Dr. Wang Discusses the ZUMA-2 Trial in Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Michael Wang, MD, professor in the Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the ZUMA-2 trial in patients with relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

The ZUMA-2 trial is a phase II multicenter study evaluating the efficacy of axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel; Yescarta) in patients with relapsed/refractory MCL. The trial utilizes cell therapy by taking advantage of the CD19 antigen on top of the lymphoma cells. Physicians can then infuse the T cells into patients and manipulate them to kill the lymphoma cells. Researchers who are part of the trial are aiming to overcome resistance and subsequent cost from targeted therapies and immunotherapies via cell therapies.

Cell therapy is a big category, states Wang, as there are many targets. CD19 is the first target that has already been validated by the FDA. ZUMA-1 resulted in an approval for the CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy axi-cel in relapsed large cell lymphoma. Now, patients with relapsed MCL have the opportunity to enroll in a phase II trial with a robust enrollment.