Green light for powerful but expensive immunotherapy for leukemia

Read the full article (in Dutch) in De Standaard (July 12, 2018). With explanation by, among others, prof. Barbara De Moerloose, pediatric oncologist at UZ Gent and affiliated with CRIG

It is particularly encouraging news for cancer patients. Children with leukemia and adults with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma for whom no more therapy seems to help, will soon have a new chance to cure from their cancer. Two new treatments will become available on the market which showed spectacular results in clinical trials. With the treatments Kymriah and Yescarta, more than half of the patients - who had no further chances to recover otherwise - recovered. Using this so-called CAR-T immunotherapy, T-cells of the patient are genetically modified and finally re-introduced to the patient. The EMA (European Medicines Agency) has now given green light for the two treatments, meaning that they will be available in Europe soon.

'The treatments make it possible to help patients who would otherwise die', says Professor Barbara De Moerloose (UZ Gent). As pediatric oncologist, she was already able to treat children with Kymriah in clinical studies. 'Sometimes the treatment can have severe side effects, such as severe flu symptoms. In severe cases, the patient has to be treated in intensive care and must be respirated.'

The treatments are however very expensive. Further explanation in the article by Prof. Marc Peeters (UZA) and the cabinet of Minister De Block.