Dr. Mato on the Potential for Early Utilization of CAR T-Cell Therapy in CLL

Anthony Mato, MD, MSCE, hematologic oncologist, director, CLL Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses the potential utilization of CAR T-cell therapy in earlier lines of therapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

CAR T-cell therapy is an important investigational treatment modality in terms of immunotherapy for CLL as it is building upon the success observed with allogeneic stem cell transplant, Mato says. However, with agents such as BTK inhibitors, venetoclax (Venclexta), and non-covalent BTK inhibitors either approved or in developing in CLL, the question of how the field should sequence CAR T-cell therapy remains unanswered, Mato explains.

Moreover, the clinical trials evaluating CAR T-cell therapy in CLL have utilized the therapy in later-line settings for patients who have been through multiple classes of prior agents, Mato continues. Going forward, it will be important to design clinical trials to evaluate whether patients are suited for earlier implementation of CAR T-cell therapy, as opposed to sequencing it after patients have received multiple therapies, Mato concludes.