Dr Shah on the Investigation of LV20.19 CAR in MCL

Nirav N. Shah, MD, associate professor, Medical College of Wisconsin, discusses the investigation of lentiviral bispecific CAR T cells targeting CD20 and CD19 B-cell antigens (LV20.19 CAR) in patients with relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

Investigators previously launched a phase 1/2 trial (NCT04186520) that aimed to investigate LV20.19 CAR in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies, including MCL, Shah begins. Previously, investigators had completed the phase 1 portion of the trial, which that led to a promising overall response rate (ORR) and allowed investigators identify an appropriate dose level of LV20.19 CAR, Shah says.

A single-center pilot study was designed from the phase 1/2 trial to further investigate LV20.19 CAR in patients with MCL Within this portion of the study, investigators specifically studied patients with MCL as a pilot clinical trial, Shah adds. Findings presented at the 2023 Transplantation & Cellular Therapy Meetings showed that LV20.19 elicited a 90-day complete response (CR) rate of 92% in patients with relapsed/refractory MCL. Additionally, At day 28, the ORR was 100%, and 71% of patients achieved a CR.

MCL was selected for this study because it is a unique non-Hodgkin lymphoma that is known for high levels of CD20 expression, Shah continues. Since agents such as rituximab (Rituxan) have been shown to produce a survival benefit in MCL, it was thought that LV20.19 CAR could benefit patients with MCL since it targets both CD19 and CD20, Shah concludes.