Low-Dose Lenalidomide Improves CAR-Based Immunotherapy
Bertilaccio MTS, Tettamanti S, Attianese GMPG, et al.
Key Points:
Investigators studied in vivo cytotoxic effects on tumor microenvironment upon treatment with CAR.CD23 T cells from CLL patients together with lenalidomide
Decreased percentage of CD19+leukemic cells observed in all lymphoid and non-lymphoid tissues after 20 days of treatment
Combination resulted in improved survival of treated cohort (NT+lenalidomide vs CAR+lenalidomide: p<0.03, n=7)
CAR T cells observed in all leukemic sites suggesting ability to migrate and home in vivo
CD23.CAR+T cells purified from bone marrow still able to mount tumor-specific cytotoxic response in vitro (>50% of tumor lysis in lenalidomide and IL-2 v/s 20% by unmanipulated T cells).
Implications:
- Low doses lenalidomide improves CARs (Chimeric antigen receptors) cytotoxic response and avoids potential impairment of effective immune response in CLL.
View the original abstract on the ASH website.
