The first step in the process of arming T cells is extracting the cells through apheresis. The cells are then cultivated and expanded in the lab and armed with the bispecific antibody, which programs the T cells to attack the tumors.  Next, the armed T cells are frozen and preserved until they are ready to be infused into the patient after chemotherapy. A biopsy is performed following chemotherapy to see how much of the tumor was eliminated.

The research team checks the type and function of the lymphocytes in the tumor biopsy and determines the number of cancer tumor stem cells that are present. Patients will then receive four infusions of T cells, followed by surgery to remove the remaining tumor. At the time of surgery, the lymphocytes are tested for their function and the number of remaining cancer stem cells is evaluated.

In the Phase I clinical trial involving 19 women with all types of metastatic disease, Dr. Lum showed that infusions of Her2Bi-armed T cells are safe for the patient; induce immune responses that kill breast cancer cells; stabilize the disease; and promote a very promising, partial clinical response.

The results also indicate that targeted T cell infusions work to vaccinate the patient against their own tumors. Targeted immunotherapy in some instances improves overall survival of women, many of whom have received multiple therapies, according to Dr. Lum. The successful trial results also have allowed researchers to expand the study to the current Phase II and to study women with triple-negative breast cancers.

These exciting immunotherapy study results have garnered attention in the cancer research community. Dr. Lum was invited to present his results at the American Society of Clinical Oncology Breast Cancer Conference earlier this month in Washington, D.C.

"What we're hoping is that when you eliminate the remaining tumor through immunotherapy and vaccinate the patient against the tumor, we would then see an increased number of women who were cured at that point in time," Dr. Lum said. "You knew what the situation was before immunotherapy, and now you know the situation after. If we can double the number of women whose cancer is completely eradicated through immunotherapy, it would be a home run in how we treat women with triple-negative breast cancer."

SOURCE Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute