer

Sophie Papa, PhD, MBBS, MRCP, medical oncologist, Clinical Academic Group, Department of Research Oncology, King’s College London, discusses leukapheresis manufacturing approach in head and neck cancer.

In a study on CAR T cells in head and neck cancer, leukapheresis was done on patients. It allowed researchers to use CAR 4αβ that was co-expressed with the CAR to manufacture cell product with a 100% success rate to date, from as little to 14 mL of whole blood to normally 120 mL of whole blood.

This is an expensive manufacturing approach, though, and it takes a long time. But, in this trial, Papa says, it was done with a blood draw—less than what would be taken in a blood donation.