Synopsis

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells have revolutionised treatment for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) where standard therapies have failed.  We reflect on our first 12 months as the first national paediatric referral centre providing CAR T cell treatment to children with relapsed or refractory ALL from Australia and New Zealand, and highlight the collective efforts and lessons for the hospital-wide CAR T cell team.

Speakers

Dr Seong Lin Khaw is a clinician-researcher, a paediatric oncologist, leukaemia stream clinical lead, head of the CAR T Cell Program at the Children’s Cancer Centre, RCH, and Children’s Cancer Foundation Clinical Research Fellow at the MCRI. Seong is engaged in clinical and translational research to improve outcomes for children with leukaemia.

Maddie Gilsenan is the Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) & Cellular Therapies Nurse Practitioner at the Children’s Cancer Centre, RCH. Her longstanding interest and involvement in the delivery of CAR T cell therapy began with her role as BMT Research Nurse Coordinator on the ELIANA CAR T cell trial at the RCH in 2016, and has continued with the implementation of the first Australian paediatric CAR T cell program.