Differences Between NCI, MSKCC, and UPenn CAR-Modified T Cells

Clinical Pearls

Renier J. Brentjens, MD, PhD, associate professor, chief, Cellular Therapeutics Center, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the differences between the CAR-modified T cells of three institutions.

• Only the National Cancer Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), and the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) have reported significant anti-tumor responses using CAR-modified T cells in B cell malignancies
• It is unknown whether the design of the receptor and the methodology in which the receptor is introduced into the T cell make a clinically meaningful difference
• MSKCC and UPenn are currently conducting a study to evaluate any potential differences in clinical activity