scholarly journals Cytomegalovirus in Haematological Tumours

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Alonso-Álvarez ◽  
Enrique Colado ◽  
Marco A. Moro-García ◽  
Rebeca Alonso-Arias

The exquisite coupling between herpesvirus and human beings is the result of millions of years of relationship, coexistence, adaptation, and divergence. It is probably based on the ability to generate a latency that keeps viral activity at a very low level, thereby apparently minimising harm to its host. However, this evolutionary success disappears in immunosuppressed patients, especially in haematological patients. The relevance of infection and reactivation in haematological patients has been a matter of interest, although one fundamentally focused on reactivation in the post-allogeneic stem cell transplant (SCT) patient cohort. Newer transplant modalities have been progressively introduced in clinical settings, with successively more drugs being used to manipulate graft composition and functionality. In addition, new antiviral drugs are available to treat CMV infection. We review the immunological architecture that is key to a favourable outcome in this subset of patients. Less is known about the effects of herpesvirus in terms of mortality or disease progression in patients with other malignant haematological diseases who are treated with immuno-chemotherapy or new molecules, or in patients who receive autologous SCT. The absence of serious consequences in these groups has probably limited the motivation to deepen our knowledge of this aspect. However, the introduction of new therapeutic agents for haematological malignancies has led to a better understanding of how natural killer (NK) cells, CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes, and B lymphocytes interact, and of the role of CMV infection in the context of recently introduced drugs such as Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors, phosphoinosytol-3-kinase inhibitors, anti-BCL2 drugs, and even CAR-T cells. We analyse the immunological basis and recommendations regarding these scenarios.

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (8) ◽  
pp. 1666
Author(s):  
Veronica Di Cristanziano ◽  
Patrick Affeldt ◽  
Moritz Trappe ◽  
Maike Wirtz ◽  
Eva Heger ◽  
...  

The treatment options for cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections in immunosuppressed patients are limited, mainly consisting of (val-)ganciclovir (VGC/GCV) as the first-line treatment. We report on three transplant recipients, one stem cell transplant (allo-HSCT) patient and two kidney transplant (KTx) recipients, with prolonged CMV viremia treated with a combined therapy based on letermovir (LMV), CMV-specific intravenous immunoglobulins (IVIg), and VGC/GCV, which led to the sustained control of CMV viremia in all patients.


Author(s):  
Niamh Carey ◽  
Conor Hickey ◽  
Laura Mc Cullagh ◽  
Michael Barry

IntroductionIn 2018, the National Centre for Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) was commissioned to conduct a health technology assessment (HTA) of one of the first commercially available chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, tisagenlecleucel. CAR T-cells are a major advance in personalized cancer treatment, demonstrating promising outcomes in relapsed/refractory pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (pALL). However, the results are based on short-term follow up, limiting their value in predicting long-term survival and leading to uncertainty about the most appropriate survival modeling method to employ. This study aimed to address these limitations by means of expert elicitation.MethodsAn expert elicitation method, the histogram technique, was employed. A predefined discrete numerical scale was presented in Microsoft Excel® and the expert was asked to place twenty crosses on a frequency chart. These crosses represented the expert's beliefs about the distribution of particular quantities. Each cross represented five percent of the probabilistic distribution. Individual distributions were then aggregated across experts using linear pooling.ResultsA total of seventeen experts were invited to take part; eight agreed to participate and five completed the exercise. Three experts did not consider tisagenlecleucel to be a “curative” therapy because patients had a higher risk of death, compared with the age- and sex-matched general population. The aggregated distributions indicated the five-year overall survival rate to be thirty-three percent (95% CI 8.65–56.88) in patients who do not receive a subsequent stem cell transplant and twenty percent (95% CI 2.38 -52.04) in those who do.ConclusionsThe results of this study will be used to calibrate CD19 CAR T-cell therapy survival estimates presented in HTA submissions to the NCPE to ensure more robust assessments. They will also be used to inform the construction of a de novo cost-utility model for examining the cost effectiveness of CD19 CAR T-cell therapies for relapsed/refractory pALL in the Irish healthcare setting.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S565-S565
Author(s):  
Joanne Reekie ◽  
Marie Helleberg ◽  
Christina Ekenberg ◽  
Mark P Khurana ◽  
Isabelle P Lodding ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a serious complication following Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) and can lead to serious organ disease and mortality. This study aimed to investigate the association between absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and CMV to determine whether ALC could help to identify those at an increased risk of CMV infection and recurrence Methods Adults undergoing HSCT between 2011 and 2016 at Rigshospitalet, Denmark were included. Cox proportional hazards models investigated risk factors, including ALC, for CMV infection in the first year post-transplant and recurrent CMV infection 6 months after clearance and stopping CMV treatment for the first infection. For the primary outcome ALC was investigated as a time-updated risk factor lagged by 7 days, and for recurrent CMV, ALC measured at the time at the time of stopping treatment for the first CMV infection was investigated (+/- 7 days). Results Of the 352 HSCT recipients included, 57% were male, 40% received myeloablative conditioning, 42% had high risk (D-R+) CMV IgG serostatus at transplant and the median age was 56 (IQR 43-63). 143 (40.6%) patients had an episode of CMV DNAemia a median of 47 days after transplant (IQR 35-62). A lower current ALC (≤ 0.3 x109/L) was associated with a higher risk of CMV infection in univariate analysis compared to a high current ALC (> 1 x109/L). However, this association was attenuated after adjustment, particularly for acute graft versus host disease (Figure). 102 HSCT recipients were investigated for risk of recurrent CMV of which 41 (40.2%) had a recurrent CMV episode a median of 27 days (IQR 16-50) after stopping CMV treatment for the first infection. A lower ALC (≤ 0.3 x109/L) at the time of stopping CMV treatment was associated with a significantly higher risk of recurrent CMV after adjustment (Figure). A higher peak viral load (> 1500 IU/ml) during the first episode of CMV infection was also associated with an increased risk of recurrent CMV (aHR 2.47, 95%CI 1.00-6.10 compared to < 750 IU/ml). Association between absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) and risk of CMV infection and recurrent CMV within 6 months. **First CMV infection multivariable model also adjusted for sex, CMV serostatus, age, year of transplant, Charlson Comorbidity Index, Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) given, HLA donor-recipient matching, and acute graft versus host disease (time-updated) *Recurrent CMV infection multivariable model also adjusted for conditioning regimen, sex, CMV serostatus, age, year of transplant Anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) given, HLA donor-recipient matching, and acute graft versus host disease and peak CMV viral load during the first CMV infection Conclusion A lower ALC at the time of stopping treatment for the first CMV infection was associated with an increased risk of recurrent CMV and could be used to help guide decisions for augmented CMV surveillance and clinical awareness of CMV disease symptoms in these patients. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. TPS7571-TPS7571
Author(s):  
Nancy L. Bartlett ◽  
Christopher A. Yasenchak ◽  
Khaleel K. Ashraf ◽  
William N. Harwin ◽  
Robert Brownell Sims ◽  
...  

TPS7571 Background: The majority of patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who relapse after HSCT, or who are not candidates for HSCT have poor outcomes and are in need of novel therapies. Brentuximab vedotin (BV) is a CD30-directed ADC and preclinical data provide a strong rationale for combining BV, lenalidomide, and rituximab in the treatment of R/R DLBCL. In addition, in a phase 1 trial in which 37 pts with R/R DLBCL were treated with BV + lenalidomide, the ORR was 56.7% (73.3% in CD30+ pts; manuscript in preparation). The median duration of remission was 13.2 months in pts with a CR or PR and 11.7 months in pts with CR, PR, or stable disease > 6 months. The PFS and median OS were 11.2 months and 14.3 months, respectively and results were similar in the CD30+ and CD30 < 1% groups. The clinical activity and manageable safety profiles of BV, lenalidomide, and rituximab as single agents, make the combination a viable option in multiply relapsed and heavily pretreated pts. Methods: This is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, active-comparator, multicenter phase 3 study designed to evaluate the efficacy of BV vs placebo, in combination with lenalidomide + rituximab, in subjects with R/R DLBCL (NCT04404283). Prior to randomization, there will be a safety and PK run-in period where 6 pts will receive BV, lenalidomide + rituximab, and safety and PK will be evaluated after the first cycle of treatment; 6/6 subjects have been enrolled. Key eligibility criteria include: pts aged ≥18 with R/R DLBCL with an eligible subtype; ≥2 prior lines of therapy and must be ineligible for, or have declined, stem cell transplant, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy; ECOG 0 to 2; fluorodeoxyglucose-avid disease by PET and bidimensional measurable disease of at least 1.5 cm by CT. Patients (n = 400) will be randomized 1:1 to receive either BV or placebo in combination with lenalidomide + rituximab and will be stratified by CD30 expression (positive [ ≥1%] versus < 1%), prior allogeneic or autologous stem cell transplant therapy (received or not), prior CAR-T therapy (received or not), and cell of origin (GCB or non-GCB). The primary endpoints are PFS per BICR in the ITT and CD30+ populations. Key secondary endpoints are OS in the ITT and CD30+ populations, and ORR per BICR. Other secondary endpoints include CR rate, duration of response, and safety and tolerability of the combination. Disease response will be assessed by BICR and the investigator according to the Lugano Classification Revised Staging System. Radiographic disease evaluations, including contrast-enhanced CT scans and PET, will be assessed at baseline, then every 6 weeks from randomization until Week 48, then every 12 weeks. PET is not required after CR is achieved. The trial is currently enrolling and will be open in 16 countries. Clinical trial information: NCT04404283.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (15_suppl) ◽  
pp. 7555-7555
Author(s):  
Radhika Bansal ◽  
Paschalis Vergidis ◽  
Pritish Tosh ◽  
John W. Wilson ◽  
Matthew Hathcock ◽  
...  

7555 Background: While CAR-T therapy is not myelo-ablative, patients with aggressive lymphoma treated with CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (CAR-T) are lymphodepleted and have prolonged B cell aplasia. The impact of CAR-T on immunologic protection from vaccine-preventable diseases (and thus the need to revaccinate) is not known. We report the vaccine titers of patients treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) at Mayo Clinic. Methods: Retrospective chart review of adult lymphoma patients who received axi-cel from 9/2018 to 9/2020 for anti-viral and anti-bacterial titers prior to CAR-T infusion and at month 3 (MO3) post CAR-T. Results: Prior to CAR-T therapy, positive titer rate was highest for tetanus and lowest for Strep pneumoniae (Strep PNA) (Table). Similar trends were seen whether patients had stem cell transplant (ASCT) within 2 years of CAR-T (i.e. within immunization timeframe post ASCT) or not (Table). Compared to patients who had ASCT, those who did not had higher rate of positive titer for Strep PNA and lower rate for hepatitis B, Mumps, and VZV. The same trend for sero-positive rate were observed at MO3 post CAR-T. Patients with IgG<400 mg/dl received IVIG supplement for prophylaxis. Among the 23 patients who received IVIG, variable rate of conversion from negative to positive titers were seen for measles (1/2, 50%), mumps (2/3, 67%), rubella (2/3, 67%), varicella-zoster (VZV, 3/3, 100%), hepatitis A (6/6, 100%), hepatitis B (6/7, 86%) and Strep PNA (0/10, 0%). For patients who did not receive IVIG prophylaxis, there was one loss of seropositivity for Strep PNA (1/4, 25%). Conclusions: The presence of protective vaccine titers is variable for patients receiving CAR-T, regardless of recent ASCT. The loss of protective titers post CART was low. IVIG variably impacted vaccine titer status. Immunization remains important for patients with ASCT prior to CART, without completion of post ASCT immunization protocol. Further study is needed to inform the need for immunization and optimal timing post CART.[Table: see text]


2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (6) ◽  
pp. e0009541
Author(s):  
Georgina Meza-Radilla ◽  
Violeta Larios-Serrato ◽  
Rigoberto Hernández-Castro ◽  
J. Antonio Ibarra ◽  
Paulina Estrada-de los Santos

Background Burkholderia sensu stricto is comprised mainly of opportunistic pathogens. This group is widely distributed in the environment but is especially important in clinical settings. In Mexico, few species have been correctly identified among patients, most often B. cepacia is described. Methodology/Principal findings In this study, approximately 90 strains identified as B. cepacia with the VITEK2 system were isolated from two medical centers in Mexico City and analyzed by MLSA, BOX-PCR and genome analysis. The initial identification of B. cepacia was confirmed for many strains, but B. contaminans, B. multivorans and B. vietnamiensis were also identified among clinical strains for the first time in hospitals in Mexico. Additionally, the presence of B. pseudomallei was confirmed, and a novel species within the B. cepacia complex was documented. Several strains misidentified as B. cepacia actually belong to the genera Pseudomonas, Stenotrophomonas and Providencia. Conclusions/Significance The presence of different Burkholderia species in Mexico was confirmed. Correct identification of Burkholderia species is important to provide accurate treatment for immunosuppressed patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (14) ◽  
pp. 2799-2806
Author(s):  
Uri Greenbaum ◽  
Paolo Strati ◽  
Rima M. Saliba ◽  
Janet Torres ◽  
Gabriela Rondon ◽  
...  

Abstract The Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) score, defined as [(creatinine × lactate dehydrogenase [LDH])/platelets], is a marker of endothelial activation that has been validated in the allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant setting. Endothelial activation is one of the mechanisms driving immune-mediated toxicities in patients treated with chimeric antigen receptor-T (CAR-T)-cell therapy. This study’s objective was to evaluate the association between EASIX and other laboratory parameters collected before lymphodepletion and the subsequent onset of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) those patients. Toxicity data were collected prospectively on 171 patients treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) for large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). CRS grades 2 to 4 were diagnosed in 81 (47%) patients and ICANS grades 2 to 4 in 84 (49%). EASIX combined with ferritin (EASIX-F) identified 3 risk groups with CRS grades 2 to 4 cumulative incidence of 74% (hazards ratio [HR], 4.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.1-11; P &lt; .001), 49% (HR, 2.3; 95% CI, 1.02-5; P = .04), and 23% (reference), respectively. EASIX combined with CRP and ferritin (EASIX-FC) identified 3 risk groups with an ICANS grade 2 to 4 cumulative incidence of 74% (HR, 3.6; 95% CI, 1.9-6.9; P &lt; .001), 51% (HR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.1-3.9; P = .025), and 29% (reference). Our results indicate that common laboratory parameters before lymphodepletion correlate with CAR-T–related toxicities and can help support clinical decisions, such as preemptive toxicity management, hospitalization length, and proper setting for CAR-T administration.


Blood ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mazyar Shadman ◽  
Marcelo C. Pasquini ◽  
Kwang Woo Ahn ◽  
Yue Chen ◽  
Cameron J. Turtle ◽  
...  

The relative efficacy of autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (auto-HCT) versus chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients who achieve a partial remission (PR) after salvage chemotherapy is not known. Using the Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Research registry database, we identified adult DLBCL patients who received either an auto-HCT (2013-2019) or CAR-T treatment with axicabtagene ciloleucel (2018-2019) while in a PR by CT or PET scan. We compared the clinical outcomes between the two cohorts using univariable and multivariable regression models after adjustment for relevant baseline and clinical factors. In the univariable analysis, the 2-year progression-free survival (52% vs. 42% ; p=0.1) and the rate of 100-day non-relapse mortality (4% vs. 2% ; p=0.3) were not different between the 2 cohorts but consolidation with auto-HCT was associated with a lower rate of relapse/progression (40% vs. 53% ; p=0.05) and a superior overall survival (OS) (69% vs. 47% ; p=0.004) at 2-years. In the multivariable regression analysis, treatment with auto-HCT was associated with a significantly lower risk of relapse/progression rate (HR=1.49; p=0.01) and a superior OS (HR=1.63; p=0.008). In patients with DLBCL in a PR after salvage therapy, treatment with auto-HCT was associated with a lower incidence of relapse and a superior OS compared with CAR-T. These data support the role of auto-HCT as the standard-of-care in transplant-eligible patients with relapsed DLBCL in PR after salvage therapy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 7 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. S578-S579
Author(s):  
Divya S Kondapi ◽  
Sasirekha Ramani ◽  
Adilene Olvera ◽  
Robert L Atmar ◽  
Mary K Estes ◽  
...  

Abstract Background CAR-T is used to treat certain refractory hematological malignancies. B-cell aplasia and immunosuppression used to treat CAR-T side effects increase infection risk. Little data are available describing Norovirus (NoV) infections in CAR-T recipients. Methods We reviewed the medical records of 134 patients with NoV diarrhea (identified by nucleic acid amplification test) between 2016-2019. Of these patients, nine received CAR-T prior to developing NoV. Here we describe their demographics, clinical characteristics, treatments, and complications. Results The median age was 49 years (Table 1). Patients’ underlying malignancies included Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (4), Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (3), Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (1) and metastatic Sarcoma (1). Prior to development of NoV, six patients had undergone hematopoietic stem cell transplant, and 1 had received checkpoint inhibitor therapy. Five patients experienced cytokine release syndrome after CAR-T, and 1 experienced CAR-T-related encephalopathy syndrome (Table 2). Two patients received interleukin-6 antagonist therapy, and one received high dose steroids. Time to diarrhea onset post-CAR-T cell infusion was variable(median 256days, IQR 26-523 days).Six had an absolute lymphocyte count&lt; 1000/mm3 at diarrhea onset. Three had diarrhea for &gt;14 days; median diarrhea duration in the other 6 patients was 4 days. Other GI complaints included abdominal pain (3), nausea (4), and vomiting (3). For NoV treatment, three received oral immunoglobulin, and 8 received Nitazoxanide. Complications included development of concomitant GI-GVHD(5), ileus (2), need for TPN (3), renal failure requiring dialysis (2), ICU stay (3), and death (2). Two patients were co-infected with other enteropathogens such as rotavirus, enteropathogenic and enteroaggregative E.Coli and Clostridioides difficile. Three patients with diarrhea lasting &gt;14 days had serial samples collected over time; NoV shedding lasted 81-546 days. NoV was genotyped in 6 patients(Table 3) and included GII.2(2), GII.4(2), GII.6(1) and GII.12(1). Table 1: Patient characteristics (N=9) Table 2: CAR-T related factors Table 3: NoV Genotypes Conclusion NoV belonging to various genotypes is an important cause of acute and chronic diarrhea in patients receiving CAR-T cell therapy. Disclosures Adilene Olvera, MPH MLS (ASCP), MERK (Grant/Research Support, Scientific Research Study Investigator) Robert L. Atmar, MD, Takeda Vaccines, Inc. (Grant/Research Support) Mary K. Estes, PhD, Takeda Vaccines (Consultant, Grant/Research Support)


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