MUSC Hollings Cancer Center’s Innovative CAR-T Cell Therapy Clinical Trial Receives NCI Grant for Expansion

MUSC Hollings Cancer Center’s Innovative CAR-T Cell Therapy Clinical Trial Receives NCI Grant for Expansion

Charleston, SC: The Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) Hollings Cancer Center’s groundbreaking clinical trial, centered on a distinctive variation of CAR-T cell therapy, continues to shine. Having displayed promising success with the first two patients, the trial has now been awarded a $3.2 million grant from the National Cancer Institute (NCI). This considerable funding is meant to facilitate the trial’s expansion, boosting its capacity to evaluate more patient cases.

Reimagining CAR-T Cell Therapy

In a collaborative effort, Dr. Brian Hess and Dr. Shikhar Mehrotra have pioneered an innovative treatment method involving “purified” CAR-T cells. Their primary targets are individuals diagnosed with certain types of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas that have shown resistance to other therapies. Essentially, the CAR-T cell therapy used in this trial is a patented deviation from the FDA-approved form used to treat specific blood cancers. The researchers hope the new variation will produce long-lasting results with fewer side effects.

The first two patients involved in the clinical trial have shown complete remission, experiencing fewer side effects typically associated with conventional CAR-T cell therapy. These side effects, ranging from fever and low blood pressure to seizures, often result in hospitalization in the intensive care unit.

A First Patient Success Story

The first patient in this trial, Ted Kopacko, was diagnosed with marginal zone lymphoma in 2013. Despite undergoing several treatments, his type of lymphoma was not eligible for FDA-approved CAR-T cell therapies. However, Kopacko was eligible for this clinical trial and underwent the therapy in January. Remarkably, he did not experience any usual side effects associated with this type of treatment.

Kopacko expressed immense gratitude towards the MUSC Hollings Cancer Center team stating, “They took me – and I was really struggling when I came here in November – and in a little bit over three months, they turned me around.”

The Journey and Future of the Clinical Trial

The origins of this clinical trial date back to 2013 when Mehrotra commenced work on this concept in his lab. Several years later, financial support from Hollings enabled the team to consider applying the treatment to patients. Earlier this year, Kopacko was the first to receive the innovative therapy.

The CAR-T cell therapy uniquely engineers a patient’s own T-cells to target proteins appearing on cancer cells’ surface. As of now, the trial treatment is limited, with a requirement for patients to be spaced at least 28 days apart, facilitating the monitoring of potential side effects. With the five-year $3.2 million grant from NCI, the trial is set to incorporate 30 to 35 more patients.

In addition to the generous funding from NCI, the Zucker Institute for Innovation Commercialization at MUSC honoured Dr. Hess and Dr. Mehrotra with its Technology Breakthrough Award. This esteemed accolade recognizes MUSC innovations that represent a significant advance in their respective fields.

Continued Success on the Horizon

With the impressive results shown in the trial’s early stages, there is great anticipation for the continued success of this innovative venture. As the number of patients able to partake in the trial expands, the hope and potential for longer-lasting remission for B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients continue to grow.