TY - JOUR AU - Barrett, David M. T1 - Improving CAR T cell immunotherapy–mediated remissions for pediatric leukemia PY - 2019/05/01/ AB - Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are an effective therapy for relapsed or refractory pediatric B cell leukemia. Analysis of the starting material, the T cells collected from the patient prior to CAR manufacture, reveals possible biomarkers of cells destined to perform poorly in patients. Long-term follow-up shows that long periods of B cell aplasia, a marker of in vivo CAR activity, are associated with longer remission but also a higher chance of antigen-negative relapse. The role of transplantation as consolidative therapy is unclear in this nonrandomized data, but clearly warrants further study. JF - The Journal of Clinical Investigation JA - J Clin Invest SN - 0021-9738 DO - 10.1172/JCI128743 VL - 129 IS - 5 UR - https://doi.org/10.1172/JCI128743 SP - 1842 EP - 1844 PB - The American Society for Clinical Investigation ER -