The first New Zealand trial of a revolutionary cancer treatment has returned promising results, bringing it a step closer to becoming routine use in the hospital system.
CAR T-cell therapy, a form of immunotherapy, was trialled on 21 New Zealanders with advanced lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.
The treatment uses the patient’s own blood. T cells, which fight infection, are genetically modified in the lab to recognise and attack cancer. The modified cells are then injected back into the patient's body.
Previously, CAR T-cell therapy was only available overseas and would cost New Zealand patients hundreds of thousands of dollars to access.
The trial by the Malaghan Institute in Wellington began in 2019 and was primarily concerned with testing its safety. Preliminary results released today show the therapy is safer than other leading commercial CAR T- cell products.
"It’s fantastic to show that we can do this in New Zealand," said Dr Robert Weinkove, clinical director at the Malaghan Institute.
The trial also checked for two main side effects – neurotoxicity (ranging from confusion to brain swelling) and cytokine release syndrome, which is similar to sepsis.
There were no cases of neurotoxicity and low levels of cytokine release reported among the patients.
Fifty per cent of the patients had a complete response to the treatment, meaning there were no remaining signs of cancer after a three-month scan.
"What this trial has shown is we can do this, we've got the infrastructure here, we've got the people here. We can manage the toxicities. It's all doable if you've got the will to make it work," said Weinkove.
CAR T-cell therapy, a form of immunotherapy, was trialled on 21 New Zealanders with advanced lymphoma. (Source: 1News)
'I call it miracle science' - trial participant
Trial participant Michele Leggott told Breakfast "I still wake up every morning, and it’s a year since the treatment, and I think 'I’m well'.”
"It took from January until September to get onto the trial and after that, a few months later, the lymphoma was gone.
"I call it miracle science. It’s just amazing."
The second phase of the trial, which will assess the effectiveness of the treatment across a larger number of patients, will start next year.
The trial was funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE), the Health Research Council and donors.
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