In an open-label phase I study, Hu et al. evaluated the safety, feasibility, and efficacy of off-the-shelf CD19/CD22 dual-targeting allogeneic CAR T cells (CTA101) with a CRISPR/Cas9-disrupted TRAC region and CD52 gene. All six enrolled relapsed/refractory B-cell ALL patients received one infusion of CTA101 within 8 days of enrollment, showed cytokine release syndrome, and lacked CRISPR gene editing-associated genotoxicity, chromosomal translocation, neurotoxicity, or graft-versus-host disease. On Day 28, five out of six patients achieved complete remission, and all patients who had a response achieved MRD-negative remission.

Contributed by Shishir Pant

PURPOSE: Autologous chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cell therapy is an effective treatment for relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (r/r ALL). However, certain characteristics of autologous CAR-T cells can delay treatment availability. Relapse caused by antigen escape after single-targeted CAR-T therapy is another issue. Therefore, we aim to develop CRISPR-edited universal off-the-shelf CD19/CD22 dual-targeted CAR-T cells as a novel therapy for r/r ALL. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: In this open-labeled dose-escalation phase I study, universal CD19/CD22-targeting CAR-T cells (CTA101) with a CRISPR/Cas9-disrupted TRAC region and CD52 gene to avoid host immune-mediated rejection were infused in patients with r/r ALL. Safety, efficacy, and CTA101 cellular kinetics were evaluated. RESULTS: CRISPR/Cas9 technology mediated highly efficient, high-fidelity gene editing and production of universal CAR-T (UCAR-T) cells. No gene editing-associated genotoxicity or chromosomal translocation was observed. Six patients received CTA101 infusions at doses of 1 (3 patients) and 3 (3 patients) _ 10(6) CAR-positive T cells/kg body weight. Cytokine release syndrome occurred in all patients. No dose limit toxicity, graft-versus-host disease, neurotoxicity, or genome editing-associated adverse events have occurred to date. The complete remission (CR) rate was 83.3% on D28 after CTA101 infusion. With a median follow-up of 4.3 months, three of the five patients who achieved CR/CRi remained MRD negative. CONCLUSIONS: CRISPR/Cas9-engineered universal CD19/CD22 CAR-T cells exhibited a manageable safety profile and prominent anti-leukemia activity. Universal dual-targeted CAR-T cell therapy may offer an alternative therapy for patients with r/r ALL.

Author Info: (1) Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, the first Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University. (2) Nanjing Bioheng Biotech Co., Ltd. (3) Bone Marrow Transplantatio

Author Info: (1) Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, the first Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University. (2) Nanjing Bioheng Biotech Co., Ltd. (3) Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, the first Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University. (4) Nanjing Bioheng Biotech Co., Ltd. (5) Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, Department of Hematology, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University. (6) Bone Marrow Transplantation Center,, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine. (7) Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, the first Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University. (8) Nanjing Bioheng Biotech Co., Ltd. (9) Nanjing Bioheng Biotech Co., Ltd. (10) Nanjing Bioheng Biotech Co., Ltd. (11) Nanjing Bioheng Biotech Co., Ltd. (12) Nanjing Bioheng Biotech Co., Ltd. (13) Nanjing Bioheng Biotech Co., Ltd. (14) Nanjing Bioheng Biotech Co., Ltd. (15) Nanjing Bioheng Biotech Co., Ltd. (16) clinical medical, Nanjing Bioheng Biotech Co., Ltd. (17) Nanjing Bioheng Biotech Co., Ltd. (18) Nanjing Bioheng Biotech Co., Ltd. (19) Bone Marrow Transplantation Center, the first Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University huanghe@zju.edu.cn.