Some forms of blood cancer, such as multiple myeloma and lymphoma, originate from immune cells specifically targeting lymphocytes. In recent years, CAR-T cell therapies have become a vital part of treating these cancers when they recur in patients after standard treatments.
This involves genetically modifying the patient’s own T lymphocytes to create chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) that can recognize and eliminate cancer cells. A recent case highlighted by scientific research focuses on a 63-year-old man with multiple myeloma who developed T cell lymphoma nine months after undergoing CAR-T therapy at University Hospital of Cologne.
The tumor formed from the genetically modified T cells used in his treatment, marking one of the first known instances where such an adverse reaction occurred. Key researchers involved are Professor Marco Herling from Leipzig Medical Center and Dr. Till Braun from University Hospital of Cologne. They possess extensive knowledge about rare yet challenging-to-treat cases of lymphomas originating from T cells.
“This case represents a significant milestone in documenting complications related to CAR-T therapy,” notes Professor Maximilian Merz, who led the current study alongside Herling as corresponding author. “Understanding these risks will help us develop measures to prevent them in future treatments.”
The research team analyzed the tumor’s development using cutting-edge technologies including various methods of next-generation sequencing and whole-genome analysis. These techniques helped identify genetic alterations that triggered cancer growth, both new ones introduced by the therapy and pre-existing changes in the patient’s blood-forming cells.
Collaboration between leading clinicians at University Hospital Cologne and scientists from Leipzig Medical Center facilitated rapid investigation into this unique case of secondary malignancy following CAR-T treatment. The institutions are among Europe’s top centers for such therapies.
“This study underscores the role genetic predispositions play in potential side effects associated with innovative immunotherapies like CAR-T cell treatments,” explains Professor Merz, who also leads Hematology research at Leipzig Medical Center.
The team is now planning additional studies to investigate more cases of secondary tumors post-CAR-T treatment. The ultimate goal is to predict and prevent these complications as the use of such therapies continues to expand globally. This subject’s importance was further highlighted by a recent publication submitted by the same research group in Leukemia, detailing nine global case studies alongside the one from Cologne.
The manuscript received extraordinary attention from peer reviewers and was accepted within 24 hours of submission, underscoring its timeliness and significance in raising awareness about this rare but serious complication. Funding for this critical research comes from EU project CERTAINTY and an award from the International Myeloma Society’s Translational Research program.
