A phase I clinical trial of autologous, anti-CD19 gene targeted T cells for adults with B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).

TPS2619 Background: Complete remission (CR) rates for B-ALL in adults is high (>80%), but overall survival remains low (approximately 30%). Patients with relapsed disease have a very poor prognosis with a median survival measured in months. Therefore, there is a dire need for novel therapies for adults with relapsed or minimal residual B-ALL. To this end we have developed a novel T cell therapy for B cell malignancies using patient derived T cells genetically modified to express the 19-28z chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), an artificial T cell receptor specific to the CD19 antigen expressed on most B cell tumors. Human T cells retrovirally modified to express the 19-28z CAR successfully targets and eradicates B cell tumors in vitro and systemic human B cell cancers in mice. We have recently published the results of our initial Phase I clinical trial experience (Brentjens, Riviere et al., Blood 2011) utilizing this technology in adults with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. These results suggest clinical activi...