Preliminary Clinical Results of a Phase 1 Study Evaluating the Safety and Anti-Tumor Activity of ACTR707 in Combination with Rituximab in Subjects with Relapsed or Refractory CD20+ B-Cell Lymphoma

Abstract Background: Recent regulatory approvals of two CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-expressing autologous T lymphocyte therapies provide compelling evidence of the clinical potential of re-engineering T cells to specifically attack tumor cells, but the broader applicability of these therapies is constrained by safety considerations and target specificity. A universal approach to T cell therapy that enables flexibility in tumor target selection has been demonstrated by engineering autologous T cells to express an antibody-coupled T cell receptor (ACTR) composed of the ectodomain of the CD16 Fc receptor fused to costimulatory and CD3ζ signaling domains. Thus, the ACTR platform couples T cell anti-tumor effector functions, including cytotoxicity, cytokine production, and T cell proliferation, to target-specific therapeutic antibodies. Here we present the preliminary clinical findings of the ongoing, multicenter Phase 1 study, ATTCK-20-03 (NCT03189836), of ACTR707, a CD28-containing ACTR chimeric receptor, in combination with rituximab in subjects with relapsed or refractory CD20+ B cell lymphoma. Methods: The primary objectives of this first-in-human, dose escalation study are to evaluate the safety of the combination of ACTR707 and rituximab and to determine a maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and a proposed recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). Other objectives include evaluation of antitumor activity, and assessment of ACTR T cell persistence, cytokine levels, and rituximab pharmacokinetics. Eligible subjects must have histologically confirmed relapsed or refractory CD20+ non-Hodgkin lymphoma and have received prior anti-CD20 mAb in combination with chemotherapy. Subjects received lymphodepleting chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide 400 mg/m2 and fludarabine 30 mg/m2) for 3 days, followed by rituximab (375 mg/m2) and ACTR707. Additional doses of rituximab were administered, one dose every 3 weeks in the absence of disease progression. The study is separated into 2 sequential phases, a dose escalation and a safety expansion phase. During the dose escalation phase, ACTR707 is being tested at increasing doses in combination with rituximab. Results: Six subjects were enrolled and received ACTR707 at the first dose level in combination with rituximab: 5 diagnosed with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (83%) and one with follicular lymphoma, Grade 3b (17%). Median age was 61 years (range: 57-76), 83% were male, 50% were treated with ≥3 lines of prior therapy, and 67% had no response to or relapse within 6 months from immediate prior therapy. ACTR707 was successfully manufactured for all subjects and demonstrated post-infusion expansion in the peripheral blood. ACTR+ T cells were detectable at Day 28 post-infusion for all subjects tested. No dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed at the first dose level in 4 DLT-evaluable subjects (2 subjects experienced disease progression during the DLT evaluation period). There were no cytokine release syndrome (CRS) or autoimmune adverse events (AEs), serious or severe (≥Gr3) neurotoxicity AEs, or deaths on treatment. AEs (all grades) reported in >1 subject included neutropenia (n=3), anemia, decreased appetite, febrile neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia (each in 2 subjects); the 2 events of febrile neutropenia were considered serious. Investigator-reported complete responses were observed in 3 of 6 subjects. These complete responses (duration of response range: 47+ to 81+ days) are ongoing as of the data cut-off. Enrollment into the second dose level is ongoing. Conclusions: ACTR707 in combination with rituximab induced complete responses in 3 of 6 subjects with relapsed or refractory aggressive CD20+ B cell lymphoma treated at the first dose level with ACTR707 in combination with rituximab, with no CRS, serious or severe (≥Gr3) neurotoxicity, or AEs leading to treatment discontinuation. ACTR+ T cells were detectable in all subjects and persisted. These results support the continued dose escalation of ACTR707 in combination with rituximab. Updated data, inclusive of preliminary dose level 2 and correlative biomarkers, will be presented. Disclosures Flinn: Verastem: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Kite: Research Funding; Forty Seven: Research Funding; BeiGene: Research Funding; ArQule: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Forma: Research Funding; Verastem: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Agios: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Calithera: Research Funding; Constellation: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Infinity: Research Funding; Portola: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Curis: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Cohen:BioInvent: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Infinity Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Millennium: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Research Funding. Akard:Gilead: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Speakers Bureau; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Speakers Bureau. Jaglowski:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy. Vasconcelles:Unum Therapeutics: Employment. Ranger:Unum Therapeutics: Employment. Harris:Unum Therapeutics: Employment. Payumo:Unum Therapeutics: Employment. Motz:Unum Therapeutics: Employment. Bachanova:Gamida Cell: Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GT Biopharma: Research Funding.

Download Full-text

Nanatinostat (Nstat) and Valganciclovir (VGCV) in Relapsed/Refractory (R/R) Epstein-Barr Virus-Positive (EBV +) Lymphomas: Final Results from the Phase 1b/2 VT3996-201 Study

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2021-152603 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 623-623

Author(s):

Bradley M. Haverkos ◽

Onder Alpdogan ◽

Robert Baiocchi ◽

Jonathan E Brammer ◽

Tatyana A. Feldman ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cell ◽

B Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

B Cell Lymphoma ◽

T Cell Lymphoma ◽

Phase 2 ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Phase 1B

Abstract Introduction: EBV can be associated with several types of lymphomas, with reported frequencies of up to 8-10% in diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), 30-100% in peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL) subtypes, 80% in post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), and 15-30% in classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), with adverse impact on outcomes. Nanatinostat (Nstat) is a Class-I selective oral HDAC inhibitor that induces the expression of the lytic BGLF4 EBV protein kinase in EBV + tumor cells, activating ganciclovir (GCV) via phosphorylation. This results in GCV-induced inhibition of viral and cellular DNA synthesis and apoptosis. Herein we report the final results from this exploratory study for patients with R/R EBV + lymphomas (NCT03397706). Methods: Patients aged ≥18 with histologically confirmed EBV + lymphomas (defined as any degree of EBER-ISH positivity), R/R to ≥1 prior systemic therapies with an absolute neutrophil count ≥1.0×10 9/L, platelet count ≥50×10 9/L, and no curative treatment options per investigator were enrolled into 5 dose escalation cohorts to determine the recommended phase 2 doses (RP2D) of Nstat + VGCV for phase 2 expansion. Phase 2 patients received the RP2D (Nstat 20 mg daily, 4 days per week + VGCV 900 mg orally daily) in 28-day cycles until disease progression or withdrawal. Primary endpoints were safety/RP2D (phase 1b) and overall response rate (ORR) (phase 2); secondary endpoints were pharmacokinetics, duration of response (DoR), time to response, progression free survival and overall survival. Responses were assessed using Lugano 2014 response criteria beginning at week 8. Results: As of 18 June 2021, 55 patients were enrolled (phase 1b: 25; phase 2: 30). Lymphoma subtypes were DLBCL (n=7), extranodal NK/T-cell (ENKTL) (n=9), PTCL, not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS) (n=5), angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma (n=6), cutaneous T cell (n=1), HL (n=11), other B cell (n=3), and immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders (IA-LPD) (n=13), including PTLD (n=4), HIV-associated (n=5), and other [n=4: systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (n=2), common variable/primary immunodeficiency (n=2)]. Median age was 60 years (range 19-84), M/F 35/20, median number of prior therapies was 2 (range 1-11), 76% had ≥2 prior therapies, 78% were refractory to their most recent prior therapy, and 84% had exhausted standard therapies. EBER positivity ranged from <1 to 90% in 42 tumor biopsies with central lab review. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) of all grades were nausea (38%), neutropenia (34%), thrombocytopenia (34%), and constipation (31%). Grade 3/4 TEAEs in >10% of patients included neutropenia (27%), thrombocytopenia (20%), anemia (20%), and lymphopenia (14%). Dose reductions and interruptions due to treatment-related AEs were reported in 14 (25%) and 16 (29%) patients, respectively. Only 1 patient had to discontinue therapy. There were no cases of CMV reactivation. For 43 evaluable patients (EBER-ISH + with ≥ 1 post-treatment response assessment) across all histologies, the investigator-assessed ORR and complete response (CR) rates were 40% (17/43) and 19% (8/43) respectively. Patients with T/NK-NHL (n=15; all refractory to their last therapy) had an ORR of 60% (n=9) with 27% (n=4) CRs. Two patients (ENKTL and PTCL-NOS) in PR and CR respectively were withdrawn at 6.7 and 6.6 months (m) respectively for autologous stem cell transplantation. For DLBCL (n=6), ORR/CR was 67%/33% (both CRs were in patients refractory to first-line R-CHOP). For IA-LPD (n=13), ORR/CR was 30%/20% (PTLD: 1 CR, other: 1 CR, 1 PR). For HL (n=10), there was 1 PR (4 SD). The median DoR for all responders was 10.4 m, with a median follow-up from response of 5.7 m (range 1.9-34.1 m). For the 17 responders, 8 lasted ≥ 6 months. Conclusions: The combination of Nstat and VGCV was well-tolerated with a manageable toxicity profile and shows promising efficacy in patients with R/R EBV + lymphomas, particularly in refractory T/NK-NHL, a heterogeneous group of aggressive lymphomas with dismal outcomes, with multiple durable responses. Further evaluation of this novel combination therapy for the treatment of recurrent EBV + lymphomas is ongoing in the phase 2 VT3996-202 trial. Disclosures Haverkos: Viracta Therapeutics, Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding. Baiocchi: Prelude Therapeutics: Consultancy; viracta: Consultancy, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company; Codiak Biosciences: Research Funding; Atara Biotherapeutics: Consultancy. Brammer: Seattle Genetics: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Research Funding; Kymera Therapeutics: Consultancy. Feldman: Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease: Honoraria, Other: Study investigator. Brem: Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; SeaGen: Speakers Bureau; BeiGene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; KiTE Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy; ADC Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pharmacyclics/Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Morphosys/Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Scheinberg: Roche: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; BioCryst Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Alexion pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Joffe: AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Epizyme: Consultancy. Katkov: Viracta Therapeutics, Inc.: Current Employment. McRae: Viracta Therapeutics, Inc.: Current Employment. Royston: Viracta Therapeutics, Inc.: Current Employment. Rojkjaer: Viracta Therapeutics, Inc.: Current Employment. Porcu: Viracta: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Innate Pharma: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BeiGene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Daiichi: Honoraria, Research Funding; Kiowa: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Spectrum: Consultancy; DrenBio: Consultancy.

Download Full-text

Adoptive T-Cell Therapy with TCL1-Specific TCR for B-Cell Lymphomas

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2018-99-115424 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 3488-3488

Author(s):

Jinsheng Weng ◽

Kelsey Moriarty ◽

Yong Pan ◽

Man Chun John MA ◽

Rohit Mathur ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

Cell Therapy ◽

B Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

B Cell Malignancies ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

T Cell Therapy

Abstract Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T-cell therapy targeting CD19 induces high response rates in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphomas. However, about 60% of patients experience primary or secondary resistance after CD19-targeted CAR T-cell therapy and a major of cause of failure appears to be due to loss of CD19 expression on the tumor. Therefore, novel targets for adoptive T-cell therapeutic approaches are needed to further improve clinical outcome in these patients. T-cell leukemia/lymphoma antigen1 (TCL1) is an oncoprotein that is overexpressed in multiple B-cell malignancies including follicular lymphoma (FL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Importantly, it has restricted expression in only a subset of B cells among normal tissues. We previously identified a TCL1-derived HLA-A2-binding epitope (TCL170-79 SLLPIMWQLY) that can be used to generate TCL1-specific CD8+ T cells from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of both HLA-A2+ normal donors and lymphoma patients. More importantly, we showed that the TCL1-specific CD8+ T cells lysed autologous primary lymphoma cells but not normal B cells (Weng et al. Blood 2012). To translate the above discovery into clinic, we cloned the T-cell receptor (TCR) alpha and beta chains from a TCL1-specific CD8+ T-cell clone and showed that this TCL1-TCR could be transduced into polyclonal donor T cells using a lentiviral system with a transduction efficiency of >40% as determined by TCL170-79 tetramer positive T cells. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the TCL1-TCR-transduced T cells recognized T2 cells pulsed with TCL170-79 peptide producing IFN- γ >8 ng/ml and IL-2 >350 ng/ml but were not reactive to control HIV-Gag peptide (IFN- γ <0.1 ng/ml and IL-2 <0.2 ng/ml). The TCL1-TCR-transduced T cells recognized TCL170-79 peptide pulsed onto T2 cells at a concentration of 1-10 nM (IL-2 >10 ng/ml) suggesting it has moderate to high avidity. Importantly, TCL1-TCR-transduced T cells lysed HLA-A2+ (up to 43% lysis of Mino and 25% lysis of Jeko-1 at 40:1 Effector:Target ratio) but not HLA-A2- lymphoma cell lines (5.5% lysis of HLA A2- Raji and 2.3% lysis of Daudi at 40:1 Effector:Target ratio). TCL1-TCR-transduced T cells were also cytotoxic to HLA-A2+ primary lymphoma tumor cells (up to 48% lysis of CLL, 43% lysis of FL, 41% lysis of DLBCL, 46% lysis of splenic marginal zone lymphoma, and 11% lysis of MCL at 40:1 Effector:Target ratio) but not normal B cells derived from the same patients. Lastly, TCL1-TCR transduced T cells showed high efficacy in in vivo models. Adoptive transfer of the TCL1-TCR-tranduced T cells significantly reduced lymphoma tumor growth and extended survival in Mino mantle cell lymphoma cell line xenograft model (48% survival in TCL1-TCR-T treated group vs. 12.5% survival in control group at 10 weeks n=7-8 mice/group; P=0.02). Collectively, our data suggest that the high expression in B-cell tumors, restricted expression in normal tissues, and presence of an immunogenic CD8 T-cell epitope, make TCL1 a target for T cell-based therapeutic approaches in multiple B-cell malignancies. Our results also demonstrate that the TCL1-specific TCR-transduced T cells may serve as a novel adoptive immunotherapy approach for the treatment of patients with various B-cell malignancies (including FL, MCL, DLBCL, CLL). Acknowledgments: This study is supported by MD Anderson Moon Shot Program and CPRIT and the National Natural Science Foundation of China Grant (No. 81570189) Disclosures Neelapu: Kite/Gilead: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Cellectis: Research Funding; Poseida: Research Funding; Merck: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; Karus: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Unum Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Download Full-text

ACTR087, Autologous T Lymphocytes Expressing Antibody Coupled T-Cell Receptors (ACTR), Induces Complete Responses in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory CD20-Positive B-Cell Lymphoma, in Combination with Rituximab

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v130.suppl_1.580.580 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 130 (Suppl_1) ◽

pp. 580-580 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Luke Paul Akard ◽

Samantha Jaglowski ◽

Steven M. Devine ◽

Matthew S. McKinney ◽

Michael Vasconcelles ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

B Cell ◽

Dose Level ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

B Cell Lymphoma ◽

Cytokine Release ◽

Cytokine Release Syndrome ◽

Prior Therapy

Abstract Background: Autologous T cells engineered to express the universal ACTR chimeric receptor kill tumors through interactions with tumor-targeting antibodies [Kudo, Cancer Res. 2014]. Preclinical findings with ACTR+ T cells, which bind immunoglobulin Fc via CD16V158 and signal via CD3ζ and 4-1BB (ACTR087), demonstrate markedly enhanced target- and antibody-specific tumor cell cytotoxicity, as evidenced by CD20+ B cell lymphoma killing in combination with rituximab, compared with rituximab alone. Preclinical data also demonstrate rituximab dose-dependent effects in combination with ACTR087, suggesting that the therapeutic index of ACTR087 in combination with rituximab may be affected by rituximab dose or schedule and present an advantage over chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapies [Huet H, Blood 2016]. Study UT-201501 (ATTCK-20-2) is the first clinical trial of ACTR087 in combination with rituximab in patients with relapsed or refractory CD20+ B cell lymphoma previously treated with rituximab (NCT02776813). We report data from the 7 patients treated with ACTR087 in the first dose level of the ATTCK-20-2 study. Methods: This is a multicenter Phase 1 dose escalation study. The primary objective is to evaluate the safety of the combination of ACTR087 and rituximab, and the key secondary objective is to evaluate antitumor efficacy. Exploratory objectives include measurement of ACTR T cell persistence, cytokines, and rituximab pharmacokinetics. Eligible patients must have histologically confirmed relapsed/refractory aggressive CD20+ B cell lymphoma of DLBCL, MCL, PBMCL, Gr3b FL, or transformed FL subtype and have received prior anti-CD20 mAb in combination with anthracycline-containing chemotherapy. In the first dose level, patients received lymphodepleting chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2 and fludarabine 30 mg/m2) for 3 days, followed by rituximab (375 mg/m2) and ACTR087 (0.5x106 ACTR+ T cells/kg). Up to 7 additional doses of rituximab are then administered, one dose every 3 weeks in the absence of disease progression. Results: Seven patients received ACTR087 in combination with rituximab at the first dose level. Median age was 64 years (range: 36-71), 57.1% were male, all had ECOG PS 1, 86% were treated with ≥ 3 lines of prior therapy, and 86% were refractory to the immediate prior therapy. ACTR087 was successfully manufactured for all subjects. ACTR+ T cells were detectable in the peripheral blood and demonstrated expansion post-infusion. One patient had a dose-limiting toxicity of grade 4 thrombocytopenia for > 14 days that later resolved. At the first dose level, there were no SAEs or deaths related to ACTR087 and no AEs of special interest, including cytokine-release syndrome, neurotoxicity, or autoimmune events. Cytopenias were the most common ≥ grade 3 AEs (neutropenia n=7, leukopenia n=5). Rituximab pharmacokinetics were not affected by ACTR087 administration. Independently-confirmed objective responses were observed in patients evaluable for response (n=6), including 2 ongoing complete responses (CR) and 1 partial response (PR). One of the CRs continues 6+ months after a single dose of ACTR087. Conclusions:In the first dose level studied in patients with relapsed/refractory aggressive CD20+ B cell lymphoma, ACTR087 in combination with rituximab induced complete responses with no serious AEs, AEs leading to treatment discontinuation, cytokine-release syndrome, or neurotoxicity. ACTR+ T cells were detectable in all patients and ACTR+ T cells persisted in the presence of continued rituximab administration. These results support the continued dose escalation of ACTR087 in combination with rituximab; dose level 2 enrollment is ongoing and updated data, including correlative biomarkers, will be presented. Disclosures Jaglowski: Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Unum Therapeutics: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics Inc: Research Funding. McKinney: Kite Pharma: Other: advisory comittee. Vasconcelles: Unum Therapeutics Inc: Employment. Huet: Unum Therapeutics Inc: Employment. Ettenberg: Unum Therapeutics Inc.: Employment. Ranger: Unum Therapeutics Inc: Employment. Abramson: Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy; Kite Pharma: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy.

Download Full-text

Integrated Genetic and Topological Analysis Reveals a Hodgkin-like Mechanism of Immune Escape in T-Cell/Histiocyte-Rich Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2018-99-118610 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 1579-1579 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Gabriel K Griffin ◽

Margaretha G.M. Roemer ◽

Mikel Lipschitz ◽

Jason Weirather ◽

Christine J. Pak ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

B Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

B Cell Lymphoma ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Specific Expression ◽

Large B Cell Lymphoma ◽

Large B Cell

Abstract Introduction: T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma (TCRLBCL) is an aggressive large B cell lymphoma that typically presents with disseminated disease. In contrast to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (DLBCL), TCRLBCL is characterized histologically by rare malignant B-cells within a robust but ineffective inflammatory background composed of numerous T cells and macrophages. TCRLBCL shows a "tolerogenic" immune signature by gene expression profiling, as well as frequent upregulation of PD-L1 (Van Loo et al. PMID: 19797726; Chen et al. PMID: 23674495). Although these features suggest that active immune evasion is central to TCRLBCL pathogenesis, its mechanistic basis is poorly understood. Accordingly, we performed an integrated analysis of tumor genetics and cell-cell interactions within the tumor microenvironment to comprehensively study PD-1:PD-L1 interactions in a multi-institutional cohort of TCRLBCL. Methods: 34 cases of TCRLBCL were identified from the pathology archives of four academic medical centers. Control cohorts containing 21 cases of DLBCL and 106 cases of classic Hodgkin Lymphoma (CHL) were used as comparators. An established fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) assay was used to identify copy number changes and structural rearrangements of CD274 (PD-L1) and PDCD1LG2 (PD-L2) on chromosome 9p24.1, which represents the primary genetic mechanism of PD-L1/L2 expression in CHL (Roemer et al. PMID: 27069084). Tumor-specific expression of PD-L1 and PD-L2 protein was assessed by immunohistochemistry (IHC) and scoring by two pathologists using a modified H-score (percentage of positive tumor cells [0-100%] multiplied by the mean staining intensity [0-3+]). The topology of PD-L1/PD-1 expression and cell-cell interactions in the tumor microenvironment was determined by multispectral immunofluorescence (IF) microscopy and spatial image analysis, as previously performed for CHL (Carey et al. PMID: 28893733). Results: By FISH, copy gain or amplification of PD-L1 and PD-L2 was identified in 22/34 (64.7%) cases of TCRLBCL (Figure 1A) and was associated with a 4.9-fold increase in tumor PD-L1 expression relative to cases with disomy or polysomy (mean PD-L1 H-score 72 vs 14.7, p = 0.02). A rearrangement of PD-L2 was identified in one case and associated with diffuse expression of PD-L2. These findings contrasted with those observed in the DLBCL cohort, which showed a low overall frequency of 9p24.1 copy gain/amplification (5/21 cases, 23.8%) and only minimal tumor PD-L1 expression (mean PD-L1 H-score 15.6), and were intermediate to those observed in CHL, which shows near universal copy gain/amplification of 9p24.1 (98/106 cases, 92%) and extensive tumor PD-L1 expression (mean PD-L1 H-score 143.7; Figure 1B). By multispectral IF, TCRLBCL showed prominent infiltration by PD-L1+ tumor-associated macrophages (TAM) (Figure 1C), which were 5.5-fold increased relative to DLBCL and 6.6-fold increased relative to CHL (p < 0.001). TCRLBCL also showed marked infiltration by PD-1+ T cells, which were 12.3-fold increased relative to DLBCL and 3.4-fold increased relative to CHL (p < 0.001). By spatial analysis, PD-L1+ TAMs in TCRLBCL were located in closer proximity to tumor cells than PD-L1- TAMs (p < 0.001, Figure 1D-E) and also showed frequent direct interactions with PD-1+ T cells. These findings contrasted with those in DLBCL, where no local enrichment of PD-L1+ TAMs or PD-1+ T cells was identified, and were similar but more prominent than those observed in CHL. Conclusion: TCRLBCL is characterized by recurrent gains of PD-L1 and PD-L2 on chromosome 9p24.1 in association with tumor-specific expression of PD-1 ligands, as well as prominent infiltration by PD-L1+ TAMs and PD-1+ T cells. PD-L1+ TAMs in TCRLBCL are enriched around individual tumors cells and also show frequent direct interactions with PD-1+ T cells, consistent with the establishment of an immunoevasive-niche. These findings contrast with those observed in DLBCL and are most similar to those identified in CHL. Relative to CHL, however, TCRLBCL shows less frequent gains of 9p24.1 and tumor cell expression of PD-L1, and a greater degree of infiltration by PD-L1+ TAMs and PD-1+ T cells. These findings suggest that the PD-1:PD-L1 pathway is central to immune evasion in TCRLBCL and highlight the need to test the clinical efficacy of PD-1 blockade in this patient population. Disclosures Griffin: Moderna Therapeutics: Consultancy. Freeman:Novartis: Patents & Royalties; AstraZeneca: Patents & Royalties; Dako: Patents & Royalties; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers-Squibb: Patents & Royalties; Merck: Patents & Royalties; EMD-Serono: Patents & Royalties; Roche: Patents & Royalties; Xios: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Boehringer-Ingelheim: Patents & Royalties; Bristol-Myers-Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Origimed: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Hodi:Merck: Consultancy. Shipp:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Bayer: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Honoraria. Rodig:KITE: Research Funding; Affimed: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding.

Download Full-text

A Multi-Center Analysis of the Impact of Dose Level of R-EPOCH on Outcomes of Patients with Double/Triple-Hit B-Cell Lymphoma

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2020-142958 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 32-34

Author(s):

Matthew J Cortese ◽

Wei Wei ◽

Sebastian Cerdena ◽

Marcus Watkins ◽

Marissa Olson ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trials ◽

B Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Dose Escalation ◽

Research Funding ◽

Dose Adjustment ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

B Cell Lymphoma ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Initial Cycle

BACKGROUND: High-grade B-cell lymphomas (HGBLs) with rearrangement of MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6, known as "double-hit" or "triple-hit" B-cell lymphomas (DHL/THL), are an aggressive sub-type of non-Hodgkin mature B-cell lymphoma with chromosomal rearrangements involving MYC with BCL2 and/or BCL6 genes. DHL/THLs typically have poor outcomes and early relapses with first-line R-CHOP, and intensive induction chemoimmunotherapy regimens are associated with improved outcomes. Infusional dose-adjusted (DA)-R-EPOCH is commonly used, yet there is a lack of clear evidence that dose-adjustment enhances survival, and variations in compliance with dose-adjustment exist. DA-R-EPOCH has been incorporated as the backbone of prospective clinical trials testing the addition of novel agents for frontline management of DHL/THL, and these combinations may lead to a greater degree of myelosuppression that may disrupt dose-adjustments and hinder dose-escalations relative to using DA-R-EPOCH alone. Therefore, we sought to determine if patients with DHL/THL treated with induction DA-R-EPOCH have differences in clinical outcomes (OS, PFS, treatment-related adverse events and others) based upon compliance with dose-adjustment and cumulative doses of R-EPOCH administered. METHODS: Adult (age ≥18 years) patients with DHL/THL treated with induction DA-R-EPOCH chemoimmunotherapy from 2014 to 2019 at six collaborating medical centers were included in this study. To be included, patients must be without CNS-involvement at diagnosis, have received ≥4 cycles of DA-R-EPOCH, have adequate clinicopathologic data regarding chemoimmunotherapy dosing, survival, treatment response/remission status, cell counts, CNS and antimicrobial prophylaxis, admissions for cytopenias or IV antibiotics, and demographic data including age, international prognostic index (IPI), CNS-IPI, ECOG performance status, and cumulative illness rating score (CIRS, if available). An initial cycle of R-CHOP was permitted. De-identified data from participating sites were combined, and chemotherapy doses were aggregated and divided into quartiles based on cumulative doses of doxorubicin, etoposide, and cyclophosphamide received. Correlation between CIRS and dose was assessed by Spearman's correlation. OS and PFS were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using log-rank test. RESULTS: 109 total patients were included in this study. The median age was 63 years (range 29-83), and approximately 60% of patients were male, 58% were age 60 or older, 60% had an IPI score of ≥3, and 66% were Ann Arbor Stage IV at induction. For all patients, 2-year and 5-year OS rates were 75% (95% CI: 67-84%) and 70% (59-82%), with 27 total deaths in the study period. 2-year and 5-year PFS rates were 65% (56-75%) and 60% (49-72%), respectively. 94 of 109 patients received CNS prophylaxis (86%). 26 patients had received an initial cycle of R-CHOP (24%). PFS and OS were significantly worse for patients with higher risk IPI score (P = 0.03, 0.04, respectively), but there was no difference in PFS or OS based on CIRS score (P = 0.70, 0.60, respectively). 75 patients (68.8%) were dose-escalated while 34 patients (31.2%) were not; there was no difference in PFS (Fig 1) or OS (Fig 2) between these groups. When stratified by cumulative dose-level in quartiles, those who received the lowest cumulative doses (1st quartile) had a significantly reduced OS (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th quartile 2-year OS of 55%, 75%, 85%, and 84%, P = 0.046). Cause of death was largely from disease progression (74%), with only one treatment-related death in each dosing quartile. Dose intensity was not correlated with baseline CIRS score (R = -0.06, P = 0.56), but did correlate negatively with IPI (R = 0.22, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: OS and PFS did not differ for DHL/THL patients treated with R-EPOCH with dose-escalation in at least one cycle as compared to those with no dose-escalation. Although cumulative doses beyond the 1st quartile were associated with improved OS, there was no significant difference between 2nd, 3rd and 4th quartiles. Dose-escalation was negatively associated with IPI scores but not CIRS scores. Further investigation into factors affecting adherence to dose-adjustment is warranted. The effect of adding novel agents to the DA-R-EPOCH backbone on dose-adjustment and cumulative doses of chemotherapeutic agents received should be evaluated in prospective clinical trials. Disclosures Haverkos: Viracta THerapeutics: Consultancy. Hughes:Acerta Pharma and HOPA: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Genzyme: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy. Grover:Genentech: Research Funding; Tessa: Consultancy. Portell:Amgen: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; BeiGene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite: Consultancy, Research Funding; Acerta/AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Xencor: Research Funding; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Infinity: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy. Voorhees:AstraZeneca: Research Funding. Landsburg:Triphase: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Curis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Morphosys: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Research Funding. Kahl:Genentech: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics LLC: Consultancy; BeiGene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AstraZeneca Pharmaceuticals LP: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene Corporation: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; Roche Laboratories Inc: Consultancy; Acerta: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Hill:Takeda: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AstraZenica: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Beigene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding.

Download Full-text

Parsaclisib in Combination with R-CHOP for Patients with Newly Diagnosed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Preliminary Results of a Phase 1/1b Study

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2021-147507 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 1415-1415

Author(s):

Yucai Wang ◽

Betsy Laplant ◽

Rebecca L. King ◽

Ivana N. Micallef ◽

Stephen M. Ansell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

B Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Dose Level ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

Phase 1 ◽

Objective Response ◽

B Cell Lymphoma ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Phase 1B

Abstract Introduction: Novel genetic classifications of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) highlight the molecular complexity beyond cell of origin and provide new therapeutic implications. Next generation trials may incorporate novel agents for different genetic subtypes based on the pathogenesis mechanisms. For example, with the LymphGen classification, the MCD, BN2, ST2, and EZB subtypes are predicted to be susceptive to PI3K/mTOR targeting (Wright 2020). However, PI3K inhibitors have not been tested in the frontline, although data on the mTOR inhibitor everolimus were encouraging (Alliance 1085). We launched a phase 1/1b trial (NCT04323956) to investigate the feasibility of combining a novel PI3K inhibitor parsaclisib with standard R-CHOP immunochemotherapy and to seek an efficacy signal. Methods: Adult patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL were eligible if any of the following was present: 1) non-GCB subtype per the Hans algorithm; 2) expression of either Myc (≥40%) or Bcl2 (≥50%) by immunohistochemistry; or 3) MYC rearrangement by FISH. High grade B-cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements, regardless of morphology, was also eligible. All patients received parsaclisib plus R-CHOP. Phase 1 followed a 3+3 design and the primary endpoint was maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of parsaclisib. Dose levels tested were level 1 (20 mg QD, d1-10; starting level) and level 2 (20 mg QD, d1-14). MTD was defined as the dose level below the lowest dose that induced dose limiting toxicity (DLT) in at least one-third of patients. The primary endpoint in phase 1b is complete response (CR) rate by PET. Results: From July 2020 to June 2021, 15 patients were enrolled, 9 in phase 1 and 6 in phase 1b. The median age at diagnosis was 56 years (range 20-79), and 7 (47%) were female. One patient (7%) had ECOG PS ≥2, 7 (47%) had elevated LDH, 7 (47%) had >1 extranodal site, 13 (87%) had stage III/IV, and 7 (47%) had high-intermediate or high risk International Prognostic Index. Pathology was DLBCL in 13 patients (2 with concurrent follicular lymphoma) and high grade B-cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements in 2 patients. Four (27%) had non-GCB subtype, 7 (47%) had Myc or Bcl2 single expression, 8 (53%) had Myc/Bcl2 double expression, and 5 (33%) had MYC rearrangement (2 with concurrent BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements). In phase 1, 3 patients were enrolled at dose level 1 and 6 patients were enrolled at dose level 2. No DLT was observed. Therefore, MTD was not reached, and dose level 2 was selected for phase 1b dose expansion. Six patients were enrolled in phase 1b to date. At the data cutoff date of 7/22/2021, 8 patients completed all 6 cycles of treatment, 1 competed 5 cycles, 3 completed 3 cycles, 2 completed 2 cycles, and 1 completed 1 cycle. Treatment-related adverse events (AE) are summarized in Table 1. The most common hematological AE included lymphopenia (60%), anemia (53%), neutropenia (53%), and thrombocytopenia (27%), and the most common non-hematological AE included nausea (67%), alopecia (40%), constipation (33%), fatigue (33%), dyspepsia (20%), and peripheral sensory neuropathy (20%). The most common grade 3 or 4 AE included lymphopenia (47%), neutropenia (33%), and anemia (13%). One 80-year-old female required parsaclisib dose reduction in cycle 3 and subsequent parsaclisib discontinuation as well as cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin dose reductions due to febrile neutropenia (no source of infection was identified). No other patients required dose reductions. The median follow-up was 3.7 months (range 0.8-10.7). Thirteen patients were evaluable for interim response by PET. The objective response rate was 92%, with 8 (62%) CR and 4 (31%) partial response (PR). One (8%) patient progressed before cycle 2 following a transient clinical response (shrinking palpable mass). Among those who achieved an objective response at interim, 7 patients were evaluable for end of treatment response and all 7 maintained a response, with 6 (86%) CR and 1 (14%) PR. Conclusions: Parsaclisib and R-CHOP combination therapy was generally well tolerated, with no DLT observed in phase 1 and no major safety concerns in both phase 1 and the ongoing phase 1b expansion. The preliminary efficacy signal of objective response appears encouraging in a small cohort of high risk patients. Parsaclisib plus R-CHOP can be an experimental arm for future frontline DLBCL trials investigating genetic subtype-driven novel therapies. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Wang: Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; InnoCare: Research Funding; LOXO Oncology: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; MorphoSys: Research Funding; Eli Lilly: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; TG Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. King: Celgene/BMS: Research Funding. Ansell: Bristol Myers Squibb, ADC Therapeutics, Seattle Genetics, Regeneron, Affimed, AI Therapeutics, Pfizer, Trillium and Takeda: Research Funding. Tun: Gossamer Bio, Acrotech: Consultancy; Mundipharma, Celgene, BMS, Acrotech, TG therapeutics, Curis, DTRM: Research Funding. Habermann: Seagen: Other: Data Monitoring Committee; Incyte: Other: Scientific Advisory Board; Tess Therapeutics: Other: Data Monitoring Committee; Morphosys: Other: Scientific Advisory Board; Loxo Oncology: Other: Scientific Advisory Board; Eli Lilly & Co.,: Other: Scientific Advisor. Witzig: Karyopharm Therapeutics, Celgene/BMS, Incyte, Epizyme: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene/BMS, Acerta Pharma, Kura Oncology, Acrotech Biopharma, Karyopharm Therapeutics: Research Funding. Nowakowski: Celgene, NanoString Technologies, MorphoSys: Research Funding; Celgene, MorphoSys, Genentech, Selvita, Debiopharm Group, Kite/Gilead: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. OffLabel Disclosure: Parsaclisib is an investigational agent used in this clinical trial.

Download Full-text

Preliminary Results of a Phase I Study of Nivolumab (BMS-936558) in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Lymphoid Malignancies

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood.v124.21.291.291 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 124 (21) ◽

pp. 291-291 ◽

Cited By ~ 78

Author(s):

Alexander M. Lesokhin ◽

Stephen M. Ansell ◽

Philippe Armand ◽

Emma C. Scott ◽

Ahmad Halwani ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cell ◽

B Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

B Cell Lymphoma ◽

Advisory Board ◽

T Cell Lymphoma ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Lymphoid Malignancies

Abstract Introduction Programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) is an immune checkpoint receptor that inhibits T cell activation upon interaction with its ligands PD-L1 or PD-L2. Increased PD-L1 expression has been reported in various lymphoid malignancies, and may allow these tumors to circumvent host anti-tumor immunity. Nivolumab, a fully human IgG4 monoclonal PD-1 receptor blocking antibody, potentiates T cell activity, and has clinical efficacy in various solid tumors. We hypothesized that nivolumab might also have clinically important anti-tumor activity in patients with lymphoid malignancies. Methods This open-label study enrolled patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoid malignancies including B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL), T-cell NHL (T-NHL), multiple myeloma (MM), and classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Patients were treated using a dose escalation design (1 mg/kg and 3 mg/kg) of nivolumab administered every two weeks for up to two years. Responses were assessed using standard criteria. The primary endpoint was safety; key secondary endpoints included anti-tumor activity and expression of immunomodulatory proteins in tumor biopsies. The preliminary results for the cHL patients will be reported separately. Results Twenty-nine patients with B-NHL, 2 patients with primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma; 23 patients with T-NHL; 27 patients with MM; and 1 with chronic myelogenous leukemia were enrolled. Patients were heavily pretreated with 67%, 69%, and 78% of MM, B-NHL, and T-NHL patients, respectively, having received ≥ 3 prior treatment regimens. Previous autologous stem cell transplantation was reported for 56% of MM, 14% of B-NHL, and 9% of T-NHL patients. Prior brentuximab treatment was reported in 7% of B-NHL and 26% of T-NHL patients. When this pre-planned interim analysis was performed, six patients had been treated at the 1 mg/kg dose with 2 dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) occurring in the same patient: grade 3 pneumonia and pneumonitis. At the 3mg/kg dose, seven patients were treated with one patient experiencing two DLTs: grade 3 eosinophilia and diplopia. Additional patients were enrolled in the cohort expansion at 3 mg/kg. Drug-related adverse events (AEs) occurred in 72%, 65%, and 52% of B-NHL, T-NHL, and MM patients, respectively. Serious AEs in B-NHL patients were pneumonitis (7%), acute respiratory distress syndrome, dermatitis, diplopia, enteritis, eosinophilia, mucosal inflammation, pyrexia and vomiting, each occurring in 3%. In the T-NHL patients, serious AEs were pneumonitis, rash, and sepsis, each occurring in 4%, and in MM patients, serious AEs were pneumonitis, myositis, and increased creatine phosphokinase, each occurring in 4%. The incidence and severity of drug related AEs were similar across tumor types. Efficacy results are shown for each tumor type in the table. The overall response rate (ORR) and complete response (CR) rate in patients with B-NHL were 28% and 7%, respectively, including an ORR of 36% in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and 40% in patients with follicular lymphoma (FL). In patients with T-NHL, ORR was 17% (no CR), including an ORR of 40% in the 5 patients with peripheral T cell lymphoma. No objective responses were observed in MM. Analysis of PD-L1 expression and correlation to clinical outcome is being performed and will be presented. Conclusions Nivolumab administered at a dose of 3 mg/kg every two weeks was tolerable and the safety profile was similar to that of the agent in solid tumors. Objective responses were observed in DLBCL, FL, mycosis fungoides (MF), and peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL). Durable stable disease was observed in relapsed MM. The results of this phase 1 study have led to phase 2 studies in DLBCL and FL, which are ongoing. Table: Efficacy Results Tumor N Complete Response n (%) Partial Response n (%) Stable Disease (SD) n (%) Progression Free Survival Rate at 24 Weeks (%) Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) 11 1 (9) 3 (27) 3 (27) (24) Follicular Lymphoma (FL) 10 1 (10) 3 (30) 6 (60) (68) Other B Cell Lymphoma 8 0 0 5 (63) (38) Primary Mediastinal B Cell Lymphoma 2 0 0 2 (100) (0) Mycosis Fungoides (MF) 13 0 2 (15) 9 (69) (39) Peripheral T Cell Lymphoma (PTCL) 5 0 2 (40) 0 (30) Other T Cell Lymphoma 5 0 0 1 (20) (0) Multiple Myeloma (MM) 27 0 0 18 (67) (15) Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia 1 0 0 1 (100) (100) Disclosures Lesokhin: Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding. Ansell:Bristol-Myers Sqibb: Research Funding. Armand:Merck: Consultancy. Cohen:Celgene: Member, Independent Response Adjudication Committee Other; Onyx: Advisory Board, Advisory Board Other; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Advisory Board, Advisory Board Other, Research Funding; Janssen: Advisory Board, Advisory Board Other. Lebovic:Genentech, Allos, Celgene, Onyx, Millennium: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Rodig:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding. Zhu:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Employment. Grosso:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Employment, Equity Ownership. Kim:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Employment. Shipp:Merck: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pharmacyclics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Research Funding; Janssen R&D: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Borrello:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding. Timmerman:Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding.

Download Full-text

ET190L1-ArtemisTM T Cell Therapy Results in Durable Disease Remissions with No Cytokine Release Syndrome or Neurotoxicity in Patients with Relapsed and Refractory B-Cell Lymphoma

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2018-99-113163 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 1689-1689 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Zhitao Ying ◽

Li Long ◽

Hong Liu ◽

Yuqin Song ◽

David A. Rizzieri ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

T Cell ◽

B Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

B Cell Lymphoma ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

T Cell Therapy ◽

Post Infusion ◽

Efficacy Assessment

Abstract Background: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell is rapidly emerging as a promising new therapy for cancer. Although it can induce rapid clinical responses, it is also associated with cytokine release syndrome (CRS), the most commonly observed toxicity, which in some cases can lead to life-threatening multi-organ failure. To ameliorate these problems we developed a novel chimeric T-cell therapy platform, the ARTEMIS™ platform, which functionally matches the potency of CAR T-cells, but dramatically reduces the release of cytokines upon killing of target-positive tumor cells. Herein, we describe the first-in-human clinical study of anti-CD19-ARTEMIS, ET190L1-ARTEMISTM, in relapsed and refractory (r/r) B-cell lymphoma. Methods: This dose escalating study is a single-center clinical study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ET190L1-ARTEMIS T cells in patients with r/r CD19+ non-Hodgkin lymphoma, including diffused large B cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, small lymphocytic lymphoma/chronic lymphocytic lymphoma, and splenic marginal zone lymphoma. All patients received conditioning chemotherapy of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine followed by a single infusion of ET190L1-ARTEMISTM T cells at the dose of 1x106, 3x106, and 6x106 ARTEMIS+ T cells per kilogram respectively. The primary endpoint is safety and estimation of the maximum tolerated dose of ET190L1-ARTEMISTM T cells. Secondary objectives include ARTEMIS T-cell engraftment and response assessment by Lugano criteria. Results: Manufacturing was successful for all patients. As of July 18, 2018, 21 patients received autologous ET190L1-ARTEMIS T cells, 3 were infused with 1 × 106 (low dose), 13 received 3 × 106 (medium dose) and 5 received 6 × 106 (high dose) ARTEMIS+ T cells/kg. Expansion of ARTEMIS T cells after infusion was observed in all patients by qPCR and flow cytometry using anti-idiotype antibody. No dose-limiting toxicities and no greater than Grade 2 drug-related adverse events (AEs) were observed. Inflammatory-related cytokines in blood including IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFNgamma, TNFalpha, and GM-CSF were below detection level in most time points post infusion. AEs consisted of transient fever (38 ~ 39.2°C) from 1 to 4 days post infusion in 9 patients, transient grade 1 skin rash (1 × 106/kgcohort) in one patient. All of these AEs were limited and spontaneously resolved, except in 3 patients where symptomatic treatment for fever was given. No hypotension or any other clinical signs of CRS or neurotoxicity were observed. No anti-IL6 drug was given nor any hospitalization for AEs were needed. One patient with a large lymphoma mass on the right side of the neck experienced transient hand-tremor and unilateral tongue numbness on the right side, possibly due to the rapid shrinkage of tumor nodules around the neck (Table 1). Efficacy assessment was planned at 1, 2, 3, 6, 9, 12 18 and 24 months post infusion. All subjects (n=21) completed 1st month efficacy assessment: 11/21 (52%) responders, with 6/11 (55%) complete remission (CR) and 5/11 (45%) partial remission (PR). Of the 11 responders at 1 month, 8 completed 3rd month efficacy assessment, with 6/6 CRs maintained CR and 2/2 PRs had disease progression. Of the 11 responders at 1 month, 6 completed 6th month efficacy assessment, with 5/6 CRs maintained CR and 1/6 CRs releapsed. Of the 2 SDs at 1 month, 1 progressed at 4.5 month (Table 2). The median follow up time is 3 months and the range of follow up time is 1-8 months. Conclusions: The interim results show that ET190L1-ARTEMISTM T cell therapy is safe and demonstrated promising efficacy in r/r B-cell lymphoma patients at the current dose and schedule, including 11/21 responders and excellent safety profile, with no CRS and neurotoxicity observed. The durability of these efficacy and safety results will be assessed in longer follow up. Clinical trial information: NCT02658929 Disclosures Long: Eureka Therapeutics, Inc.: Employment. Liu:Eureka Therapeutics, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership. Song:Peking University Cancer Hospital (Beijing Cancer Hospital): Employment. Rizzieri:Jazz: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Teva: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Arog: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Nejadnik:Eureka Therapeutics, Inc.: Employment. Zhu:Beijing Cancer Hospital: Employment. Liu:Eureka Therapeutics, Inc.: Employment, Equity Ownership.

Download Full-text

Interim Results from the First-in-Human Clinical Trial of Adct-402 (Loncastuximab Tesirine), a Novel Pyrrolobenzodiazepine-Based Antibody Drug Conjugate, in Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2018-99-116081 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 132 (Supplement 1) ◽

pp. 398-398 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

John Radford ◽

Brad S. Kahl ◽

Mehdi Hamadani ◽

Carmelo Carlo-Stella ◽

Paolo Caimi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

B Cell ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Dose Escalation ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

Phase 1 ◽

B Cell Lymphoma ◽

Employment Equity ◽

Advisory Committees ◽

Equity Ownership

Abstract Introduction: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) represents 33% of the non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) and expresses CD19, a classic B-cell marker found on B lymphocytes. ADCT-402 (loncastuximab tesirine; Lonca-T) is an antibody drug conjugate comprising a humanized antibody directed against human CD19 conjugated to a pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer toxin. This first-in-human clinical study evaluated the safety and efficacy of Lonca-T in patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell lineage NHL. Here we present interim results in the subgroup of pts with DLBCL. Interim efficacy and safety of Lonca-T in pts with follicular lymphoma and mantle cell lymphoma are presented in a separate abstract. Methods: Pts ≥18 years of age with R/R DLBCL who have failed or are intolerant to established therapies, or have no other treatment options available, were enrolled in this Phase 1, multicenter, open-label, single-arm study, including dose-escalation and dose-expansion parts. The primary objectives are to evaluate the safety and tolerability of Lonca-T, and determine the recommended dose(s) to use for expansion cohorts. The secondary objectives are to evaluate the clinical activity (measured by overall response rate [ORR], duration of response [DoR], progression-free survival [PFS] and overall survival [OS]), pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and anti-drug antibody activity. Pts receive 1-hour intravenous infusions of Lonca-T every 3 weeks (1 cycle), with a 3+3 dose-escalation design for the dose-escalation part of the study. No intra-pt dose escalation is allowed. Results: As of June 20, 2018, 183 pts had been enrolled on the study, including 137 with DLBCL (79 male, 58 female). Pts with DLBCL had a median age of 63 years [range 20-86], and had received a median of 3 previous therapies (range 1-10; Table). Pts received doses of Lonca-T ranging from 15 to 200 µg/kg (median cycles: 2 [range 1-13]). Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were reported in 136/137 (99.3%) pts, and grade ≥3 TEAEs in 100/137 (73.0%) pts. The most common all-grade TEAEs (≥20% pts), regardless of relationship to study treatment, were fatigue (57 [41.6%]), nausea (44 [32.1%], peripheral edema (44 [32.1%]), anemia (39 [28.5%]), rash (35 [25.5%]), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) increased (33 [24.1%]), constipation (30 [21.9%]), dyspnea (29 [21.2%]), and thrombocytopenia (28 [20.4%]). The most common grade ≥3 TEAEs (>10% pts) were GGT increased (21 [15.3%]), neutropenia (20 [14.6%]), neutrophil count decreased (19 [13.9%]), anemia (15 [10.9]), thrombocytopenia (15 [10.9%]) and platelet count decreased (14 [10.2%]. Approximately 66% and 72% of pts in the 120 and 150 µg/kg groups, respectively, tolerated at least 2 cycles before any AE leading to dose reduction/delay occurred. The figure depicts tumor response data. Out of 132 evaluable pts with DLBCL, the ORR was 40.2% (53/132 pts), comprising 29/132 (22.0%) complete responses (CRs) and 24/132 (18.2%) partial responses (PRs). Median DoR was 4.17 months and PFS was 2.79 months after a median follow-up of 5.13 months. Median DoR was not reached in pts achieving a CR and was 2.76 months in pts with a PR. In pts with non-bulky disease, the ORR was 44.2% (50/113 pts); 28/113 (24.8%) pts attained a CR and 22/113 (19.5%) pts attained a PR. The majority of pts (122/132) received doses ≥120 µg/kg; in these pts, the ORR was 41.8% (51/122 pts), with 28/122 (23.0%) pts attaining a CR and 23/122 (18.9%) pts attaining a PR. Conclusions: In this Phase 1 study, Lonca-T has demonstrated encouraging and durable single-agent antitumor activity and manageable toxicity in pts with R/R DLBCL at doses ≥120 µg/kg. Updated safety, tolerability, and efficacy results will be presented at the meeting. Study sponsored by ADC Therapeutics. http://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT02669017. Disclosures Radford: Pfizer: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; GlaxoSmithKline: Equity Ownership; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; AstraZeneca: Equity Ownership; Novartis: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Research Funding. Kahl:Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding. Hamadani:Sanofi Genzyme: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Research Funding; Cellerant: Consultancy; Ostuka: Research Funding; MedImmune: Consultancy, Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy; Celgene Corporation: Consultancy; Merck: Research Funding. Carlo-Stella:Boehringher Ingelheim Italia: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Consultancy; MSD Italia: Speakers Bureau; Rhizen Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Genenta Science: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau; AstraZeneca: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Caimi:Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Kite Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Ardeshna:Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Conference expenses, Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ADC Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Feingold:ADC Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. He:ADC Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. Reid:AbbVie: Research Funding; Millenium Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding. Solh:ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau. Chung:ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding. Heffner:Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding. Ungar:ADC Therapeutics: Employment, Equity Ownership. O'Connor:ADC Therapeutics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding.

Download Full-text

FT596: Translation of First-of-Kind Multi-Antigen Targeted Off-the-Shelf CAR-NK Cell with Engineered Persistence for the Treatment of B Cell Malignancies

Blood ◽

10.1182/blood-2019-129319 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽

pp. 301-301 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Jode P Goodridge ◽

Sajid Mahmood ◽

Huang Zhu ◽

Svetlana Gaidarova ◽

Robert Blum ◽

...

Keyword(s):

T Cells ◽

B Cell ◽

Nk Cells ◽

Board Of Directors ◽

Tumor Cells ◽

Research Funding ◽

Cell Lymphoma ◽

B Cell Lymphoma ◽

Advisory Committees

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived effector cells offer distinct advantages for immune therapy over existing patient- or donor- derived platforms, both in terms of scalable manufacturing from a renewable starting cellular material and precision genetic engineering that is performed at the single-cell level. iPSC derived natural killer (iNK) cells offer the further advantage of innate reactivity to stress ligands and MHC downregulation and the potential to recruit downstream adaptive responses. These unique features form the basis of our multi-antigen targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) CAR-iNK cell product candidate, termed FT596, which is further combined with additional functionality to enhance effector function. FT596 is consistently manufactured from a master iPSC line engineered to uniformly express an NK cell-calibrated CD19-targeting CAR (CD19-CAR), an enhanced functioning high-affinity, non-cleavable CD16 (hnCD16) and a recombinant fusion of IL-15 and IL-15 receptor alpha (IL-15RF) for cytokine-autonomous persistence. The design of the CD19-CAR involved exploiting the intrinsic polyfunctionality of NK cells, which function by engaging multiple signaling pathways activated through combinations of distinct germline encoded receptors. Using this approach, the transmembrane region of activating receptor NKG2D, combined with the intracellular signaling domains of SLAM co-receptor 2B4 and CD3ζ, proved the most effective in triggering antigen specific functional responses in NK cells. Chimerization of an anti-CD19 scFv onto this NKG2D-2B4-CD3ζ signaling platform produced specific in vitro recognition of CD19+ B cell lymphoma cells in short-term and long-term NK cytotoxicity assays (>80% and <40% clearance of tumor cells at 60H, p<0.001 respectively). The functionality of the CD19-CAR was further enhanced in combination with autonomous IL-15 signaling. Introduction of the IL-15RF enabled expansion of iNK cells without addition of soluble cytokine and greatly improved longevity and functional persistence of iNK cells both in vitro and in animal models. Moreover, iNK cells modified with IL-15RF showed enhanced functional maturation, including upregulated expression of effector molecules such as granzyme B. iNK cells with both CD19-CAR and IL-15RF resulted in enhanced CAR functionality in vitro, and mouse models for B cell malignancy demonstrated that treatment with iNK cells engineered with CD19-CAR and IL-15RF were curative against B cell lymphoma (p<0.002), when compared with iNK cells alone or iNK cells modified with CD19-CAR alone. In combination with hnCD16, co-expression of CD19-CAR and IL15-RF culminates in iNK cells capable of dual-specificity through combinatorial use with monoclonal antibodies to tackle antigen escape. In long term killing assays, FT596 alone demonstrated equivalent levels of CD19 targeted anti-tumor activity as primary CD19-targeted CAR (CAR19) T cells when tested against CD19+ CD20+ B lymphoblast target cells and demonstrated enhanced levels of activity when used in combination with anti-CD20 (rituximab). When targeting CD19- CD20+ B lymphoblast target cells and used in combination with rituximab, only FT596 was able to effectively eliminate the CD19 antigen escaped target cell (64% vs 30% clearance of tumor cells at 36H vs rituximab alone). In vivo FT596 showed equivalent levels of tumor cell clearance as primary CAR19 T cells against the CD19+ acute lymphoblastic leukemia cell line NALM6 and CD19+CD20+ Burkitts lymphoma cell line RAJI, and enhanced clearance of RAJI tumor cells in combination with rituximab (p=0.0002). Furthermore, utilizing an allogenic human CD34 engrafted NSG mouse model, FT596 demonstrated improved survival and safety over primary CAR19 T cells, either as a monotherapy or as a combination therapy with rituximab versus RAJI tumor cells. Together, these studies demonstrate FT596 provides a multi-antigen targeting, potent and persistent engineered immune cell that is derived from a master iPSC line which utilizes the intrinsic versatility of NK cells to enable a highly effective combination therapy in a single, standardized, scalable, off-the-shelf platform and supports the rational for a first-of-kind Phase I Study as a monotherapy and in combination with CD20-targeted mAbs including rituximab in subjects with relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma and leukemia. Figure Disclosures Goodridge: FATE THERAPEUTICS: Employment. Mahmood:Fate Therapeutics, Inc: Employment. Gaidarova:Fate Therapeutics, Inc: Employment. Bjordahl:Fate Therapeutics, Inc.: Employment. Cichocki:Fate Therapeutics, Inc: Research Funding. Chu:FATE THERAPEUTICS: Employment. Bonello:Fate Therapeutics, Inc.: Employment. Lee:Fate Therapeutics, Inc.: Employment. Groff:FATE THERAPEUTICS: Employment. Meza:FATE THERAPEUTICS: Employment. Malmberg:Vycellix: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Fate Therapeutics, Inc.: Consultancy, Research Funding. Miller:Moderna: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Dr. Reddys Laboratory: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; CytoSen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Fate Therapeutics, Inc: Consultancy, Research Funding; OnKImmune: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GT BioPharma: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Kaufman:FATE Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Valamehr:Fate Therapeutics, Inc: Employment.

Download Full-text