Memorial Sloan Kettering Opens First Pediatric CAR T Cell Clinical Trial

This MSK-led multicenter trial is entering into an exciting new phase with the addition of Dana Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, as a treatment center for children and young adults needing CAR T cells. CAR T cell therapy, a type of immunotherapy, is a striking new weapon in cancer treatment. Unlike targeted drugs that interfere with an individual’s unique tumor makeup, immunotherapy goes one step further to individualize treatment by altering a patient’s own immune cells to fight disease.

“Our collaboration with Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s allows us to offer this treatment to a broader number of children,” says Kevin J. Curran, MD, who leads the study. “Our goal is to show that the immune system can fight leukemia in patients in whom chemotherapy or bone marrow transplant has failed.”

Participants will have their immune cells, called T cells, collected and genetically altered to allow them to recognize and attack a protein found on surface of their leukemia cells. The goal of this trial is to test the safety of modified T cells for patients whose leukemia has returned to the bone marrow following standard chemotherapy and/or bone marrow transplant.

While this research is in its early stages, the potential impact of this therapy has MSK researchers and clinicians excited. Unlike standard treatment, where resistance develops to targeted drugs, immunotherapy aims to teach the body how to find and eradicate the cancer cells. “It’s extremely exciting to have this treatment option available to children in both New York and Boston,” said Dr. Curran. “This will allow us to treat more children with this potentially life-saving cure.”

For more information on this clinical trial and eligibility to participate, please visit https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01860937.

###About Memorial Sloan KetteringWe are the world’s oldest and largest private cancer center, home to more than 13,000 physicians, scientists, nurses, and staff united by a relentless dedication to conquering cancer. As an independent institution, we combine 130 years of research and clinical leadership with the freedom to provide highly individualized, exceptional care to each patient. And our always-evolving educational programs continue to train new leaders in the field, here and around the world. For more information, go to www.mskcc.org.