Fludarabine Improves T Cell Survival in Melanoma Patients
Author Information
Author(s): Wallen Herschel, Thompson John A., Reilly J. Zachary, Rodmyre Rebecca M., Cao Jianhong, Yee Cassian
Primary Institution: Fred Hutchison Cancer Research Center
Hypothesis
Induction of lymphopenia with fludarabine will enhance the in vivo persistence of transferred T cells in patients with metastatic melanoma.
Conclusion
Fludarabine conditioning enhances the persistence of transferred T cells but suggests that further improvements are needed to optimize T cell survival and address regulatory T cells for better anti-tumor efficacy.
Supporting Evidence
- Fludarabine led to a 2.9 fold improvement in T cell persistence.
- Median overall survival was 9.7 months in the study population.
- Three of nine evaluable patients experienced stable disease for 5.8–11.0 months.
Takeaway
This study shows that a drug called fludarabine helps T cells live longer in patients with melanoma, which could make cancer treatments more effective.
Methodology
A phase I study where patients received two infusions of T cells, one without fludarabine conditioning and one after a five-day course of fludarabine.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the small sample size and the specific patient population selected.
Limitations
The study was conducted in a heavily pre-treated population, and the clinical responses were modest.
Participant Demographics
Patients with refractory metastatic melanoma, aged under 75, with various previous treatments.
Statistical Information
P-Value
0.0078
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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