Breakthrough Immunotherapy Shows Potential Against Aggressive T Cell Cancers

Recent advancements in cancer treatment have highlighted a promising new immunotherapy that targets highly aggressive blood cancers, specifically T cell lymphoblastic leukemia and lymphoma. An international Phase I/II clinical trial, led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, evaluated a novel CAR-T cell therapy designed to attack cancerous T cells. The innovative therapy, known as WU-CART-007, demonstrated impressive safety and efficacy results, with most patients experiencing complete remission.

This CAR-T cell approach is unique because it is a 'universal' treatment, created using CRISPR gene editing technology. Unlike traditional CAR-T therapies, which are personalized and require weeks for manufacturing, this off-the-shelf product can be stored and rapidly deployed, greatly reducing wait times. The gene editing process removes the T cell receptor from donor cells to prevent graft-versus-host disease and other complications.

The trial involved 28 adult and adolescent patients who had exhausted standard treatments or relapsed quickly. Most patients received the full dose of 900 million CAR-T cells after lymphodepletion, a process that clears existing immune cells to make room for the new therapy. The results were remarkable: a response rate of 91%, with 8 out of 11 evaluable patients achieving complete remission, and several remaining in remission for up to 12 months post-treatment.

Side effects were manageable, with cytokine release syndrome being the most common, typically mild or moderate in severity. Rare adverse effects such as neurotoxicity were also observed but were controlled with additional therapies. The promising results suggest this therapy could serve as a bridge to stem cell transplantation, opening new hope for patients with few options.

Developed by Wugen, a biotech startup affiliated with Washington University, the therapy targets CD7, a protein on cancerous T cells. The ability to produce an off-the-shelf product addresses a significant limitation of existing CAR-T therapies, which are patient-specific and time-consuming to prepare. A larger international trial is underway to further evaluate its safety and effectiveness.

This groundbreaking approach marks a significant step forward in the fight against deadly T cell cancers, offering hope for more effective and accessible treatments in the near future.

Source: https://medicalxpress.com/news/2025-05-immunotherapy-aggressive-cell-cancers.html