scholarly journals CAR T cells or allogeneic transplantation as standard of care for advanced large B-cell lymphoma: an intent-to-treat comparison

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (24) ◽  
pp. 6157-6168
Author(s):  
Peter Dreger ◽  
Sascha Dietrich ◽  
Maria-Luisa Schubert ◽  
Lorenz Selberg ◽  
Andrea Bondong ◽  
...  

Abstract CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell treatment has evolved as standard of care (SOC) for multiply relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). However, its potential benefit over allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) remains unclear. We compared outcomes with both types of cellular immunotherapy (CI) by intention to treat (ITT). Eligble were all patients with R/R LBCL and institutional tumor board decision recommending SOC CAR T-cell treatment between July 2018 and February 2020, or alloHCT between January 2004 and February 2020. Primary end point was overall survival (OS) from indication. Altogether, 41 and 60 patients for whom CAR T cells and alloHCT were intended, respectively, were included. In both cohorts, virtually all patients had active disease at indication. CI was recommended as part of second-line therapy for 21 alloHCT patients but no CAR T-cell patients. Median OS from indication was 475 days with CAR T cells vs 285 days with alloHCT (P = .88) and 222 days for 39 patients for whom alloHCT beyond second line was recommended (P = .08). Of CAR T-cell and alloHCT patients, 73% and 65%, respectively, proceeded to CI. After CI, 12-month estimates for nonrelapse mortality, relapse incidence, progression-free survival, and OS for CAR T cells vs alloHCT were 3% vs 21% (P = .04), 59% vs 44% (P = .12), 39% vs 33% (P = .97), and 68% vs 54% (P = .32), respectively. In conclusion, CAR T-cell outcomes were not inferior to alloHCT outcomes, whether measured by ITT or from CI administration, supporting strategies preferring CAR T cells over alloHCT as first CI for multiply R/R LBCL.

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (19) ◽  
pp. 3789-3793
Author(s):  
Susanne Jung ◽  
Jochen Greiner ◽  
Stephanie von Harsdorf ◽  
Pavle Popovic ◽  
Roland Moll ◽  
...  

Abstract Treatment with CD19-directed (CAR) T cells has evolved as a standard of care for multiply relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (r/r LBCL). A common side effect of this treatment is the immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Severe ICANS can occur in up to 30% to 40% of patients treated with axicabtagene-ciloleucel (axi-cel), usually within the first 4 weeks after administration of the dose and usually responding well to steroids. We describe a case of progressive central neurotoxicity occurring 9 months after axi-cel infusion in a patient with r/r LBCL who had undergone a prior allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant. Despite extensive systemic and intrathecal immunosuppression, neurological deterioration was inexorable and eventually fatal within 5 months. High CAR T-cell DNA copy numbers and elevated levels of interleukin-1 (IL-1) and IL-6 were found in the cerebral spinal fluid as clinical symptoms emerged, and CAR T-cell brain infiltration was observed on autopsy, suggesting that CAR T cells played a major pathogenetic role. This case of unexpected, devastating, late neurotoxicity warrants intensified investigation of neurological off-target effects of CD19-directed CAR T cells and highlights the need for continuous monitoring for late toxicities in this vulnerable patient population.


2020 ◽  
Vol 14 (4) ◽  
pp. 312-323
Author(s):  
Romeo G. Mihăilă

Background: Patients with refractory or relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma have a poor prognosis with the current standard of care. Objective: Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cells (CAR T-cells) are functionally reprogrammed lymphocytes, which are able to recognize and kill tumor cells. The aim of this study is to make progress in this area. Method: A mini-review was achieved using the articles published in Web of Science and PubMed in the last year and the new patents were made in this field. Results: The responses to CAR T-cell products axicabtagene ciloleucel and tisagenlecleucel are promising; the objective response rate can reach up to 83%, and the complete response rate ranges between 40 and 58%. About half of the patients may have serious side effects, such as cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity. Current and future developments include the improvement of CAR T-cell expansion and polyfunctionality, the combined use of CAR T-cells with a fusion protein between interferon and an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, with checkpoint inhibitors or small molecule sensitizers that have apoptotic-regulatory effects. Furthermore, the use of IL-12-expressing CAR T-cells, an improved technology for the production of CAR T-cells based on targeted nucleases, the widespread use of allogeneic CAR T-cells or universal CAR T-cells obtained from genetically engineered healthy donor T-cells are future developments actively considered. Conclusion: CAR T-cell therapy significantly improved the outcome of patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. The advances in CAR T-cells production technology will improve the results and enable the expansion of this new immunotherapy.


Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 138 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 1726-1726
Author(s):  
Mat Legut ◽  
Zoran Gajic ◽  
Maria Guarino ◽  
Eleni Mimitou ◽  
Stephanie Hao ◽  
...  

Abstract Despite recent therapeutic advances in the management of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), up to 50% of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) relapse after first line therapy, and for DLBCL patients who relapse within 12 months after subsequent stem cell transplant (SCT), the median overall survival (OS) is 6.3 months. Recently, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has shown remarkable activity in relapsed DLBCL with complete response (CR) rate of 40% and 54% for the two of the FDA-approved CAR T-cell products, tisagenlecleucel and axicabtagene ciloleucel, respectively. However, at a median follow-up of 18 months, only 36% of patients treated with tisagenlecleucel remained in CR; with longer follow-up for axicabtagene ciloleucel the median progression free survival (PFS) was 5.9 months. Immune escape and immune evasion are primary mechanisms of CAR-T resistance; clearly improvements are needed to increase response rate and cure. While CRISPR-based loss-of-function screens have shown promise for high-throughput identification of genes that modulate T-cell response, these methods have been limited thus far to negative regulators of T-cell functions, and raise safety concerns due to the permanent nature of genome modification. Here we identify positive T-cell regulators via overexpression of ~12,000 barcoded human open reading frames (ORFs). Using this genome-scale ORF screen, we found modulator genes which increased primary human CD4+ and CD8+ T-cell proliferation, including activation markers like CD25 and CD40L, and secretion of key cytokines like interleukin-2 and interferon-gamma. In addition, we developed a single-cell genomics method (OverCITE-seq) for high-throughput quantification of the transcriptome and surface proteome in ORF-engineered T-cells. The top-ranked ORF, lymphotoxin beta receptor (LTBR), is typically expressed in a subset of myeloid cells but absent in lymphocytes. When expressed in T-cells, LTBR induces a profound transcriptional remodelling, resulting in increased resistance to exhaustion and activation-induced apoptosis, as well as upregulation of a plethora of proinflammatory cytokines, co-stimulatory molecules and antigen presentation machinery. In order to investigate the mechanism of action of LTBR, we developed an epistasis assay which allows for simultaneous gene knockout and LTBR overexpression in primary T cells. Thus, LTBR appears to induce both canonical and non-canonical NFkB pathways - but the phenotype observed in T cells is dependent only on the former. Finally, we co-expressed several top-ranked genes, including LTBR, with FDA approved CD19-targeting CARs utilizing either 4-1BB or CD28 co-stimulatory domains. In line with previous results, co-expression of top-ranked ORFs increased proinflammatory cytokine secretion and cytotoxicity against CD19+ positive cancer cell lines. This functional improvement was also observed when top-ranked ORFs and CARs were delivered to T cells isolated from DLBCL patients as shown in Figure 1. Our results provide several strategies for improving next generation CAR T-cell therapies via induction of new synthetic cell programs which may optimize immune activation and enhance the efficacy of these important therapies, a high priority for patients with relapsed and refractory DLBCL and other lymphomas. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Mimitou: Immunai: Current Employment. Smibert: Immunai: Current Employment. Diefenbach: Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; IMab: Research Funding; Gilead: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Celgene: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Merck Sharp & Dohme: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; IGM Biosciences: Research Funding; Morphosys: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; MEI: Consultancy, Research Funding; Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health: Current Employment; Incyte: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genentech, Inc./ F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Sanjana: Qiagen: Consultancy; Vertex: Consultancy.


Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 136 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 16-17
Author(s):  
Catherine Thieblemont ◽  
Sylvie Chevret ◽  
Vincent Allain ◽  
Roberta Di Blasi ◽  
Florence Morin ◽  
...  

Background. Anti-CD19 Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cells is a major therapeutic advance in the management of patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL). However, some patients will experience progression or relapse after infusion. Treatment of these relapses or progressions is not standardized and is usually based on strategies that will avoid the destruction of the CAR T-cells, such as immuno-oncology drugs. Lenalidomide is reported to activate CD8 T cells, inhibit regulatory T cells and restore T-cell immune synapse. We report here our experience of Lenalidomide in the treatment of progression or relapse after CAR T-cells infusion. Methods. Between June 2018 and July 2020, 111 patients with R/R DBLCL were treated with commercialized anti-CD19 CAR T-cells, axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel yescarta) (n=60) or tisagenlecleucel (Tisa-cel kymriah) (n=51). Relapse and progression after CAR T-cells was defined based on the Cheson 2014 criteria. Efficacy of the treatment proposed at time of relapse post-CAR T-cells was assessed by CT scan and 18FDG-PET after the 1st cycle and at the end of treatment. CAR-T expansion was regularly monitored in blood by flow cytometry. Results. In the whole cohort, the clinical characteristic was a median age at 61.9 (range 23 to 77), male n=73 (66%). Histology subtypes were DLBCL (n=90) (including GC n=39 and non-GC n=37), PMBL (n=6), Tr FL (n=15). 85 (76.6%) patients presented a primary refractory lymphoma. IPI included 30 low risk, 23 low-intermediate, 23 high-intermediate and 14 high risk. The median number of lines of treatment before CAR T cells infusion was 3 (IQR, 2 to 4) ranging from 1 to 9. At time of infusion, median total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) was 52.4 (IQR, 12.1 to 170.1), ranging from 1.44 to 4247. Fifty-nine patients failed after Tisa-cel (n=33) of Axi-cel (n=26) infusion. Failure occurred after CAR T-cell within a median time of 6 months; 16 (27%) of the failures occurred before day 15 (D15), 27 (45.8%) during the first month after infusion (<M1), and 45 (76.3%) during the first-3 months after infusion (<M3). At failure, the patients received lenalidomide (LEN) (n=41, 69.5%) with (n=30) or without (n= 10) rituximab (R) or Obinutuzumab (O) (n=1); immune-checkpoint inhibitor including Pembrolizumab (n=2); BTK inhibitor (n=1); BET inhibitor (n=1); chemotherapy or immune-chemotherapy (n=3); radiotherapy (n=2). Six (10.2%) patients received palliative care only and three (5.1%) patients died before receiving further treatment. The best overall response rate was observed in 16 (27.1%) of the patients, including best complete response in 9 and best partial response in 7; 35 progressed. The median progression-free survival was 101 days, and the median overall survival 225 days. Considering the cohort of patients who received LEN, the 11 patients who started LEN+/-R or O before D15 post-CAR T-cell infusion (group ≤D15) experienced a higher ORR (7/11, 63.6% vs 9/48, 18.8%, p=0.006), and a higher CR rate (4/11, 36.4% vs 5/48, 10.4%, p=0.05). In univariate analysis, the 6 evaluable patients with early LEN (≤D15) had a higher CART expansion in blood during the first 28 days (median AUC D0-D28=1363 days*CART Cells number/µL of total blood) than other relapsing patients (median=97, p=0.042), including those treated with LEN after D15 (median=56, p=0.033), or even than patients without relapse (median=277, p=0.069). Conclusion. LEN used at time of relapse post-CAR T-cell may provide high response rate, particularly in patients receiving LEN early after infusion. Comprehensive analyses of the anti-tumoral effect, but also an immunomodulatory effect mechanisms using tumor transcriptomic and single cell analyses will be presented. Disclosures Thieblemont: Cellectis: Speakers Bureau; Roche, Amgen, Kyte Gilead, Celgene, Abbvie, Novartis, Cellectis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel support; Roche, Hospita: Research Funding. Roulland:Celgene/BMS: Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria.


2019 ◽  
Vol 37 ◽  
pp. 301-301 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Thieblemont ◽  
S. Le Gouill ◽  
R. Di Blasi ◽  
G. Cartron ◽  
F. Morschhauser ◽  
...  

Blood ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 134 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. 5821-5821
Author(s):  
David G. Maloney ◽  
Fei Fei Liu ◽  
Lisette Nientker ◽  
Cathelijne Alleman ◽  
Brian Hutton ◽  
...  

Introduction: Large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Frontline treatment is curative in ~60% of patients (pts); however, ~30% of pts relapse and ~10% are refractory to frontline treatment. Treatment options for pts with relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease, especially in the third-line or greater (3L+) setting, have been primarily salvage chemotherapies (CTs). Recently, 2 CAR T cell products, axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta®) and tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah®), and the antibody-drug conjugate, polatuzumab vedotin (Polivy®), were approved in the 3L setting. A systematic literature review (SLR) of R/R LBCL was conducted to identify relevant evidence on clinical outcomes in LBCL pts, including these new therapies, within the second-line and greater (2L+) or 3L+ setting, and to define the unmet medical need. Methods: This SLR was conducted in accordance with the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions and European Union Health Technology Assessment requirements. The review identified randomized and nonrandomized/observational studies within R/R LBCL, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma grade 3B (FL3B), primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL), DLBCL transformed from indolent lymphomas, and R/R DLBCL with secondary central nervous system (SCNS) involvement. Sources were EMBASE, MEDLINE, The Cochrane Library, and clinical conferences (ASCO, ESMO, EHA, ASH, ICML, AACR, and EORTC) from Jan 2000 to Apr 2019. Results : Following screening of 8683 database records and additional sources, 103 publications covering 78 unique studies were identified. Studies identified were characterized by line of treatment and R/R LBCL subtype (Figure). OS, PFS, DOR, OR, and safety observed from the identified studies were described. Disease subtypes, pt eligibility criteria, and length of follow-up varied notably across studies. In the 3L+ population, 11 salvage CT and 2 CAR T cell therapy studies reported survival outcomes. With salvage CT, the reported ORR across studies ranged from 0% to 54%, while CR ranged from 5.6%-31%. Median OS (mOS) ranged between 3-9 months, with one outlying study reporting mOS at 20 months. Median PFS (mPFS) reported within the salvage CT studies ranged from 2-6 months. Among CAR T cell therapies, pts treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel (n=101) reported a CR rate of 58% and median DOR (mDOR) was 11.1 months after a median follow-up of 27.1 months. mPFS was 5.9 months and mOS was not reached. At a median follow-up of 19.3 months, pts treated with tisagenlecleucel (n=115) had a CR of 40% but the mDOR was not reached. mOS was 11.1 months for all infused patients. In the 2L+ transplant-eligible population (36 studies), pts who received high-dose CT + HSCT achieved mOS between 9 months to 5 years. In the transplant noneligible population, 16 studies reported mOS between 3-20 months. Studies involving mixed transplant-eligible and noneligible populations (30 studies) reported mOS of 1-17 months. A few studies with limited sample sizes were found to report outcomes in LBCL subtypes (eg, PMBCL, SCNS lymphoma, DLBCL transformed from non-FL indolent lymphoma, FL3B). In the 3L+ setting, 1 study reported that mOS was not reached after a median of 6.6 months. In the 2L+ setting, 4 studies reported mPFS and mOS outcomes ranging between 2-9 months and 10-16 months, respectively. Among studies assessing safety of salvage CTs in R/R LBCL, neutropenia, leukocytopenia, thrombocytopenia, and infections were the most commonly reported adverse events (AEs), with neutropenia being the most reported. Among the 3 studies reporting safety outcomes of CAR T cell therapy, data suggest that hematologic AEs (possibly related to lymphodepleting CT), cytokine release syndrome, and neurotoxicity are the most reported. Conclusions : Despite the availability of new therapies for 2L+ and 3L + LBCL, examination of the current evidence has shown that there exists a high unmet need for additional therapeutic options that provide favorable benefit/risk and durable response for these patients. Furthermore, limited data are available for the rarer subtypes of LBCL. Both findings represent important treatment gaps for R/R LBCL that must be addressed in future research geared toward improvement of the current treatment landscape. Disclosures Maloney: Juno Therapeutics: Honoraria, Patents & Royalties: patients pending , Research Funding; Celgene,Kite Pharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; BioLine RX, Gilead,Genentech,Novartis: Honoraria; A2 Biotherapeutics: Honoraria, Other: Stock options . Liu:Celgene Corporation: Employment. Nientker:Celgene Corporation: Consultancy; Pharmerit Cöoperatief U.A.: Employment. Alleman:Pharmerit Cöoperatief U.A.: Employment; Celgene Corporation: Consultancy. Garcia:Celgene: Employment, Equity Ownership.


Blood ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
John H Baird ◽  
Matthew Joshua Frank ◽  
Juliana Craig ◽  
Shabnum Patel ◽  
Jay Y Spiegel ◽  
...  

The prognosis for patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) progressing after treatment with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy targeting CD19 (CAR19) is poor. We report on the first three consecutive patients with autologous CAR19-refractory LBCL treated with a single infusion of autologous 1×106 CAR+ T-cells/kg targeting CD22 (CAR22) as part of a phase I dose escalation study. CAR22 therapy was relatively well tolerated, without any observed non-hematologic adverse events higher than grade 2. Following infusion, all three patients achieved complete remission, with all responses ongoing at the time of last follow up (mean 7.8 months, range 6-9.3). Circulating CAR22 cells demonstrated robust expansion (peak range 85.4-350 cells/µL), and persisted beyond three months in all patients with continued radiographic responses and corresponding decreases in circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) beyond six months post-infusion. Further accrual at a higher dose level in this phase 1 dose-escalation study is ongoing and will explore the role of this therapy in patients who have failed prior CAR T-cell therapies. (Funded by the National Cancer Institute and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04088890)


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