CAR-T Cell Therapy Trial Currently Enrolling Patients With CLL and SLL

The phase 1 TRANSCEND CLL 004 trial is currently enrolling patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) to analyze an investigational drug, JCAR017.

JCAR017 is a CAR T cell therapy, meaning it uses patients’ immune cells – T cells – and turns them into chimeric antigen receptor CAR T cells. The trial, which is sponsored by Juno Therapeutics, Inc., will last 26 months.

While there are various treatments available for CLL and SLL, there is a clinical need for patients who have not achieved a successful response with these options.

“The purpose of this trial is to evaluate the antitumor activity, safety and tolerability of JCAR017 in patients with relapsed or refractory CLL or SLL,” said Dr. Julie Vose of University of Nebraska Medical Center in a video.

The T cells are collected through a process called leukapheresis and sent to a facility to be modified with a gene. This helps the body learn to recognize and attack cancer cells.

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