Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of blood cancer that affects B- and T-lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell in charge of the immune response.
On June 14th, 2024, the FDA approved blinatumomab (Blincyto) as consolidation therapy for adult and pediatric patients with CD19-positive, Philadelphia chromosome-negative B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).
This approval allows treatment regardless of measurable residual disease (MRD) status, marking the third indication for blinatumomab in B-ALL. It is based primarily on a Phase 3 E1910 clinical trial (NCT02003222) led by ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group.
Blincyto or blinatumomab can be used in the following ways:
Consolidation therapy aims to eliminate any cancer cells left in the body. It is given after the cancer has disappeared following the initial therapy.
Bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs®) are a specific type of bispecific antibody; they bind T-cells (immune system cells) to cancer cells to facilitate their elimination.
Blinatumomab or Blincyto acts by binding to a protein called CD3 on healthy T cells and a protein called CD19 on B cells ( the affected immune cells in ALL).
Blincyto is an innovative BiTE therapy that has been vital in treating B-ALL. It is given intravenously and has proven to be more effective than chemotherapy in treating children and young adults with B-ALL that has come back after initial treatment.
Blinatumomab can cause serious side effects, including low blood cell counts, headache, infection, nausea, diarrhea, Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), and neurological symptoms. It is important for patients to be monitored closely by healthcare professionals during treatment.
Sources:
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a type of blood cancer that affects B- and T-lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell in charge of the immune response.
On June 14th, 2024, the FDA approved blinatumomab (Blincyto) as consolidation therapy for adult and pediatric patients with CD19-positive, Philadelphia chromosome-negative B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL).
This approval allows treatment regardless of measurable residual disease (MRD) status, marking the third indication for blinatumomab in B-ALL. It is based primarily on a Phase 3 E1910 clinical trial (NCT02003222) led by ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group.
Blincyto or blinatumomab can be used in the following ways:
Consolidation therapy aims to eliminate any cancer cells left in the body. It is given after the cancer has disappeared following the initial therapy.
Bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs®) are a specific type of bispecific antibody; they bind T-cells (immune system cells) to cancer cells to facilitate their elimination.
Blinatumomab or Blincyto acts by binding to a protein called CD3 on healthy T cells and a protein called CD19 on B cells ( the affected immune cells in ALL).
Blincyto is an innovative BiTE therapy that has been vital in treating B-ALL. It is given intravenously and has proven to be more effective than chemotherapy in treating children and young adults with B-ALL that has come back after initial treatment.
Blinatumomab can cause serious side effects, including low blood cell counts, headache, infection, nausea, diarrhea, Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS), and neurological symptoms. It is important for patients to be monitored closely by healthcare professionals during treatment.
Sources:
about the author
Jimena Vicencio
Jimena is an international medical graduate, and part of the writing team. She loves learning new things led by her curiosity, playing with her cats and exercise in her free time.
Subscribe to the weekly newsletter for news, stories, clinical trial updates, and helpful resources and events with cancer experts.