Preventing Weight Loss Enhances CAR T-Cell Therapy

Cancer patients often experience weight loss associated with cachexia, which can significantly impact the effectiveness of cancer treatments. That includes treatments such as immunotherapy and CAR T-cell therapy. A recent study showed that preventing weight loss can make treatments more effective.

The study, published in the journal Blood Advances, found that cancer patients who lost weight in the three months before receiving chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy were more likely to experience side effects and have poorer outcomes. This type of therapy has transformed the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma; yet, the study found that those suffering from weight loss were less likely than those without weight loss to benefit from the treatment. The researchers believe that weight loss, inflammation, and the cancer in a patient’s body interact with each other to contribute to disappointing results for those receiving CAR T-cell therapy.

This study is important because it highlights the significance of preventing weight loss in cancer patients. There are currently no effective treatments on the U.S. market to prevent cachexia. Endevica Bio is working to change that. We’re developing a treatment that will begin when patients are diagnosed with cancer but before they suffer weight loss. This same treatment can be used when weight loss occurs prior to diagnosis. Cachexia is a wasting syndrome that causes weight loss, muscle loss, and weakness. It is a common complication of cancer, and it can be debilitating. Cachexia can make it difficult for cancer patients to eat, drink, and exercise. It can also lead to fatigue, depression, and anxiety.

There are a number of factors that can contribute to cachexia, including the cancer itself, inflammation, and changes in metabolism.

Weight loss can impact cancer therapy in a number of ways. It can weaken the immune system, making it harder for the body to fight cancer. It can also make it more difficult for cancer patients to tolerate treatment. For example, weight loss can increase the incidence of chemotherapy side effects and complications. It can also make recovery from surgery more difficult for these patients, while increasing the risk of infection and other complications.

The study in Blood Advances is an important step forward in our understanding of the impact of weight loss on cancer therapy. It suggests that preventing weight loss – the goal of Endevica Bio’s drug — could be a key to improving outcomes. Our cachexia treatment, which shows great promise, could help millions of cancer patients live longer and better lives.

By Dr. Daniel Marks, MD, PhD is Chief Medical and Scientific Officer at Endevica Bio.