Dr. Grunwald on the Established and Potential Utility of Tisagenlecleucel in ALL

Michael R. Grunwald, MD, FACP, a clinical assistant professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina, as well as a hematologist/oncologist at Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, discusses the established and potential utility of tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah) in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).

Having a CAR T-cell therapy available for patients with ALL has been exciting, according to Grunwald. However, the agent is only currently approved for use in younger patients with relapsed/refractory disease, and only those who are 25 years of age or younger can qualify for treatment. 

Further studies examining tisagenlecleucel and other agents in older patients with ALL will be important, as more options are needed for that population, Grunwald says. However, having tisagenlecleucel available for younger patients has been beneficial, as it has helped them achieve a durable remission following relapse, Grunwald concludes.