New drug aims to wipe out hidden leukemia cells before they return
NCT ID NCT02458014
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested a drug called blinatumomab in 36 adults with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia who were in remission but still had tiny amounts of cancer cells detectable (minimal residual disease). The goal was to see if the drug could clear those leftover cells and improve how long patients stay cancer-free. Blinatumomab works by helping the body's immune system find and destroy leukemia cells.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- blinatumomab (a drug that helps the immune system attack cancer cells)
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could offer a way to clear hidden leukemia cells and delay or prevent relapse in patients who are in remission but still have traces of the disease.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, single-center Phase II trial with only 36 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The drug can cause serious side effects, and it is not a cure—patients may still need a stem cell transplant or other treatments.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
M D Anderson Cancer Center
Houston, Texas, 77030, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Targeted drug aims to clear hidden leukemia before transplant
- Supercharged immune cells take aim at cancer and viruses in one shot