Manitoba Woman Triumphs Over Stage 4 Cancer with CAR T-Cell Therapy

Sandra Hajlo has become the first person in Manitoba to be declared cancer-free following CAR T-cell therapy, marking a significant milestone in the realm of cancer treatment. Initially diagnosed with stage four B-cell lymphoma in 2015, Hajlo's cancer returned eight years later, leading her to undergo this groundbreaking therapy at CancerCare Manitoba.

CAR T-cell therapy, a treatment where T-cells are modified to target cancer cells, was recommended by her oncologist after a CT scan revealed the recurrence of her cancer. Dr. David Szwajcer, Manitoba Blood & Marrow Transplant Director at CancerCare Manitoba, explained that the CAR T-cells are harvested, sent to a U.S. facility for genetic modification, and then reintroduced to the patient. According to Hajlo, the procedure was quick and straightforward, taking only 20 minutes.

By April 2024, Hajlo learned that the treatment was successful, making her cancer-free once again. Despite the promising results, it is important to note that CAR T-cell therapy does not guarantee survival; approximately half of the patients do not respond to the treatment. Nevertheless, this therapy has shown remarkable results in many cases, offering hope to patients battling advanced stages of cancer.

CERo Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CERO), an innovative immunotherapy company, sees the success of CAR T-cell therapy in Manitoba as an indicator of the potential for its proprietary CER-T (chimeric engulfment receptor) cell therapy. Although CERo Therapeutics is unrelated to CancerCare Manitoba and had no role in Hajlo's treatment, the company is optimistic about the future of engineered T cell therapeutics.

CAR T-cell treatment, however, comes with a high price tag and potential serious side effects, including secondary cancer and cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which can be life-threatening. CER-T cell therapy from CERo Therapeutics aims to offer a more cost-effective alternative with fewer side effects. CERo Therapeutics developed CER-T cells to enhance efficiency and reduce side effects by leveraging the body's natural tumor-fighting mechanisms. The therapy works by directly killing tumors, amplifying the body's anti-tumor immune response, and presenting cancer cell fragments to other immune cells, prompting them to attack the tumor.

Peer-reviewed data indicates that CER-T cells possess at least eight anticancer functions, providing potent, durable, and low-toxicity therapeutic benefits. These findings, validated in 10 animal experiments, including a study on Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) published in March 2024, suggest that CER-T cells could completely eliminate tumors.

CERo Therapeutics plans to begin clinical trials for its lead product candidate, CER-1236, in 2024 for treating hematological malignancies. The company has completed the necessary pre-clinical studies and documentation to gain FDA approval for its Investigational New Drug (IND) Application. Having successfully completed toxicity studies for CER-1236, CERo is now focusing on ensuring safe manufacturing and finalizing its FDA application. Upon FDA acceptance, the company will commence Phase 1 clinical trials, marking a significant step toward addressing unmet medical needs.

As CERo Therapeutics advances its innovative cancer immunotherapy, the company plans to update shareholders on their progress, including presentations at investor conferences and potential growth of their intellectual property portfolio. For more information on CERo Therapeutics Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CERO), readers can click here.