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First Patient Receives Groundbreaking Cancer Therapy
31 Jul
Summary
- A woman with advanced ovarian cancer is the first to receive new ZI-MA4-1 therapy.
- The treatment uses donor immune cells engineered to target Mage-A4 protein.
- This 'off-the-shelf' therapy could make advanced cell treatments faster and cheaper.
Tracy Tomlinson, a 58-year-old woman diagnosed with advanced ovarian cancer, has become the world's first patient to receive a novel experimental therapy. The ZI-MA4-1 treatment is being evaluated in a clinical trial at The Christie hospital in Manchester and a site in London.
This pioneering therapy combines two powerful methods: it activates the body's natural killer cells and engineers T-cell receptors to recognize and attack tumors expressing the Mage-A4 protein. Experts believe Mage-A4 is an ideal target for various cancers.
Unlike some personalized treatments, ZI-MA4-1 is an "off-the-shelf" therapy utilizing donor immune cells, manufactured in advance. This approach aims to make advanced cell therapies more rapidly available and affordable for more patients.
Tomlinson, who has battled stage 3C ovarian cancer since 2020, expressed hope that her participation will benefit future patients. The trial, primarily focused on safety, involves patients with ovarian cancer, lung cancer, sarcomas, and head and neck cancer. It is led by The Christie, with a site at the Royal Marsden.
Prof. Fiona Thistlethwaite and Dr. Jon Lim, consultants at The Christie, highlighted the therapy's potential to advance cancer treatment and improve patient outcomes. The manufacturer, Zelluna, described Tomlinson's first dose as a landmark moment in immunotherapy.
