Tisagenlecleucel for relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma

Tisagenlecleucel is in clinical development for the treatment of relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma. Follicular lymphoma is the most common type of slow-growing lymphoma that develops in B-cells (a type of immune cell). Relapsed refers to a disease that grows again after a period of remission while refractory refers to a disease that does not respond to treatment. Most common symptoms of follicular lymphoma include enlargement of lymph nodes in the neck, underarms, abdomen or groin. Follicular lymphoma is usually not considered to be curable although patients can live for many years. Therefore, there is an unmet need for a more effective treatment option.
Tisagenlecleucel contains the patient’s modified T-cells (a type of white blood cell) to make a protein called chimeric antigen receptor (CAR). CAR can attach to another protein on the surface of cancer cells called CD19. When tisagenlecleucel is given to the patient intravenously, the modified T-cells attach to and kill the cancer cells, thereby helping to clear the cancer from the body. If licensed, tisagenlecleucel will provide an additional treatment option for patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma.