September 19 (Wed), 12:20-13:10, Rm. 308

Anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CART19) are now an FDA-approved drug for relapsed B-cell acute leukemia and diffuse large B cell lymphoma. The approval by the FDA of the first adoptive T cell therapy, the UPenn/Novartis CART19 (CTL019), represents a huge achievement for cancer treatment and paves the way to the use of the CART technology in other cancers and in combination with other agents. Intense scientific research is currently ongoing with the goal of improving safety, increasing response rates and avoiding relapses. In his talk Dr. Ruella will summarize the key milestones in CART therapy, the technologies that have supported these advancements and draw his view on future directions and perspectives for the field.