Clinical Research
Cytorex EBV
Cell Medica is co-developing its principal anti-cancer cell therapy, Cytorex EBV, with the Center for Cell and Gene Therapy at Baylor College of Medicine (CAGT). The cell therapy is based upon the treatment of malignancies associated with the oncogenic Epstein Barr virus (EBV) through the use of cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) specific for EBV antigens. EBV is an oncogenic virus which has long been associated with various types of cancer, including lymphoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma and gastric cancer. Over 90% of the human population carries a latent EBV infection. While EBV may or may not be associated with the specific pathogenesis of a patient’s cancer, malignant cells which express EBV antigens can be targeted with Cytorex EBV.
EBV is associated with 15% - 20% of lymphomas, more than 90% of nasopharyngeal carcinomas and about 10% of gastric cancer. Within the lymphoma group, EBV association varies significantly by subtype. Association ranges from up to 100% for extranodal NK/T cell lymphoma, 20% to 90% for Burkitt’s lymphoma depending on region, over 50% for angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma and 20% - 50% for Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Due to its unique and safe mechanism of action, Cytorex EBV can be used in combination with many types of conventional cancer treatment and for patients not responding to such treatments.