Engineered T-cell therapy targeting WT1 for acute myeloid leukemia
Transgenic T cell Therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia
This approach uses your own T cells reprogrammed to recognize a leukemia protein called WT1 to help adults with acute myeloid leukemia fight their cancer.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P01 program project |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11177706 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will collect a patient's own T cells, genetically add a high‑affinity receptor that recognizes the WT1 protein, expand those cells in the lab, and then infuse them back into the patient. The goal is for the engineered T cells to find and kill leukemia cells that have high WT1 levels while sparing most normal cells. Earlier clinical work targeting a specific WT1 piece in HLA-A*02 patients showed direct anti-leukemia effects and helped prevent relapse after transplant but encountered leukemia escape when antigen presentation changed and limited persistence of the transferred cells. This program builds on those results with the aim of improving engineered T-cell durability and reducing mechanisms the leukemia uses to evade the immune response.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults (21+) with acute myeloid leukemia, particularly HLA-A*02 positive patients with relapsed or high-risk disease or those who are not candidates for allogeneic transplant, would be the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have the required HLA type, whose leukemias do not express WT1, or who cannot tolerate cell-collection and infusion procedures are unlikely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could lower relapse risk and provide a targeted treatment option for adults with AML who cannot have or did not respond to transplant.
How similar studies have performed: Previous trials of WT1-directed T cells in HLA-A*02 patients showed direct anti-leukemia activity and relapse prevention after transplant but also revealed tumor escape and limited persistence of transferred cells.
Where this research is happening
Seattle, United States
- Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center — Seattle, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chapuis, Aude — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Chapuis, Aude
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.