In a groundbreaking clinical trial at Mass General Cancer Center, a novel CAR-T cell therapy has demonstrated remarkably quick and significant tumor reduction in patients with recurrent glioblastoma, an often fatal form of brain cancer. Published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the phase 1 clinical trial known as INCIPIENT, showed that the first three patients experienced dramatic reductions in tumor size within days of receiving a single treatment.
The innovative therapy involves engineering CAR-TEAM cells, an upgrade on the traditional CAR-T therapy, which not only targets cancer cells but also enlists other immune cells to continue the fight against the tumor. “The CAR-T platform has revolutionized how we think about treating patients with cancer, but solid tumors like glioblastoma have remained challenging to treat,” said Dr. Bryan Choi, neurosurgeon and associate director at Mass General. This collaborative project has brought new hope to a disease with limited treatment options.
Dr. Marcela Maus, director of the Cellular Immunotherapy Program at the Mass General Cancer Center, spearheaded the research, creating a team to rapidly translate lab findings into clinical trials. “These results are exciting, but they are also just the beginning—they tell us that we are on the right track in pursuing a therapy that has the potential to change the outlook for this intractable disease,” Maus stated.
One patient, a 57-year-old woman, showed near-complete tumor regression just five days after the infusion of CAR-TEAM cells. Another, a 72-year-old man, experienced a tumor size reduction of 18.5% just two days post-infusion, with the tumor shrinking by more than 60% by day 69, and the response lasted over six months.
The quick responses to the therapy are considered unprecedented given the aggressive nature of glioblastoma. The trial also aims to confirm the safety of the procedure, with more extensive research and larger trials anticipated to evaluate the long-term efficacy and potential for repeated doses.
While the initial results are promising, the tumors did recur within six months in two of the patients, driving researchers to explore new methods to increase the durability of the treatment. Dr. Elizabeth Gerstner, a neuro-oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital, emphasized the progress but acknowledged that “there is more to do.”
Glioblastoma has claimed the lives of notable figures such as U.S. Senators Edward M. Kennedy and John McCain, as well as Beau Biden, son of President Biden. The sense of urgency in finding an effective treatment is palpable.
Relevant articles:
– A new treatment for deadly brain tumors is delivering remarkably quick and significant results, nearly eradicating the cancer within just five days. Scientists at Mass General Brigham are describing this breakthrough treatment as “dramatic and rapid.”
– Massachusetts clinical trial shows ‘dramatic and rapid’ progress against glioblastoma tumors, WCVB Boston, Wed,13 Mar 2024 22:35:00 GMT
– A promising glioblastoma clinical trial: Mass General cancer researchers say tumors dramatically shrunk, Boston Herald, Wed,13 Mar 2024 21:02:02 GMT
– New treatment shrinks brain tumors in small clinical trial at Mass General, The Boston Globe, Thu,14 Mar 2024 12:00:47 GMT