CAR-T coming to OSU Medical Center

[ThreeWs]

Hi All,

Having just returned from my 12 week Clinical Trial monitoring I got the first tangible hints that CAR-T (Chimeric Antigen Receptor – T cell) therapy is to become a reality at the James hospital at OSU Medical Center for CLL. I heard over a year ago that it was in the planning but while I was in the waiting area I was told by a patient that she was informed that she could be enrolled in a CAR-T Clinical Trial this summer at the James. On my way out I happened to occupy an elevator with a doctor in charge of Clinical Trials who told me it could come as soon as “a few weeks” but might be in a “few months”.

I view this as exciting because it expands the options for treatment of many patients who might relapse from targeted therapies only to be forced to go to other institutions with unfamiliar doctors and staff not to mention insurance, travel and other issues associated with such a change to another institution. For high risk patients in particular, a one stop shop for comprehensive CLL management to include the CAR-T option is a real plus.

At the James hospital, efficiency with registration, waiting times and release of medical test results to online MyChart have improved dramatically over the past two years.

WWW

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero]

Which T cells are they using... Gilead/Kite or expanding their pediatric programme?

~chris

[ThreeWs in reply to Cllcanada]

I am moved in and out of monitoring with no access to anyone with details. Pure serendipity that I happened to be sitting near the patient and riding a short elevator ride with Trial Doc. He was in a hurry and we were headed to different floors. I will try to use back channels to get more information.

WWW

[Murzik in reply to ThreeWs]

They also start BAFF-R targeting trial with VAY 36 as I have been told by Dr.Byrd. Highly suggested I follow it.

[Justasheet1 in reply to Murzik]

Can you expand on what that is Murzik?

Thanks,

Jeff

Also, Wayne that is great news as I will be using the James in the future. Hopefully, distant future.

[Murzik in reply to Justasheet1]

Hi Jeff,

As I understood, it is a new monoclonal antibody, coded VAY 36 and targeting BAFF-R. We did not discuss it in full. I was asking his opinion about ROR1 trial of Dr.Kipps and he shared with me this information

[Justasheet1 in reply to Murzik]

Interesting. Did he offer you any opinion on the Ror-1? That trial is opening up with cirmtuzamab and Ibrutinib in MDA.

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to Murzik]

Its VAY-736, I think... Novartis and was developed at Lee Moffitt CC

Recombinant Human monoclonal antibody expressed in CHO Chinese Hamster Ovary, binding to Human TNFRSF13C.

VAY736 is a human immunoglobulin of the G class (IgG1/k) monoclonal antibody (mAb) designed to specifically bind the BAFF receptor.

VAY736 can be used for treatment of relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis.

More

cancer.gov/publications/dic...

Clinical trial with VAY-736 and Imbruvica (ibrutinib)

clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show...

~chris

[Murzik in reply to Cllcanada]

I think you are absolutely right Chris as usual. I have it in Dr.Byrd's handwriting, but he probably wrote it shortly. He did not add ibrutinib even. Now I see it like this: I asked about RoR1 and ibritunib and he did not coment that one, just wrote on my paper Vay 36 and then added targeting BAFF. Now I see better that he implied with ibrutinib, just did not write it. It was on March6. He also said next month. But I am positive now that it is exactly the trial you posted the link to. We had little time and I had to touch a lot of issues, did not go into much details because I am not due treatment yet.

Thanks for everything you do for us, no words can express my gratitude, G.

[Ladydi49 in reply to Cllcanada]

Very interesting. Also of interest is where it was developed because I go to H Lee Moffitt Cancer Center in Tampa and the research building which is called The Vincent Stabile Research Building is right across from my clinic and the research building is huge!

[Ladydi49 in reply to Murzik]

Can you explain what BAFF is?

Thanks

,

Dianne

[Cllcanada Top Poster CURE Hero in reply to Ladydi49]

It's a protein... Activates B cells

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/B-c...

very complex

bloodjournal.org/content/10...

[Ladydi49 in reply to Cllcanada]

Thanks so much...

[lexie]

This is exciting news, thanks for the heads up! I also see Dr. Byrd but am treatment naïve, so will watch this with interest.