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.

Author Info: (1) IRCCS Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy. (2) Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. (3) IRCCS Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy. (4) Bamb

Author Info: (1) IRCCS Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy. (2) Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. (3) IRCCS Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy. (4) Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy. (5) IRCCS Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy. (6) Miltenyi Biomedicine, Germany, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany. (7) IRCCS Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy. (8) IRCCS Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy. (9) Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy. (10) IRCCS Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, Roma, Italy. (11) IRCCS Bambino Ges Children Hospital, Rome, Italy. (12) Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. (13) Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Ges Roma, Roma, Italy. (14) Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy. (15) Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy. (16) Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy. (17) CharitŽ - UniversitŠtsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany. (18) Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. (19) IRCCS Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy. (20) IRCCS Bambino Gesu Children's Hospital. (21) Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. (22) Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy. (23) Department of Clinical Medicine and Surgery, University of Naples Federico II, Italy. (24) Bambino Ges Children's Hospital, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.