BAFF CAR-T Cells for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

This trial tests a new treatment called BAFF CAR-T cells, a type of immunotherapy, for individuals with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who haven't responded well to previous treatments. The goal is to determine if this approach, which modifies a person's immune cells to fight cancer, can be effective after other options like BTK inhibitors and BCL2 inhibitors have failed. The trial seeks participants with active and measurable CLL or small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL) who have relapsed after at least two treatments. As a Phase 1 trial, the research focuses on understanding how the treatment works in people, offering participants the opportunity to be among the first to receive this innovative therapy.

The trial protocol does not specify if you need to stop taking your current medications. However, it mentions that you must wait more than 2 weeks since prior radiation therapy or 5 half-lives for systemic therapy before leukapheresis, and you cannot use corticosteroids within 2 days before the infusion, except for preventing nausea during chemotherapy.

Research shows that BAFF CAR-T cells, such as LMY-920, are being tested for safety in treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In earlier studies, a small number of patients with various types of lymphoma received these CAR-T cells. The treatment was generally well-tolerated, with most patients handling it well. Some experienced side effects like fever and low blood pressure, which are common with CAR-T therapies. However, no severe or unexpected reactions occurred.

Unlike the standard treatments for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL), which often include chemotherapy and targeted therapies like BTK inhibitors, BAFF CAR-T cells (LMY-920) offer a novel approach by harnessing the body's immune system to fight cancer. This treatment is unique because it involves genetically modifying a patient's T-cells to specifically target and destroy cancer cells, potentially leading to more precise and effective results. Researchers are excited about BAFF CAR-T cells because they represent a personalized therapy that might offer longer-lasting remission with fewer side effects compared to traditional CLL treatments.

Research has shown that BAFF CAR-T cells, which participants in this trial will receive, could be a promising treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). In lab studies, these cells found and destroyed CLL cancer cells, even those resistant to other treatments. BAFF CAR-T cells target the BAFF receptor, a specific part often present on CLL cells. Early results suggest these cells can significantly reduce the number of cancer cells, offering hope for a new treatment option for patients who don't respond to current therapies.¹²³⁶⁷