Latest T-Cell Study Opens for Mesothelioma Patients

Sarah Cannon Research Institute in Nashville, Tennessee, and MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston have opened a much-anticipated clinical trial involving a novel T-cell therapy for patients with mesothelioma. The two institutions are establishing dosage levels and measuring efficacy of TC-210, a type of immunotherapy that targets mesothelin, a cell surface protein highly expressed in several cancers. The study also is open to patients with certain types of bile duct, ovarian and non-small cell lung cancer. Participation is based upon individual levels of mesothelin expression. Researchers at the two centers are hoping to enroll up to 90 participants combined for the study, which is expected to end in 2021. The therapy TC-210 involves a genetic modification of a patient’s T cells, a type of white blood cell that is separated from the blood through a process known as leukapheresis. Modification Based on Genetic Profile The laboratory modification of the cells is based upon a patient’s genetic profile and the specific cancer. The process takes approximately four to five weeks to complete. The modified T cells, unique to each patient, are then reintroduced with an ability to identify and potentially kill the tumor cells by targeting mesothelin. Preclinical data, presented at the 2019 American Association for Cancer Research annual meeting in Atlanta, showed robust anti-tumor activity in laboratory mesothelioma cell samples and animal models. Until recently, T-cell therapy h...
Source: Asbestos and Mesothelioma News - Category: Environmental Health Authors: Source Type: news