Johns Hopkins Team Invents Breakthrough Therapy for T-Cell Leukemias and Lymphomas
Researchers at Johns Hopkins Kimmel Cancer Center, the Ludwig Center, and the Lustgarten Laboratory have developed a groundbreaking treatment for T-cell leukemias and lymphomas.
This innovative therapy is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) that pairs an antibody targeting the TRBC1 protein—common in T-cell cancers—with the powerful anti-cancer drug SG3249.
The ADC works by specifically binding to cancer cells with the TRBC1 protein, leading to internalization of the ADC and release of SG3249 inside the cell, which then triggers cell death.
The TRBC1 protein was chosen for targeting because it is predominantly expressed in T-cell cancers, while normal T cells typically have the TRBC2 protein. This selective targeting helps minimize damage to healthy T cells, thereby preserving some immune function.
In preclinical studies using mouse models, a single dose of the ADC resulted in significant cancer regression, with no detectable disease for over 200 days and no recurrences.
Notably, the treatment preserved about 50% of normal T cells, maintaining some level of immune protection.
The researchers are now advancing to early-phase clinical trials to test the therapy in humans.
The project has received support from various prestigious institutions, including The Virginia and D.K. Ludwig Fund for Cancer Research, the Lustgarten Foundation, Bloomberg~Kimmel Institute, Bloomberg Philanthropies, and the National Institutes of Health.
Johns Hopkins University has also filed patents related to this technology, with several authors listed as inventors.
This ADC therapy holds promise as a significant advancement in the treatment of T-cell malignancies, particularly for patients facing limited options due to relapsed or refractory disease.
