Clinical Research Directory

CAR-T Cell Therapy for ALL

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is the most common malignancy in children and the second most frequent acute leukemia in adults. B-cell ALL constitutes approximately 85% of all ALL diagnoses. In Pakistan, ALL represents the most prevalent haematological malignancy presenting to tertiary centres, with AFBMTC receiving the largest national referral volume for haematological malignancies and transplantation. First-line combination chemotherapy achieves complete remission (CR) in \>95% of paediatric patients; however, 15-20% relapse. Outcomes following first relapse are substantially inferior: second-line salvage chemotherapy achieves CR2 in 30-50% of patients, and long-term event-free survival (EFS) after conventional chemotherapy alone is \<10%. Outcomes in adult ALL are even more dismal, with OS at 5 years below 40% even in first CR without allogeneic transplant. Patients with primary refractory ALL or multiply relapsed ALL have an unmet medical need for novel therapeutic approaches. The classical paradigm of chemotherapy followed by allogeneic haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is limited by donor availability, conditioning-related mortality, and inability to achieve remission before transplant.

Phase I Trial of the Selective Inhibitor of Nuclear Export, KPT-330, in Relapsed Childhood ALL and AML

This research study involves participants who have acute lymphoblastic or acute myelogenous leukemia that has relapsed or has become resistant (or refractory) to standard therapies. This research study is evaluating a drug called KPT-330. Laboratory and other studies suggest that the study drug, KPT-330, may prevent leukemia cells from growing and may lead to the destruction of leukemia cells. It is thought that KPT-330 activates cellular processes that increase the death of leukemia cells. The main goal of this study is to evaluate the side effects of KPT-330 when it is administered to children and adolescents with relapsed or refractory leukemia.