Penn researchers discover potential cause of immunotherapy-related neurotoxicity

(University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine) New research has uncovered the previously unknown presence of CD19 -- a B cell molecule targeted by chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell immunotherapy to treat leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma -- in brain cells that protect the blood brain barrier (BBB). This discovery may potentially be the cause for neurotoxicity in patients undergoing CD19 directed CAR T cell immunotherapy, according to the research team led by Avery Posey, PhD, an assistant professor of Systems Pharmacology and Translational Therapeutics at the University of Pennsylvania.
Source: EurekAlert! - Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Source Type: news