CAR-T Therapy Outcomes Similar Between Racial/Ethnic Backgrounds

Black and Hispanic patients who underwent treatment with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy had outcomes comparable to their White and Asian counterparts, according to a study from researchers at Montefiore Einstein Cancer Center (MECC).

“Representation in cancer clinical trials is vital to ensuring that treatments are safe and effective for everyone,” said study author Mendel Goldfinger, MD, a medical oncologist at Montefiore Health System, assistant professor of medicine at Albert Einstein College of Medicine, and member of the MECC Cancer Therapeutics Program. “We couldn’t have been happier to learn that our patients who identify as Black and Hispanic have the same benefits from CAR-T therapy as white patients. We can only begin to say that a cancer treatment is transformational when these therapies benefit everyone who comes to us for care.”

Researchers looked at outcomes from 46 patients treated at Montefiore between 2015 and 2021; 17 participants were Hispanic, 9 were African American, 15 were White, and 5 were Asian.

The complete response rate among Black and Hispanic patients was 58%, with 19% of patients achieving a partial response. Among Asian and White patients, the rate of complete response was 70%, with a 20% partial response rate. These results indicate no statistical difference between ethnic and racial backgrounds.

Additionally, results were similar for major side effects. Approximately 95% of participants in each group had mild-to-moderate cytokine release syndrome.

Sources: Albert Einstein College of Medicine, April 2022

Thakkar A, Abreu M, Prardhan K, et al. Efficacy and safety of CAR-T cell therapy in minorities. Bone Marrow Transplant. 2022. doi:10.1038/s41409-022-01670-1