Anyone had CAR-T therapy for solid tumors? (pancreatic cancer)

Hi - I am 75 and had CAR-T therapy last February. I had persistent Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma. Ie it was not responding to chemo. 30 days later I was clear - Magical!

I had CAR-T therapy last February for DLBCL. It was persistent in my duodenum and had spread to my pancreas and liver. 30 days later I was clear - Magic! I am headed for a 1 year PET mid February.

@indyellen, I pulled your comment into its own discussion so that it could be posted simultaneously in the CAR-T Cell Therapy group and the Pancreatic Cancer group. I hope you also saw the helpful reply from @kirkwilliams2049.

Ellen, that is great news that you are a probable candidate for a clinical trial of CAR-T cell therapy for pancreatic cancer. When do you find out if you will be on the trial?

Hi @indyellen ,

I finally saw your post after Colleen copied it to the pancreatic cancer group. I'm really interested in your situation, but have more questions than answers at this point.

My understanding is that solid tumors (like pancreatic) have been really difficult to treat with CAR-T cells, so if you've got access to a new trial, it might be something really groundbreaking.

My trial last year (not successful) used CAR-NK (Natural Killer) cells as an alternative. It was a FIH (First in human) trial that required a 3-week stay in the SCT (Stem Cell Transplant) ward of the hospital, where most patients were getting CAR-T cells for other types of cancer. It was kind of funny that the researchers and staff had so much experience with T cells that they kept referring to my treatment that way and then correcting themselves a second later.

I'm really interested in anything else you're willing to share about this trial.

Best of luck with it!

--mm

I am in Edmonton Alberta Canada so this is probably not applicable depending on where you are located. My understanding is that modified T cells look for the CD19 marker on offending/mutated B cells. Both variations (Standard of Care and locally modified) look for this marker. Bear in mind that I am a patient not an expert.

There was a study done about 2.5 years ago that indicated that if your B cells are histiocyte rich, that CAR-T had no effect. The study group was only 9 patients so it is far from a statistically significant group. I can’t locate the study right off but it was reported by the National Institute of Health. Again I am not an expert but this may give you some talking points to discuss with your team.

Hope things work out for you. I am pleased to answer any other questions you may have.