WT1 TCR Gene Therapy for Leukaemia: A Phase I/II Safety and Toxicity Study

WT1 TCR gene therapy is a new treatment for acute myeloid leukaemia and chronic myeloid leukaemia. Patient's white blood cells (T cells) are modified to specifically fight the leukaemia cells by transferring a gene into the T cells, which allows them to recognize fragments of a protein called WT1. This protein is present on the surface of leukaemia cells at very high levels. The gene transferred to the T cells enables them to make a new T cell receptor (TCR), which will allow them to attack leukaemia cells with high levels of WT1 on their surface. Using this form of gene therapy the investigators can convert some of the patient's immune system's own T cells into T cells that the investigators hope will be much more effective at recognizing and killing leukaemia cells.