Cutting-edge New Zealand research into a new cancer treatment using a patient's own immune cells suggests it could be safer and more effective than existing treatments.

Twenty-one patients with blood cancer (B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma) - who had already exhausted conventional treatments - took part in the trial, in which their own immune cells were modified genetically to make CAR T-cells.

Preliminary results, published online on Friday in an abstract accepted for presentation at the American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting in San Diego, showed around half of these patients had no sign of the disease three months after receiving the treatment.

The trial, which started in 2019, was led by the Malaghan Institute in partnership with Wellington Zhaotai Therapies Ltd, with the patients treated at Whatu Ora Capital and Coast and Hutt Valley.

Malaghan clinical director Dr Rob Weinkove, who is leading the research, says importantly, none of the patients developed the dangerous side-effects that are common in some commercial CAR T-cell therapies.

"It's fantastic to show that we can do this in New Zealand. This is a hugely ambitious clinical trial proving we can conduct cutting-edge trials that draw international attention.

"Even more importantly, it demonstrates that we can develop high-tech manufacturing here in New Zealand, and that there are no insurmountable obstacles to delivering new cancer treatments like CAR T-cell therapy in our hospitals."

CAR T-cell therapy works by separating a patient's own immune cells (T-cells) from their blood, and modifying them by introducing a new genetic sequence.

The T-cells then make surface receptors called CARs which enable the T-cells, now CAR T-cells, to identify and attack the patient's cancer.

The Malaghan Institute's CAR T-cells include an additional modification, which Weinkove and his team believe has helped make them safer.

CAR T- cell therapy pioneer Dr Carl June, from the University of Pennsylvania, said the ENABLE trial's phase 1 CAR T data to be presented at ASH was a step forward for the treatment of CD19 expressing lymphomas.

"Dr Weinkove and his team at the Malaghan Institute and BioOra have shown efficacy that is on par with commercial CAR T, but the safety signal appears superior. This lays the foundation for outpatient delivery and management and expanding indications of their CAR T programme."

The ENABLE trial was funded by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment, Thompson Family Foundation, and by private donors, with additional support from Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand and Life Blood.

The Malaghan Institute's CAR T-cell research programme has been supported by Freemasons NZ and the Health Research Council of New Zealand.

Dr Weinkove received a Clinical Practitioners Research Fellowship from the Health Research Council.

-RNZ.