Editor's Note：From January 3–5, 2025, the 5th Annual Meeting of Chinese Alliance for Societies of Hematology (CASH) was held in Tianjin under the theme “Comprehensive Hematology, Comprehensive Health, and Comprehensive Well-being.” As a key highlight of the conference, the Top 10 Hematology Research Advancements of 2024 were announced during the closing ceremony, recognizing significant scientific achievements in the field of hematology over the past year.Among the honorees was the collaborative clinical study led by Dr. Jing Pan from Beijing GoBroad Boren Hospital and Dr. Xiaoming Feng from the Institute of Hematology & Blood Diseases Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Their study, titled Clinical Outcomes of the First Allogeneic CD5 CAR-T Therapy for T-Cell Leukemia, marked a groundbreaking achievement in the field of CAR-T cell therapy and offered new hope for patients with T-cell leukemia.
To explore the impact of this milestone, Hematology Frontier invited Dr. Jing Pan for an exclusive interview. She shared insights into the research journey, the significance of their findings, future plans, and her unique perspective on investigator-initiated trials (IITs) in cellular therapy. Below is the full transcript of this inspiring conversation.
Hematology Frontier: Your research, published in Nature Medicine, is the first to report the safety and efficacy of donor-derived, CD5 gene-knockout CD5 CAR-T therapy for relapsed/refractory acute T-cell leukemia (r/r T-ALL). This achievement has earned a place among the Top 10 Hematology Research Advancements of 2024. As the principal investigator, how do you feel about this honor? What is the broader impact of this study on the treatment of r/r T-ALL?
Dr. Jing Pan: It is a great honor for our team’s work on allogeneic CD5 CAR-T therapy in T-cell leukemia to be recognized as one of the Top 10 Hematology Research Advancements of 2024. This marks the second time our team has received this award, which is a testament to the continuous effort and dedication of everyone involved.
We have always operated with a sense of urgency, aiming to translate our research into effective clinical solutions for pressing challenges. I would like to express my sincerest gratitude to the conference committee for their recognition and support.
This honor not only acknowledges our past achievements but also motivates us to push further. T-cell lymphomas remain a significant clinical challenge, with many unresolved issues. Early translational research, particularly innovative cellular therapies like CAR-T, holds the potential to bring new hope to these patients.
Looking ahead, we will continue to tackle the complexities of T-cell lymphoma with renewed passion and determination, striving to improve patient outcomes and quality of life. We are optimistic about witnessing more clinical breakthroughs in the near future, contributing to advancements in hematology as a whole.
Hematology Frontier: At this year’s CASH conference, you delivered a lecture titled Investigator-Initiated Trials in Cellular Therapy. What valuable advice would you share with other medical teams interested in conducting IITs in cellular therapy?
Dr. Jing Pan: Investigator-initiated trials (IITs) in China differ significantly from the concept in the United States, reflecting distinct characteristics and challenges. For researchers considering this field, it is crucial to fully understand the structure and support systems required for IITs in China.
Our team has been conducting IITs in cellular therapy for nearly a decade, during which we’ve accumulated a wealth of experience. One key takeaway is that simply replicating the U.S. model is not practical. Instead, we have developed a framework tailored to China’s unique circumstances and our institutional strengths.
We focus on identifying clinical challenges through practice and channeling these insights into research, creating a virtuous cycle that benefits both patients and scientific progress. This approach is critical for advancing IITs in China. By closely integrating clinical practice with research, we can better address patient needs and drive meaningful advancements in hematology.
In summary, while international experience offers valuable guidance, IITs in China must prioritize localized innovation to better serve patients and meet clinical demands.
Hematology Frontier: What are your research plans for 2025? How do you envision further optimization and broader application of CD5 CAR-T therapy?
Dr. Jing Pan: Looking ahead to 2025, I am filled with anticipation and confidence. Our team has made significant progress in basic research, and many of these findings are poised for clinical proof-of-concept studies.
In the field of T-cell leukemia, particularly CAR-T therapy, we prioritize safety and long-term efficacy and will continue to refine these aspects. Additionally, we are venturing into more challenging areas, such as CAR-T therapy for myeloid leukemia. We have already achieved promising preliminary results and are preparing for clinical trials to validate these findings.
Our team has also developed several proprietary products, which will inject fresh momentum into our clinical research in 2025. I believe this will be a year filled with hope and breakthroughs, as we aim to transform our foundational research into tangible clinical benefits, offering patients better treatment options and improved prognoses.
At the same time, we remain committed to exploration and innovation, contributing to the advancement of hematology through our collective expertise and creativity.
About Dr. Jing Pan
- Director, Department of Hematological Tumor Immunotherapy, Beijing GoBroad Boren Hospital
- Graduate Supervisor, China Pharmaceutical University
- Professional Committee Member, Pediatric Oncology Committee, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association
- Youth Committee Member, Hematology Oncology Committee, Chinese Anti-Cancer Association
- Committee Member, Synthetic Biology Branch, Chinese Medical Biotechnology Association
- Committee Member, Clinical Applications of Medical Biotechnology Committee, Chinese Medical Biotechnology Association
- Advisor, Cellular Immunotherapy Group, Pediatric Hematology Oncology Committee, Guangdong Clinical Medicine Association
- Expert, Beijing Medical and Health Science and Technology Innovation Achievement Transformation Expert Database
