HKU-Shenzhen Hospital reports targeted CAR-T treatment for a US cancer patient

Source: The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital · Published: 27 October 2026 · Read the original report

The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital reported on 27 October that Larry, an American patient with advanced gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma, had completed one course of Claudin18.2-targeted CAR-T cell therapy at its International Medical Center and had been discharged. He and his wife travelled more than 11,600 kilometres from Los Angeles to Shenzhen to seek treatment.

A treatment decision after repeated progression

According to the hospital, Larry had been diagnosed with moderately to poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma about a year and a half before admission. He had received neoadjuvant treatment, surgery, and first- and second-line treatment. His disease continued to progress despite paclitaxel with ramucirumab and local intraperitoneal paclitaxel administration. Peritoneal metastases added to the difficulty of treatment.

A biopsy of a peritoneal metastasis showed Claudin18.2 expression scored as 2+/3+, with 99% of tumour cells positive. In July 2026, he received zolbetuximab, an antibody directed at the same target, together with chemotherapy, but the disease soon progressed again. His wife had searched using his tumour biomarker alongside the cancer type; the hospital's account describes that search as part of the route that led the couple to China.

Infusion and management of adverse effects

The CAR-T approach described by the hospital collects the patient's immune cells, engineers them to carry a receptor recognising Claudin18.2, expands them outside the body and then infuses them back into the patient. Target expression was therefore a central part of this patient's assessment, rather than the cancer's location alone.

The cell infusion took place on 29 September 2026. Afterwards, Larry developed fever reaching 39°C, mild to moderate swelling in both lower legs and a mild fall in blood pressure. The team administered fluids and tocilizumab, after which his symptoms improved. The hospital said it monitored him closely throughout treatment and that indicators related to adverse reactions had stabilised about ten days after infusion.

Follow-up examinations showed his CA19-9 tumour marker falling from 8,200 U/mL before infusion to 57.6 U/mL at the time of the report. The hospital also described substantial tumour shrinkage, approaching complete remission. This was the reported response in one patient at that stage; the account did not establish complete remission or a long-term outcome.

Pathology and multidisciplinary assessment remain essential

Professor Pan Hongming, the hospital's deputy director and a member of its Oncology Medical Center, emphasised that this treatment does not apply to every patient with gastric or gastroesophageal junction cancer. Standardised pathology testing must first confirm expression of targets such as Claudin18.2. A multidisciplinary team must then assess the patient's physical condition, previous treatments and potential risks, with treatment proceeding only after informed consent.

The hospital also highlighted fever and cytokine release syndrome among the possible adverse effects of cell therapy. Monitoring and management require an experienced team in a medical institution equipped to treat such complications. The couple's journey illustrates a target-matched treatment decision after several unsuccessful therapies, with both assessment before infusion and specialist care afterwards forming part of the care delivered in Shenzhen.