Approved CAR T cell therapies: ice bucket challenges on glaring safety risks and long-term impacts. Issue 6 (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zheng, Ping-Pin; Kros, Johan M.; Li, Jin
• Is Part Of: Drug discovery today. Volume 23:Issue 6(2018)
• Page Start: 1175
• Page End: 1182
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: Drugs -- Design -- Periodicals; Drugs -- Research -- Periodicals; 615.1
• DOI: 10.1016/j.drudis.2018.02.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1359-6446

Abstract

Highlights: The dramatic efficacy of CAR T cell therapy should be weighed up against the safety risks. The clinical safety profiles present new challenges to immuno-oncology. Minimizing the glaring safety gaps in the short- and long-term is crucial. The long-term impacts of CAR T cell therapies remain uncertain pending further progress. Abstract : Two autologous chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies (Kymriah™ and Yescarta™) were recently approved by the FDA. Kymriah™ is for the treatment of pediatric patients and young adults with refractory or relapse (R/R) B cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia and Yescarta™ is for the treatment of adult patients with R/R large B cell lymphoma. In common, both are CD19-specific CAR T cell therapies lysing CD19-positive targets. Their dramatic efficacy in the short term has been highlighted by many media reports. By contrast, their glaring safety gaps behind the miracles remain much less addressed. Here, we focus on addressing the crucial challenges in relation to the gaps.