scholarly journals Feasibility of a Supportive Mobile Health App for Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 3009-3009
Author(s):  
Rahul Banerjee ◽  
Bella Sykes ◽  
Nina Shah ◽  
Charalambos Andreadis ◽  
Peter H. Sayre ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pilot Study ◽  
Patient Education ◽  
Chimeric Antigen Receptor ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Effector Cell ◽  
Immune Effector Cell ◽  
Immune Effector ◽  
Toxicity Monitoring ◽  
Car T ◽  
Mhealth Apps

Abstract BACKGROUND: The operationalization of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR-T) therapy for hematologic malignancies can be complex for patients and their caregivers. In the weeks before CAR-T therapy, patients must process large amounts of information and coordinate logistics involving caregivers, lodging, and transportation. Immediately following CAR-T therapy, patients must be monitored closely for toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). In the months following CAR-T therapy, patients may be referred back to local oncologists without a clear plan for managing potential late effects such as hypogammaglobulinemia or neuropsychiatric complications (Chakraborty 2021). Mobile health (mHealth) apps may be able to improve the patient experience during CAR-T therapy by facilitating care coordination, home-based toxicity monitoring, and patient education (Banerjee 2021). By empowering patients and caregivers to better understand CAR-T therapy and actively participate in their care, mHealth tools may ultimately augment workflows for CAR-T clinics as well. However, the feasibility and acceptability of such supportive mHealth apps during CAR-T therapy have not been established. STUDY DESIGN: We have designed a "Companion for CAR-T" mHealth app to assist with care coordination, toxicity monitoring, and patient education during CAR-T therapy. Key components of the app are summarized in the Figure. In brief, pre-CAR-T components include educational videos and dynamic calendars to assist patients with coordinating logistics. Post-CAR-T components include app-based prompts to input body temperature daily, an electronic Immune Effector Cell-Associated Encephalopathy (eICE) screening tool for ICANS that can be administered by caregivers, and a patient-specific long-term survivorship care plan. Global app components include an 'Appointment Companion' to facilitate patient-provider discussions during appointments as well as a digital CAR-T wallet card to convey key health-related information to other healthcare providers. We plan to investigate the "Companion for CAR-T" app through a pilot study of 20 patients receiving commercially available CAR-T therapies for any hematologic malignancy at our institution. Co-primary endpoints include (1) app feasibility, defined as the percentage of patients who access all 5 core modules shown in the Figure at least once; and (2) app acceptability, defined as the percentage of patients who agree that the app was helpful during their experience with CAR-T therapy. Secondary endpoints include the incidence of fevers or eICE deficits recorded via the app. Exploratory endpoints include longitudinal trends in patient-reported outcomes such as emotional distress at each clinic visit. DISCUSSION: If feasibility and acceptability of the "Companion for CAR-T" app are demonstrated through this pilot study, we plan to launch a multicenter randomized Phase 2 study of this mHealth tool versus usual care to assess its effect on perceived stress and decisional conflict. Other important steps for our group include the translation of app content into different languages and the provision of tablet computing devices for patients who do not own smartphones. Once validated and expanded in these aforementioned ways, potential strengths of the "Companion for CAR-T" app include its ability to be personalized easily with information specific to individual CAR-T therapies, malignancies, and centers. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Banerjee: Sanofi: Consultancy; SparkCures: Consultancy; Pack Health: Research Funding. Sykes: Patient Discovery Solutions, Inc.: Current Employment. Shah: Amgen: Consultancy; Indapta Therapeutics: Consultancy; Sutro Biopharma: Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy; Teneobio: Research Funding; Precision Biosciences: Research Funding; Poseida: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Janssen: Research Funding; GSK: Consultancy; Kite: Consultancy; Nektar: Research Funding; Oncopeptides: Consultancy; CSL Behring: Consultancy; Bluebird Bio: Research Funding; BMS/Celgene: Research Funding; CareDx: Consultancy. Andreadis: Incyte: Honoraria; Roche: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Ended employment in the past 24 months; GenMAB: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Epizyme: Honoraria; Crispr Therapeutics: Research Funding; Atara: Consultancy, Honoraria; Karyopharm: Honoraria; TG Therapeutics: Honoraria; Kite: Honoraria; BMS/Celgene: Research Funding. Martin: Amgen: Research Funding; GlaxoSmithKline: Consultancy; Oncopeptides: Consultancy; Janssen: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding. Shore: Patient Discovery Solutions, Inc.: Current Employment. Sodowick: Patient Discovery Solutions, Inc.: Current Employment. Wong: Amgen: Consultancy; Genentech: Research Funding; Fortis: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; GloxoSmithKlein: Research Funding; Dren Biosciences: Consultancy; Caelum: Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Next-Generation Implementation of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy Using Digital Health

2021 ◽  
pp. 668-678
Author(s):  
Rahul Banerjee ◽  
Nina Shah ◽  
Adam P. Dicker
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Chimeric Antigen Receptor ◽  
Effector Cell ◽  
Antigen Receptor ◽  
Machine Learning Algorithms ◽  
Immune Effector Cell ◽  
Next Generation ◽  
Immune Effector ◽  
Patient Reported ◽  
Car T

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is a paradigm-shifting immunotherapy modality in oncology; however, unique toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome limit its ability to be implemented more widely in the outpatient setting or at smaller-volume centers. Three operational challenges with CAR-T therapy include the following: (1) the logistics of toxicity monitoring, ie, with frequent vital sign checks and neurologic assessments; (2) the specialized knowledge required for toxicity management, particularly with regard to CRS and immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome; and (3) the need for high-quality symptomatic and supportive care during this intensive period. In this review, we explore potential niches for digital innovations that can improve the implementation of CAR-T therapy in each of these domains. These tools include patient-facing technologies and provider-facing platforms: for example, wearable devices and mobile health apps to screen for fevers and encephalopathy, electronic patient-reported outcome assessments–based workflows to assist with symptom management, machine learning algorithms to predict emerging CRS in real time, clinical decision support systems to assist with toxicity management, and digital coaching to help maintain wellness. Televisits, which have grown in prominence since the novel coronavirus pandemic, will continue to play a key role in the monitoring and management of CAR-T–related toxicities as well. Limitations of these strategies include the need to ensure care equity and stakeholder buy-in, both operationally and financially. Nevertheless, once developed and validated, the next-generation implementation of CAR-T therapy using these digital tools may improve both its safety and accessibility.

scholarly journals Real World Evaluation of Deviation Outcomes in an Immune Effector Cell Quality Program

Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 10-10
Author(s):  
Geoffrey Shouse ◽  
Sylvia O Dulan ◽  
Jamie Wagner ◽  
Michelle Mott ◽  
Alex Ly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Effector Cell ◽  
Cellular Immunotherapy ◽  
Survival Outcomes ◽  
Immune Effector Cell ◽  
Immune Effector ◽  
Quality Program ◽  
Car T ◽  
Post Infusion

Introduction City of Hope (COH) was one of the first institutions to be granted Immune Effector Cell (IEC) Therapy accreditation by the Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy, which supports our mission to provide safe, high quality patient care through expanded standardization. As part of the accreditation requirements, COH expanded established processes developed to monitor standard of care (SOC) deviations for the Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Program to our IEC Clinical Program. As part of process improvement, we monitored our IEC Quality program to determine if there were any outcome changes as a result of deviations. Therefore, we performed a retrospective analysis of electronically submitted SOC deviations for patients treated with commercially available chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell products (tisagenlecleucel or axicabtagene ciloleucel [Axi-cel]) between December 2017- March 2020 at COH. Methods During the reporting timeframe, 122 patients were planned to be treated with an IEC product. We retrieved 28 requests for SOC deviations from our electronic database for 24 of 122 patients. We analyzed for volume, trends and patient outcomes of submitted deviation requests, including trends in type of deviation, transfer to the intensive care unit (ICU), length of inpatient hospital stay and safety outcomes at 30 days post infusion. Patients who did not receive their SOC product for any reason during the reporting timeframe, or were lost to follow-up were excluded from the outcomes analysis. Results Sixteen of 24 patients were planned to be treated with SOC Axi-cel and 8 of 24 patients were planned to be treated with tisagenlecleucel; only 19 of 24 patients (10 women and 9 men) underwent infusion with their respective SOC product, 15 with Axi-cel and 4 with tisagenlecleucel. Five of 24 patients, including 1 Axi-cel and 4 tisagenlecleucel patients were excluded due to change in medical condition or infusion after the reporting timeframe. We identified elevated creatinine levels as the most common reason for SOC deviation requests for patients to be treated with tisagenlecleucel (4 of 8 patients), while deviations relating to rest days between lymphodepletion and CAR T cell infusion were the most common submitted deviations for patients planned to be treated with Axi-cel (9 of 16 patients). We also descriptively compared patients who required SOC deviations to a cohort of patients (n=98) who did not require deviations and were treated with either axicabtagene ciloleucel (n=86) or tisagenlecleucel (n=12) during the same timeframe. Eight of 98 (8%) of patients who did not have requests for SOC deviation were transferred to the ICU compared to 4 of 19 (21%) patients who required SOC deviations. Seventeen of 19 and 94 of 98 patients were discharged. The median length of inpatient hospital stay post infusion for SOC deviations cohorts who were discharged was 16 days (11-40) and 15 days (8-100) for non-SOC deviations patients. When we descriptively compared survival outcomes at 30 days post infusion, we found that all (4 of 4) patients who required SOC deviations and received tisagenlecleucel survived compared to 11 of 12 patients without SOC deviations. For patients who received Axi-cel, 14 of 15 patients with SOC deviations survived at day 30 post infusion compared to 85 of 86 patients without SOC deviations. The response to treatment and toxicities will be reported at the meeting. Conclusion These data suggest that careful selection of patients who may benefit from SOC deviations and still receive their infusion may not negatively affect survival outcomes at 30 days. The SOC deviation review process offers physicians a forum to evaluate non-SOC eligible cases and advise on SOC policy changes. While preliminary, our quality review identifies a role for comprehensive analysis of all IEC SOC deviations as part of standard practice, especially as the field of cellular immunotherapy expands to include more SOC cellular products. Overall, further monitoring of SOC deviations in real world patient populations treated with commercially available IEC products will allow us to continue to support patient safety, assess patient care management practices, expand patient access, meet accreditation standards and monitor SOC practice changes while advancing the field of cellular immunotherapy. Disclosures Shouse: Kite Pharma: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Mott:Janssen/Johnson & Johnson: Consultancy; Juno/BMS: Consultancy. Budde:Gilead Sciences: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Mustang Therapeutics: Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy; Roche: Consultancy; Amgen: Research Funding.

scholarly journals Immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome after chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for lymphoma: predictive biomarkers and clinical outcomes

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Noa G Holtzman ◽  
Hao Xie ◽  
Soren Bentzen ◽  
Vivek Kesari ◽  
Ali Bukhari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Cell Therapy ◽  
Clinical Outcomes ◽  
Chimeric Antigen Receptor ◽  
Effector Cell ◽  
Immune Effector Cell ◽  
T Cell Therapy ◽  
Immune Effector ◽  
Car T Cell Therapy ◽  
Car T

Abstract Background CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy (CAR-T) has emerged as effective for relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma (R/R LBCL). The neurologic toxicity seen with CAR-T, referred to as immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), is poorly understood. To better elucidate the clinical characteristics, treatment outcomes, and correlative biomarkers of ICANS, we review here a single-center analysis of ICANS after CAR T-cell therapy in R/R LBCL. Methods Patients (n = 45) with R/R LBCL treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) were identified. Data regarding treatment course, clinical outcomes, and correlative studies were collected. Patients were monitored and graded for ICANS via CARTOX-10 scoring and Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4.03 criteria, respectively. Results Twenty-five (56%) patients developed ICANS, 18 (72%) of whom had severe (CTCAE grades 3–4) ICANS. Median time to development of ICANS was 5 days (range, 3–11). Elevated pre-infusion (day 0 [D0]) fibrinogen (517 vs 403 mg/dL, upper limit of normal [ULN] 438 mg/dL, P = 0.01) and D0 lactate dehydrogenase (618 vs 506 units/L, ULN 618 units/L, P = 0.04) were associated with ICANS. A larger drop in fibrinogen was associated with ICANS (393 vs 200, P < 0.01). Development of ICANS of any grade had no effect on complete remission (CR), progression-free survival (PFS), or overall survival (OS). Duration and total dose of steroid treatment administered for ICANS did not influence CR, PFS, or OS. Conclusions ICANS after CAR-T with axi-cel for R/R LBCL was seen in about half of patients, the majority of which were high grade. Contrary to previous reports, neither development of ICANS nor its treatment were associated with inferior CR, PFS, or OS. The novel finding of high D0 fibrinogen level can identify patients at higher risk for ICANS.

Nichts für Schönwetterkapitäne: CAR-T-Zellen – Immunonkologie trifft Intensivmedizin

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (10) ◽  
pp. 673-679
Author(s):  
Jorge Garcia Borrega ◽  
Michael von Bergwelt-Baildon ◽  
Boris Böll
Keyword(s):  
Real World ◽  
Effector Cell ◽  
Cytokine Release ◽  
Cytokine Release Syndrome ◽  
Immune Effector Cell ◽  
Immune Effector ◽  
Car T

Zusammenfassung CRS und ICANS als Nebenwirkung von CAR-T-Zellen Das Cytokine-Release-Syndrome (CRS) ist die häufigste Nebenwirkung einer CAR-T-Zell-Therapie und kann von leichtem Fieber bis zu einem Multiorganversagen führen. Pathophysiologisch kommt es beim CRS zu einem Zytokinsturm und trotz einer Therapie mit Tocilizumab sind refraktäre und tödliche Verläufe beschrieben. Die Symptome des Immune-Effector-Cell-associated-Neurotoxicity-Syndrome (ICANS) variieren von leichter Desorientiertheit bis zum lebensbedrohlichen Hirnödem. Die Pathophysiologie und Therapie des ICANS sind noch nicht ausreichend erforscht. Die Differenzialdiagnosen von CRS und ICANS sind komplex und umfassen neben Infektionen und Sepsis unter anderem auch eine Toxizität der vorhergehenden Therapie, ein Tumorlysesyndrom und nicht zuletzt einen Progress der Grunderkrankung. Ein klinischer oder laborchemischer Parameter zum sicheren Beweis oder Ausschluss eines CRS oder ICANS gibt es zum heutigen Zeitpunkt nicht. Intensivmedizinische Relevanz und potenzielle Entwicklungen der CAR-T-Zell-Therapie Erste Auswertungen von Real-world-Daten deuten auf eine höhere Rate an schweren Nebenwirkungen im Rahmen der CAR-T-Zell-Therapie als in den Zulassungsstudien hin. Für die Indikation r/r-DLBCL könnten schätzungsweise bis zu maximal 300 Patienten pro Jahr in Deutschland eine intensivmedizinische Betreuung im Rahmen der CAR-T-Zell-Therapie benötigen. Studien mit wesentlich häufigeren soliden Tumoren könnten die Patientenzahl drastisch erhöhen. Therapieziel bei CAR-T-Zell-Patienten und Entscheidungen bei Therapiezieländerung Aufgrund des neuen Therapiekonzepts kann ein Konflikt zwischen bislang palliativem Patientenkollektiv und nun möglicherweise langfristigen Remissionen entstehen. Eine frühzeitige Aufklärung über potenziell lebensbedrohliche Nebenwirkungen im Rahmen der Therapie und eine interdisziplinäre Besprechung der Therapieziele mit den Patienten ist entscheidend.

scholarly journals IMMU-07. IMMUNE EFFECTOR CELL ASSOCIATED NEUROTOXICITY (ICANS) AMONG PEDIATRIC AND AYA PATIENTS: MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER EXPERIENCE

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_3) ◽  
pp. iii361-iii361
Author(s):  
Brandon Brown ◽  
Paolo Tambaro ◽  
Kris Mahadeo ◽  
Sajad Khazal ◽  
Priti Tewari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cell ◽  
Effector Cell ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Altered Mental Status ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Immune Effector Cell ◽  
Immune Effector ◽  
Impaired Ability ◽  
Car T

Abstract INTRODUCTION Immune effector cell associated neurotoxicity (ICANS) and cytokine release syndrome (CRS) are potentially life-threatening complications associated with immune effector cell (IEC) therapies. We characterize ICANS in pediatric and adult young adolescent (AYA) patients receiving IEC therapy at our institution. METHODS We reviewed clinical characteristics and severity (based on ASTCT Consensus Criteria) in pediatric and AYA patients with IEC products from 2018–2019 at MDACC. RESULTS Nine patients, median age 15.5 (range: 3–25) years received chimeric antigen receptor (CART) IEC therapy. Four (44%) developed ICANS within median of 8 (range: 3–27) days of CAR T cell infusion and median 6 (range: 2–7) days after CRS. Primary diagnoses were pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (8) and mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (1). Median CRS and ICANS severity grade was 2 (range 1–4). Symptoms included altered mental status (AMS) (5), seizure (1), aphasia (2), impaired ability to write a standard sentence (4). Neuroimaging did not correlate to ICANS symptoms or severity. EEG was performed in 3 and 1 had background slowing correlating with aphasia. CSF was obtained in two revealing lymphocytosis. All received prophylactic anti-epileptic medication and tocilizumab for concomitant CRS. Three received steroids. CONCLUSION ICANS may present in almost half of pediatric patients within one week of receiving CART products associated with CRS. CAR-T trafficking into the CSF may explain pleocytosis in the CSF. Prospective studies may clarify. Impaired ability to write a standard sentence and the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD) may be early indicators of ICANS in pediatric/AYA patients.

scholarly journals Single-center experience using anakinra for steroid-refractory immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS)

2022 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. e003847
Author(s):  
Marc Wehrli ◽  
Kathleen Gallagher ◽  
Yi-Bin Chen ◽  
Mark B Leick ◽  
Steven L McAfee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Effector Cell ◽  
Standard Treatment ◽  
Treatment Guidelines ◽  
Immune Effector Cell ◽  
T Cell Therapy ◽  
Immune Effector ◽  
Car T Cell ◽  
Car T ◽  
Steroid Refractory

In addition to remarkable antitumor activity, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is associated with acute toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Current treatment guidelines for CRS and ICANS include use of tocilizumab, a monoclonal antibody that blocks the interleukin (IL)-6 receptor, and corticosteroids. In patients with refractory CRS, use of several other agents as third-line therapy (including siltuximab, ruxolitinib, anakinra, dasatinib, and cyclophosphamide) has been reported on an anecdotal basis. At our institution, anakinra has become the standard treatment for the management of steroid-refractory ICANS with or without CRS, based on recent animal data demonstrating the role of IL-1 in the pathogenesis of ICANS/CRS. Here, we retrospectively analyzed clinical and laboratory parameters, including serum cytokines, in 14 patients at our center treated with anakinra for steroid-refractory ICANS with or without CRS after standard treatment with tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah) or axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta) CD19-targeting CAR T. We observed statistically significant and rapid reductions in fever, inflammatory cytokines, and biomarkers associated with ICANS/CRS after anakinra treatment. With three daily subcutaneous doses, anakinra did not have a clear, clinically dramatic effect on neurotoxicity, and its use did not result in rapid tapering of corticosteroids; although neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were common at the time of anakinra dosing, there were no clear delays in hematopoietic recovery or infections that were directly attributable to anakinra. Anakinra may be useful adjunct to steroids and tocilizumab in the management of CRS and/or steroid-refractory ICANs resulting from CAR T-cell therapies, but prospective studies are needed to determine its efficacy in these settings.

scholarly journals Intrathecal Chemotherapy As a Potential Alternative Treatment for Steroid-Refractory Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome

Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 4816-4816
Author(s):  
Urwat Til Vusqa ◽  
Palash Asawa ◽  
Maitreyee Rai ◽  
Yazan Samhouri ◽  
Prerna Mewawalla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
T Cell ◽  
Research Funding ◽  
Intrathecal Chemotherapy ◽  
Intrathecal Methotrexate ◽  
Immune Effector Cell ◽  
Opening Pressure ◽  
Immune Effector ◽  
Car T ◽  
Grade 3 ◽  
Steroid Refractory

Abstract Introduction Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment paradigm for patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and other hematologic malignancies. However, its use is associated with serious adverse effects including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Severe ICANS can present with aphasia, mutism, somnolence, seizures, signs of increased intracranial pressure and rarely cerebral edema. Corticosteroids (CS) and IL-6 inhibitors are first line treatment for CRS and ICANS. Prolonged CS use has been associated with decreased over-all survival in CAR T-cell treated patients. Data on effective treatments for CART T-cell induced neurotoxicity is limited, especially in steroid-refractory ICANS. Blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption and infiltration of myeloid and immune effector cells into the central nervous system are implicated in the pathogenesis of ICANS. This likely explains the role of intrathecal chemotherapy, which has been described in literature for treatment of steroid-refractory ICANS. Here, we report the outcomes of two patients with refractory DLBCL who developed severe ICANS after receiving axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi cel) and treated with intrathecal (IT) chemotherapy. Case Presentation Our first case is of a 66 year old male with diagnosis of R/R DLBCL, who was treated with R-CHOP, followed by R-GemOx, with no response then received axi cel. Patient developed grade 2 CRS and grade 1 ICANS (National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Effects v4.03) on day +2 post infusion, treated with tocilizumab and dexamethasone with good response initially. While tapering dexamethasone on day +5, he developed grade 3 CRS and grade 3 ICANS. Brain MRI did not show any intracranial abnormality and EEG showed no seizure activity. Lumbar puncture (LP) was done on day +7 and showed opening pressure of 32 cm H2O, and 12 lymphocytes. He was started on IV solumedrol and tocilizumab was resumed. CRS improved while neurotoxicity progressed to grade 4 prompting intubation and mechanical ventilation on day +8. On day +9, patient received intrathecal methotrexate 12 mg and hydrocortisone 50 mg. On day +12, neurotoxicity improved to grade 1 and patient was extubated on day +13. Steroid taper stopped on +17. Despite disease response, patient remained hospitalized at day +45 for deconditioning and vocal cord paralysis related to a lengthy hospital stay and intubation. He was eventually discharged, however passed away on day +49 from complications of prolonged hospitalization. Our second case is of a 69 year old female with a diagnosis of R/R DLBCL with CNS involvement, treated with RCHOP x6 followed by salvage chemotherapy with refractory disease, She then received axi cel. Patient developed grade 1 CRS on day +4, treated with tocilizumab and dexamethasone, and patient responded well. On day +9, she developed grade 2 CRS and grade 3 ICANS. At that time, dexamethasone was switched to pulse dose solumedrol and tocilizumab was continued. CT head showed no acute intracranial abnormality and EEG did not show any epileptiform activity. LP showed opening pressure of 21, and 84 lymphocytes. On day +11, patient's CRS resolved, however ICANS developed to grade 4 and patient received 12 mg intrathecal methotrexate and hydrocortisone 50 mg for steroid-refractory ICANS. The very next day, patient showed significant neurological improvement. Steroid taper was initiated and patient's ICANS resolved on day +16. MRI brain showed decrease in size of nodular enhancement along periventricular white matter and left occipital area corresponding to treatment response. She was discharged on day +28 and continues to do well one year out of axi cel infusion Conclusion Our abstract adds to the sparse literature about the use IT chemotherapy in cases with severe ICANS. It also highlights its importance as an alternative potential therapy to high doses and prolonged courses of corticosteroids which is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Steroid-refractory ICANS has limited treatment options and further evaluation of the use of IT chemotherapy in large scale studies is warranted. Disclosures Kahn: Abbvie: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Astrazeneca: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Beigene: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Epizyme: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Genetech: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; GSK: Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Speakers Bureau; Kite: Speakers Bureau; Morphosys: Speakers Bureau; Sanofi: Speakers Bureau; SeaGen: Speakers Bureau. Fazal: Agios: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; AMGEN: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Glaxo Smith Kline: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Sanofi Genzyme: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Stemline Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Taiho Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Lister: Oncology Analytics: Other: Academic Board.

scholarly journals Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-Modified Immune Effector Cell Therapy for Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)

Cancers ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 3617
Author(s):  
Utkarsh H. Acharya ◽  
Roland B. Walter
Keyword(s):  
Acute Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
B Cell ◽  
Chimeric Antigen Receptor ◽  
Myeloid Leukemia ◽  
Effector Cell ◽  
Antigen Receptor ◽  
Immune Effector Cell ◽  
B Cell Malignancies ◽  
Immune Effector ◽  
Acute Myeloid

Despite the availability of an increasing number of targeted therapeutics and wider use of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, many patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) ultimately succumb to this disease. Given their remarkable efficacy in B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia and other CD19-expressing B cell malignancies, there is hope adoptive cellular transfer, particularly chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified immune effector cell (IEC) therapies, may afford a novel, potent immune-based approach for the treatment of AML that complements or replaces existing ones and improves cure rates. However, it is unclear how best to translate the success of these therapies from B cell malignancies, where use of highly potent immunotherapies is facilitated by identified target antigens with near ubiquitous expression on malignant cells and non-fatal consequences from “on-target, off-tumor cell” toxicities. Herein, we review the current status of CAR-modified IEC therapies for AML, with considerations regarding suitable, relatively leukemia-restricted target antigens, expected toxicities, and interactions of the engineered cells with a profoundly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment that restricts their therapeutic efficacy. With these challenges in mind, we will discuss possible strategies to improve the cells’ potency as well as their therapeutic window for optimal clinical use in AML.

scholarly journals IMMU-52. IMMUNE EFFECTOR CELL ASSOCIATED NEUROTOXICITY (ICANS) AMONG PEDIATRIC AND AYA PATIENTS: MD ANDERSON CANCER CENTER EXPERIENCE

2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. ii116-ii116
Author(s):  
Brandon Brown ◽  
Kris Mahadeo ◽  
Sajad Khazal ◽  
Demetrios Petropoulos ◽  
Priti Tewari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
B Cell ◽  
Effector Cell ◽  
Lymphoblastic Leukemia ◽  
B Cell Lymphoma ◽  
Altered Mental Status ◽  
Cancer Center ◽  
Immune Effector Cell ◽  
Immune Effector ◽  
Impaired Ability ◽  
Car T

Abstract INTRODUCTION Immune effector cell associated neurotoxicity (ICANS) and cytokine release syndrome (CRS) are potentially life-threatening complications associated with immune effector cell (IEC) therapies. We characterize ICANS in pediatric and adult young adolescent (AYA) patients receiving IEC therapy at our institution. METHODS We reviewed clinical characteristics and severity (based on ASTCT Consensus Criteria) in pediatric and AYA patients who received IEC products from 2018–2019 at MDACC. RESULTS Nine patients, median age 15.5 (range: 3–25) years received chimeric antigen receptor (CART) IEC therapy. Four (44%) developed ICANS within median of 8 (range: 3–27) days of CAR T cell infusion and median 6 (range: 2–7) days after CRS. Primary diagnoses were pre-B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (8) and mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (1). Median CRS and ICANS severity grade was 2 (range 1–4). Symptoms included altered mental status (AMS) (5), seizure (1), aphasia (2), impaired ability to write a standard sentence (4). Neuroimaging did not correlate to ICANS symptoms or severity. EEG was performed in 3 and 1 had background slowing correlating with aphasia. CSF was obtained in two revealing lymphocytosis. All received prophylactic anti-epileptic medication and tocilizumab for concomitant CRS. Three received steroids. CONCLUSION ICANS may present in almost half of pediatric patients within one week of receiving CART products associated with CRS. CAR-T trafficking into the CSF may explain pleocytosis in the CSF. Prospective studies may clarify. Impaired ability to write a standard sentence and the Cornell Assessment of Pediatric Delirium (CAPD) may be early indicators of ICANS in pediatric/AYA patients.

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