Allogeneic, donor-derived, second-generation, CD19-CAR-T cell for the treatment of pediatric relapsed/refractory BCP-ALL
(1) Del Bufalo F (2) Becilli M (3) Rosignoli C (4) De Angelis B (5) Algeri M (6) Hanssens L (7) Gunetti M (8) Iacovelli S (9) Li Pira G (10) Girolami E (11) Leone G (12) Lazzaro S (13) Bertaina V (14) Sinibaldi M (15) Di Cecca S (16) Iaffaldano L (17) Knkele A (18) Boccieri E (19) Del Baldo G (20) Pagliara D (21) Merli P (22) Carta R (23) Quintarelli C (24) Locatelli F
Lymphopenia and rapidly progressive disease pose challenges for autologous CD19-CAR-T treatment in patients with pediatric relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). Del Bufalo et al. evaluated allogeneic, HLA-matched family donor-derived CD19-CAR-T in 13 pediatric R/R BCP-ALL cases. The toxicity profile was similar to that of autologous CAR-T. One case of Grade 3 acute graft-versus-host disease could be controlled with standard treatment. CAR-T expanded and persisted ≥6 months in 5/7 patients. All patients achieved complete remission (CR); at a median follow-up of 12 months, 8/13 patients maintained CR.
Contributed by Maartje Wouters
(1) Del Bufalo F (2) Becilli M (3) Rosignoli C (4) De Angelis B (5) Algeri M (6) Hanssens L (7) Gunetti M (8) Iacovelli S (9) Li Pira G (10) Girolami E (11) Leone G (12) Lazzaro S (13) Bertaina V (14) Sinibaldi M (15) Di Cecca S (16) Iaffaldano L (17) Knkele A (18) Boccieri E (19) Del Baldo G (20) Pagliara D (21) Merli P (22) Carta R (23) Quintarelli C (24) Locatelli F
Lymphopenia and rapidly progressive disease pose challenges for autologous CD19-CAR-T treatment in patients with pediatric relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). Del Bufalo et al. evaluated allogeneic, HLA-matched family donor-derived CD19-CAR-T in 13 pediatric R/R BCP-ALL cases. The toxicity profile was similar to that of autologous CAR-T. One case of Grade 3 acute graft-versus-host disease could be controlled with standard treatment. CAR-T expanded and persisted ≥6 months in 5/7 patients. All patients achieved complete remission (CR); at a median follow-up of 12 months, 8/13 patients maintained CR.
Contributed by Maartje Wouters
ABSTRACT: Autologous CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells have shown unprecedented efficacy in children with relapsed/refractory B-cell-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL). However, patients either relapsing after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT), or displaying profound lymphopenia and/or with rapidly progressing disease often cannot access autologous products. These hurdles may be overcome by allogeneic, donor-derived CAR-T cells. We tested donor-derived T-cells transduced with a 2nd-generation (4.1BB) CD19-CAR for treatment of patients with BCP-ALL, in a hospital exemption setting. Two constructs were tested: a retroviral construct incorporating the suicide gene inducible caspase-9 (CD19-CAR-Retro_ALLO) first and then a lentiviral construct and an automated, Prodigy¨-based, manufacturing process (CD19-CAR-Lenti_ALLO). Thirteen children/young adults received ALLO-CAR T-cells between 03/2021 and 10/2022. Doses ranged between 1,0_106 and 3,0_106 CAR T-cells/kg. The toxicity profile was comparable to that of autologous CAR-T cells, characterized mainly by cytopenia, CRS (maximum grade 1) and grade 2 ICANS. One case of acute graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) occurred and was rapidly controlled by steroids and ruxolitinib. None of the other patients, including 3 infused with ALLO-CAR T cells from an HLA-haplo-identical donor, experienced GvHD. Two patients received ALLO-CAR T-cells before HSCT and showed a significant expansion of CAR T cells, without any sign of GvHD. All patients obtained complete remission (CR) with negativity of minimal residual disease in the BM; with a median follow-up of 12 months (range 5-21), 8/13 patients maintain CR. Allogeneic anti-CD19 CAR-T cells can effectively treat highly-refractory BCP-ALL relapsing after alloHSCT, without showing increased toxicity as compared to autologous CAR T cells.