Gene-Edited Therapy Achieves 82% Remission in Leukemia Trial

Is this a breakthrough offering hope for incurable cancer, or a risky treatment with sobering long-term outcomes?

Published 4 days ago

Gene-Edited Therapy Achieves 82% Remission in Leukemia Trial

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Above: Alyssa Tapley, accompanied by her family, at the 2025 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, California, on April 5, 2025. Image credit: Craig T Fruchtman/Contributuor/Getty Images

The Spin

Narrative A

Gene-edited therapy BE-CAR7 represents a monumental breakthrough in cancer treatment, achieving 82% deep remission rates for previously incurable T-cell leukemia. This off-the-shelf treatment uses base editing to transform donor immune cells into cancer-fighting weapons, offering real hope where only palliative care existed before.

NEJM

Narrative B

While this may indeed offer promise, it could also face sobering long-term limits. Even though 82% of patients reached deep remission, unintended effects from gene-editing and immune-manipulation remain substantial. The “off-the-shelf” edited T-cells carry risks such as prolonged immunosuppression, infections, marrow suppression and in some cases immune escape of leukemia via CD7-negative variants — meaning relapse may still occur.

Blood Journals Portfolio

Metaculus Prediction

There is a 50% chance that the average survival rate of all cancers will exceed 75% by December 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.