Patient-Reported Outcomes with Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy: Challenges and Opportunities

Weathering the storm when the end of the road is near: A qualitative analysis of supportive care needs during CAR T-cell therapy in pediatrics

BACKGROUND

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy provides promising outcomes in relapsed/refractory B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), yet still carries high toxicity rates and relatively poor long-term survival. Efficacy has yet to be demonstrated in other diagnoses while toxicity and risk profiles remain formidable. To date, treatment-related symptom burden is gleaned from clinical trial toxicity reports; the patient perspective remains understudied.

METHODS

English- or Spanish-speaking patients (ages 8-25 years) undergoing CAR T-cell therapy for any malignancy and their primary caregivers were recruited from Seattle Children's Hospital (SCH), St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (SJCRH), and the Pediatric Oncology Branch of the National Cancer Institute (NCI). Both patient and caregiver completed semi-structured dyadic interviews 3 months post treatment. We used directed content analysis for codebook development and thematic network analysis for inductive qualitative analysis.

RESULTS

Twenty families completed interviews (13 patients, 15 parents). Patients were a median age 16.5 years, predominantly female (65%), White (75%), and diagnosed with ALL (75%). Global themes included "A clear decision," "Coping with symptoms," and "Unforeseen psychosocial challenges." When families were asked to describe the "most challenging part of treatment," most described "the unknown." Most reported "the symptoms really weren't that bad," even among patients hospitalized for severe toxicity events. Fatigue, pain, and nausea were the most prevalent symptoms. Importantly, only one family would have chosen a different therapy, if given another opportunity.

CONCLUSIONS

Although physical symptoms were largely tolerable, recognizing supportive care opportunities remains imperative, particularly psychosocial concerns.

High Symptom Burden Predicts Poorer Quality of Life Among Children and Adolescents Receiving Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation or Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy

BACKGROUND

Children with cancer and other serious illnesses experience symptom burden during hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, yet limited research has characterized how these symptoms interact with overall quality of life over time.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine the longitudinal relationship between symptoms and quality of life in children receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy.

METHODS

A multisite study design was used to collect symptom and quality of life information at pre-cell infusion and days +30, +60, and +90 from children (N = 140) receiving hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. A longitudinal parallel process model was used to characterize the relationship between symptoms and quality of life.

RESULTS

Children (mean age, 8.4 years) received allogeneic transplant (57.9%), autologous transplant (25.7%), or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (16.4%). Symptom prevalence was highest at baseline (>50%) for pain, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, and low appetite. Quality of life scores were worse at baseline (mean [SD], 69.5 [15.8]) and improved by 10 points by day +90. The longitudinal model indicated high symptom prevalence at baseline predicted worse quality of life at both baseline and day +90.

CONCLUSIONS

Children felt worse early in the treatment trajectory and improved by day +90. The level of symptom burden predicted the overall quality of life at all time points.

IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE

Children experiencing high symptom burden should receive frequent assessment and enhanced symptom management throughout the treatment trajectory to mitigate negative impacts on quality of life.

The Patient Symptom Experience After Tisagenlecleucel and Lisocabtagene Maraleucel CAR T-Cell Therapy for Lymphoma

OBJECTIVES

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell treatment is associated with several unique toxicities, and the short-term symptom trajectory in the immediately after therapy is well-documented. However, little is known about patients' long-term symptom experience. The study aimed to elicit the symptom experience of adult patients in remission after CAR T-cell therapy for B cell lymphoma.

DATA SOURCES

A qualitative descriptive design with thematic analysis was utilized. Recruitment occurred at a tertiary academic medical center using the following inclusion criteria: adult recipient of CAR T-cell therapy for B-cell lymphoma between 3 and 12 months prior to enrollment, and currently in remission. Semi-structured interviews were conducted, transcripts were inductively coded, and team members met weekly to ensure rigor. The final sample included 10 patients: Seven received tisagenlecleucel and three received lisocabtagene marleucel and were a median of 169 days post-infusion and 65 years of age.

CONCLUSIONS

Participants continued to report symptoms, including fatigue, neuropathy, low endurance, insomnia, memory problems, and pain. Most symptoms improved over time. Some symptoms interfered with social activities, work, driving, and physical activity, though participants reported that most symptoms existed prior to CAR T-cell therapy, and overall, found CAR T-cell therapy acceptable.

IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING PRACTICE

Patients in remission after CAR T-cell therapy often continue to experience symptoms. Nurses should continue to assess this growing patient population and determine if patients require additional symptom management or support. Further research is needed to understand long-term symptom trajectory and associations with prior lines of therapy and CAR T-cell therapy.

A Systematic Literature Review of Health-Related Quality of Life Outcomes and Associated Utility Values in Relapsed and/or Refractory Large B Cell Lymphoma

BACKGROUND

In this ever-expanding treatment landscape, there is a lack of consolidated health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes and utility reports in relapsed or refractory (R/R) large B cell lymphoma (LBCL) to inform health care policy and decision-maker assessments for both old and new products. These assessments can have a direct effect on what treatment options are available to patients and physicians.

OBJECTIVE

A systematic literature review (SLR) was performed to understand the HRQOL evidence for treatments in R/R LBCL and identify associated health utility values.

METHODS

The SLR searched and screened literature published from 1 January 2003 to 2 May 2022. Studies were screened based on Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, Study design criteria established a priori and were assessed by two independent reviewers; quality assessments of the evidence were performed in accordance with health technology assessment recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Several types of therapies were included, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell products (lisocabtagene maraleucel, axicabtagene ciloleucel, tisagenlecleucel), novel therapies (selinexor, nivolumab, polatuzumab vedotin, and bendamustine), salvage therapies, and rituximab.

RESULTS

The review identified 33 unique studies reporting HRQOL, including 15 economic studies that reported health state utility values, 9 clinical trials, 7 health technology assessment reports, and 1 each of a vignette-based study and a point-in-time survey. Improvements in general and/or lymphoma-specific HRQOL measures were observed with CAR T cell therapy in both the second-line and third-line or later settings. On-treatment utility values for CAR T cell therapies ranged from 0.50 to 0.74. Values for remission/progression-free survival (0.70-0.90) and for disease progression (0.39-0.59) were similar across studies. For novel therapies, utility values were 0.83 for progression-free survival and ranged from 0.39 to 0.71 for disease progression. On-treatment utility values for salvage chemotherapy ranged from 0.63 to 0.67.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the evidence synthesized in this SLR provides a comprehensive understanding of the HRQOL evidence in R/R LBCL. This article identified several sources for utility values in the published literature showing variation in the HRQOL outcomes for patients across a variety of therapeutics. Treatment of R/R LBCL with CAR T cell therapies was associated with improvement in health utility values. Mixed results were found for novel therapies and salvage therapies. More data are needed as new therapies are used in this patient population to inform treatment decision-making.

INSPIRED Symposium Part 4A: Access to CAR T Cell Therapy in Unique Populations with B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

The approval of tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) for use in children with B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) was based on the phase 2 ELIANA trial, a global registration study. However, the ELIANA trial excluded specific subsets of patients facing unique challenges and did not include a sufficient number of patients to adequately evaluate outcomes in rare subpopulations. Since the commercialization of tisa-cel, data have become available that support therapeutic indications beyond the specific cohorts previously eligible for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeted to CD19 (CD19 CAR-T) therapy on the registration clinical trial. Substantial real-world data and aggregate clinical trial data have addressed gaps in our understanding of response rates, longer-term efficacy, and toxicities associated with CD19 CAR-T in special populations and rare clinical scenarios. These include patients with central nervous system relapsed disease, who were excluded from ELIANA and other early CAR-T trials owing to concerns about risk of neurotoxicity that have not been born out. There is also interest in the use of CD19 CAR-T for very-high-risk patients earlier in the course of therapy, such as patients with persistent minimal residual disease after 2 cycles of upfront chemotherapy and patients with first relapse of B-ALL. However, these indications are not specified on the label for tisa-cel and historically were not included in eligibility criteria for most clinical trials; data addressing these populations are needed. Populations at high risk of relapse, including patients with high-risk cytogenetic lesions, infants with B-ALL, patients with trisomy 21, and young adults with B-ALL, also may benefit from earlier treatment with CD19 CAR-T. It is important to prospectively study patient-reported outcomes given the differential toxicity expected between CD19 CAR-T and the historic standard of care, hematopoietic cell transplantation. Now that CD19 CAR-T therapy is commercially available, studies evaluating potential access disparities created by this very expensive novel therapy are increasingly pressing.

Toxicities of CAR T-cell therapy: a review of current literature

The chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) design, first invented by Zelig Eshhar, paved the way for the use of genetically modified T-cells in targeted therapy against cancer cells. Since then, it has gone through many generations, especially with the integration of co-stimulation in the second and third-generation CARs. However, it also mounts a hyperactive immune response named as cytokine release syndrome with the release of several cytokines eventually resulting in multiple end-organ toxicities. The severity of cytokine release syndrome depends upon certain factors such as the tumor burden, choice of co-stimulation, and degree of lymphodepletion, and can manifest as pulmonary edema, vascular leak, renal dysfunction, cardiac problems, hepatic failure, and coagulopathy. Many grading criteria have been used to define these clinical manifestations but they lack harmonization. Neurotoxicity has also been significantly associated with CAR T-cell therapy but it has not been studied much in previous literature. This review aims to provide a comprehensive account of the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, management, and treatment of CAR T-cell associated neurotoxicity.

Early and Late Toxicities of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cells

As chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is increasingly integrated into clinical practice across a range of malignancies, identifying and treating inflammatory toxicities will be vital to success. Early experiences with CD19-targeted CAR T-cell therapy identified cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity as key acute toxicities and led to unified initiatives to mitigate the influence of these complications. In this section, we provide an update on the current state of CAR T-cell-related toxicities, with an emphasis on emerging acute toxicities affecting additional organ systems and considerations for delayed toxicities and late effects.

Patient-reported outcome (PRO) instruments used in patients undergoing adoptive cell therapy (ACT) for the treatment of cancer: a systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) is a rapidly evolving field. Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) allow patients to report the impact of treatment on their quality of life during and after treatment. The systematic review aims to characterise the breadth of PROs utilised in ACT cancer care and provide guidance for the use of PROs in this patient population in the future.

METHODS

A systematic search was conducted (MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Embase and CINAHL) in August 2021 by two reviewers. Search terms covered the following: "adoptive cell therapy", "patient-reported outcomes" and "cancer". Studies were included if they used a PRO measure to report the impact of ACT. The methodological quality of PROs was assessed. Forward and backward reference searching was conducted of any relevant papers. A quality grading scale was applied based on Cochrane and Revenson criteria for classification of high-quality studies. Key data from the studies and the included PROs was extracted by two researchers and tabulated.

RESULTS

One-hundred nine papers were identified; 11 papers were included. The majority of studies were single-arm trials or observational studies. Twenty-two different PROs were identified; none was ACT specific. The PROMIS-29 and EQ-5D were most commonly used. Few studies collected PRO data in the first 1-2 weeks. Four studies followed patients up for over a year, and a further four studies followed patients for approximately 3 months.

DISCUSSION

None of the PROs identified have been designed specifically for ACT. Appropriateness of existing instruments should be considered. It should be considered whether it is appropriate to collect data more frequently in the acute stage and then less frequently during follow-up. It should be considered if one tool is suitable at all time points or if the tool should be adapted depending on time since treatment. More research is needed to identify the exact timings of PRO assessments, and qualitative work with patients is needed to determine the most important issues for them throughout the treatment and follow-up.

Patient-Reported Outcomes among Multiple Myeloma Patients Treated with Standard of Care Idecabtagene Vicleucel

Idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel) was the first FDA-approved chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) patients. This was the first study to evaluate patient-reported outcomes (PROs) among RRMM patients receiving ide-cel in standard of care (SOC). We prospectively assessed health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and symptoms from pre-infusion (baseline) through day (D)90 post-infusion. Baseline PRO associations with patient characteristics, mean PRO changes, and time to stable change were evaluated with t-tests, linear mixed-effects models, and Kaplan-Meier analyses, respectively. Within-person change scores and minimally important difference thresholds determined clinical and meaningful significance. Participants (n = 42) were a median of 66 years old (range: 43-81). At baseline, extramedullary disease was associated with worse physical well-being (p = 0.008), global pain (p < 0.001), performance status (p = 0.002), and overall symptom burden (p < 0.001). Fatigue (p < 0.001) and functional well-being (p = 0.003) worsened by D7 before returning to baseline levels. Overall HRQOL (p = 0.008) and physical well-being (p < 0.001) improved by D60. Most participants reported PRO improvement (10-57%) or maintenance (23-69%) by D90. The median time it took to stabile deterioration in functional well-being was 14 days. The median time it took to stabile improvement in physical and emotional well-being was 60 days. Overall, RRMM patients reported improvements or maintenance of HRQOL and symptom burden after SOC ide-cel.

Patient-reported outcomes in CD30-directed CAR-T cells against relapsed/refractory CD30+ lymphomas

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells targeting CD30 have demonstrated high response rates with durable remissions observed in a subset of patients with relapsed/refractory CD30+ hematologic malignancies, particularly classical Hodgkin lymphoma. This therapy has low rates of toxicity including cytokine release syndrome with no neurotoxicity observed in our phase 2 study. We collected patient-reported outcomes (PROs) on patients treated with CD30 directed CAR-T cells to evaluate the impact of this therapy on their symptom experience. We collected PROs including PROMIS (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System) Global Health and Physical Function questionnaires and selected symptom questions from the NCI PRO-CTCAE in patients enrolled on our clinical trial of CD30-directed CAR-T cells at procurement, at time of CAR-T cell infusion, and at various time points post treatment. We compared PROMIS scores and overall symptom burden between pre-procurement, time of infusion, and at 4 weeks post infusion. At least one PRO measurement during the study period was found in 23 out of the 28 enrolled patients. Patient overall symptom burden, global health and mental health, and physical function were at or above baseline levels at 4 weeks post CAR-T cell infusion. In addition, PROMIS scores for patients who participated in the clinical trial were similar to the average healthy population. CD30 CAR-T cell therapy has a favorable toxicity profile with patient physical function and symptom burden recovering to at least their baseline pretreatment health by 1 month post infusion. Trial registration number: NCT02690545.

Neurological adverse effects of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy

INTRODUCTION

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell is among the most prevalent approaches that act by directing T-cells toward cancer; however, they need to be optimized to minimize side effects and maximize efficacy before being used as standard treatment for malignancies. Neurotoxicity associated with CAR T-cell therapy has been well-documented in recent works.

AREAS COVERED

In this regard, two established syndromes exist. Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), previously called cytokine release encephalopathy syndrome (CRES), is a neuropsychiatric condition which can occur after therapy by immune effector cells (IEC) and T-lymphocytes utilizing treatments. Another syndrome is cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which may overlap with ICANS.

EXPERT OPINION

ICANS clinical manifestations include cerebral edema, mild lethargy, aphasia, and seizures. Notably, ICANS is associated with changes to EEG and neuroradiological findings. Therefore, it is necessary to make a timely and accurate diagnosis of neurological complications of CAR T-cells by clinical presentations, neuroimaging, and EEG. Since neurological events by different CAR T-cell products are heterogeneous, guides should be developed according to each product. Here, we provide an updated review of general information on CAR T-cell therapies and applications, neurological syndromes associated with their use, and risk factors contributing to ICANS.

Assessment of Symptoms and Adverse Events Related to Immunotherapy in Patients With Cancer: An Integrative Review

CONTEXT

Clinical practice guidelines advocate for routine assessment of symptoms and adverse events during immunotherapy treatment of cancer. Outside the clinical trial setting, there are few examples of such assessment in practice.

OBJECTIVES

To identify, appraise, and synthesize the available literature regarding the assessment of immune-related symptoms and adverse events in patients with cancer beyond the clinical trial setting. Specifically, we aimed to identify the measurement instruments used, who completes these and when.

METHODS

We completed an integrative review following established methods including a systematic literature search of electronic databases, a dual process for screening, quality appraisal, and data extraction. We included primary studies (retrospective or prospective) reporting the use of instruments or strategies to assess symptoms or adverse events in patients with cancer treated with immunotherapy. Outcomes of interest included: 1) how immune-related symptoms and adverse events were assessed; 2) types of assessment instruments; 3) frequency of instrument use and mode of administration; 4) the reported duration and intensity of symptoms and 5) adverse events and associated management strategies. Data were synthesized narratively.

RESULTS

We screened 2138 articles and included 16 articles representing 2553 patients with cancer undergoing immunotherapy. All articles were published between 2018 and 2022 and were of sound methodological quality. Seven studies were retrospective chart reviews, and the remaining studies prospectively collected data, with seven collecting patient reported outcomes. In studies where data were collected at more than one time point (n = 6), weekly assessment during immunotherapy was the most common frequency. The potential for implementation of assessment into routine clinical practice was described in just four studies.

CONCLUSION

Despite recommendations from clinical practice guidelines for routine assessment of symptoms and adverse events during immunotherapy treatment for cancer, there are few examples of how this is undertaken in clinical practice. The use of patient reported outcome measures to assess toxicity from immunotherapy is uncommon but offers the potential to identify symptoms early and facilitate timely intervention. Our review highlights the available instruments, how they have been used and the need for more applied research in this field to optimize patient outcomes.

Development and validation of a patient-reported outcome measure to assess symptom burden after chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy

This cross-sectional study aimed to develop and validate a patient-reported outcomes (PROs) assessment tool to assess symptom burden and daily functioning in patients after chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI-CAR). The items were generated based on literature review, content elicitation interviews with patients, and clinician's review. The patients completed the MDASI core and module, single-item quality-of-life (QoL) measure and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-29 (PROMIS-29). The psychometric validation analysis was based on the acceptability after item reduction process. The final 10 MDASI-CAR module items included tremors, fever/chills, headache, balance, dizziness, attention, difficulty speaking, coughing, sexual dysfunction, and diarrhoea with high internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha: MDASI Core, 0.865; MDASI Interference, 0.915; CAR-T module, 0.746). The MDASI-CAR has excellent known-group validity that was demonstrated by differentiate patients based on patient's performance status (Cohen's d for MDASI core = -1.008, interference = -0.771, module = -0.835). Criterion validity was demonstrated by the significant correlations between the MDASI-CAR composite score, the single QoL item and the relevant domains on PROMIS-29 (all p < 0.05). This study established the MDASI-CAR module as a reliable and valid PRO tool for monitoring symptom burden after CAR T-cell therapy in patients with haematological malignancies. The findings need to be validated with a longitudinal design.

Patients' experience with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for DLBCL in China: a qualitative study

PURPOSE

The experiences of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy have received little attention. This study aimed to explore the treatment experiences of patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) B-cell lymphoma during CAR T-cell therapy in China.

METHODS

This descriptive qualitative study was conducted using face-to-face semi-structured interviews with 21 DLBCL patients 0-2 years after CAR-T infusion. Two researchers independently coded the interviews in MAXQDA 2022, and the original data were analyzed by conventional content analysis.

RESULTS

Four themes emerged from the transcripts: (1) physiological distress, (2) functional impacts, (3) psychological experience, and (4) support requirement. Participants expressed 29 short-term or long-term symptoms related to their disease and treatment, influencing their daily life and function in a social setting. The participants expressed different negative emotions, polarized expectations about efficacy, and over-reliance on authoritative medical care. Their major concerns and hopes were achieving life goals, being treated with respect, obtaining more information about CAR T-cell therapy, and receiving government financial sponsorship.

CONCLUSIONS

The patients experienced short-term and long-term symptoms of physical distress. Patients who have experienced failure in CAR T-cell therapy also experience strong negative emotions, such as dependency and guilt. They also require authentic spiritual and financial information that is authentic. Our study may guide the development of standardized and comprehensive nursing care for R/R DLBCL patients undergoing CAR T-cell therapy in China.

CAR-T Cells in Canada; Perspective on How to Ensure We Get Our Value’s Worth

New therapies in a publicly funded healthcare system are first appraised by health technology assessment agencies that provide funding recommendations to the payers. Treatment with Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T cell (CAR-T) therapy is revolutionizing the management of patients with relapsed/refractory aggressive B-cell lymphoma by providing an effective alternative to the standard of care. Yet, the implementation of CAR-T treatment has a substantial impact on the healthcare system due to its high cost, complex manufacturing process, and requirement for highly specialized services and expertise. CAR-T Cells, as a “living drug”, are fundamentally different from usual medications, and their approvals and funding recommendations pose unique challenges to the health technology agency. In this paper, we explore the specific challenges that face the health technology agencies in reviewing reimbursement recommendations for CAR-T therapy. We take a Canadian perspective and use CAR-T treatment of relapse/refractory aggressive B-cell lymphoma as an example.

Patient-reported cognitive function among hematopoietic stem cell transplant and cellular therapy patients: a scoping review

PURPOSE

Cognitive dysfunction is a known complication following cellular therapies (CT), which can be assessed through performance based and patient-reported measures. We performed a systematic scoping review to assess self-reported cognitive function measures used among adult CT patients and describe long-term results, including associations with clinical outcomes.

METHODS

Library databases were searched from inception to February 2020 according to PRISMA guidelines. Additional studies were identified through reference lists and trial protocols. Two members of the research team screened titles and abstracts and resolved discrepancies. Articles that met eligibility criteria continued to full-text review, with 25% double screening. Articles were removed if they (1) were not original research, peer-reviewed articles; (2) were the wrong disease, age, or treatment-specific patient population; (3) did not use patient-reported outcomes; (4) did not separately report cognitive function outcomes.

RESULTS

Of the1952 articles, 56 were included. Twenty-one patient-reported measures of cognitive function were used; most frequently the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC-QLQ-C30), which includes a two-item cognitive function subscale (57%; n = 32). Thirteen studies collected performance-based and self-reported measures and of those (n = 6) who assessed associations found moderate correlations (range r = .13-.58). Longitudinal patterns showed declines in cognitive function soon after treatment (< 1 month) returning to baseline at 1 year. Cognitive function was often associated with other quality of life measures, chiefly depression (n = 5).

CONCLUSIONS

EORTC-QLQ-C30 is the most commonly used to measure, though there remain numerous measures used, including several measures with little previous validation and investigator developed items.

Multi-Stakeholder Qualitative Interviews to Inform Measurement of Patient Reported Outcomes After CAR-T

Toxicities after chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy are well known, yet the patient experience during and after CAR-T therapy has not been well described outside of the trial setting. We explored the patient experience after CAR-T therapy to inform the patient-reported outcomes (PRO) measurement approach for the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR). We recruited (1) adult patients diagnosed with a hematologic malignancy 14 days to 6 months after receiving a commercial CAR T cell product who had agreed to be contacted by the CIBMTR, (2) caregivers of those patients, and (3) clinical experts in CAR-T therapy. Telephone interviews were conducted following a semistructured guide that included open-ended questions about symptoms and functioning. We conducted a systematic content analysis of each transcript using prespecified codes representing common domains of health, as well as open coding for emergent themes. Forty patients at 29 centers, 15 of their caregivers, and 15 experts from 9 centers participated, representing diversity with respect to age, sex, race/ethnicity, and years in practice (experts). Patients, caregivers, and experts shared largely consistent impressions of the patient experience after CAR-T therapy. Commonly described themes included anxiety, cognitive dysfunction, depression, fatigue, pain, impaired physical function, gastrointestinal symptoms, sexual dysfunction, sleep difficulties, need for support, financial impact, hospitalization, communication with healthcare providers, and the COVID-19 pandemic. Limitations in patients' ability to participate in social roles and activities was the most prevalent theme, found in nearly all interviews. In the setting of CAR-T therapy, a multidimensional approach to PRO measurement is needed that includes physical, mental, and social health, as well as the financial impact of this novel treatment. High-quality existing PRO tools are available to measure these concepts. Results will inform the CIBMTR measurement of PROs after CAR-T therapy and may be applicable to other CAR-T studies that aim to represent patient experiences.

Psychosocial characteristics of patients undergoing cellular immunotherapies and their caregivers across time

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cells and other immunotherapies have markedly changed the paradigm of treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies. While notable in efficacy, immunotherapy is characterized by a significant possibility of life-threatening side effects. Consequently, patients are often required to have informal family caregivers present and to stay near the treating center for several weeks after cell infusion. Further, the responsibility of managing a great deal of physical care and emotional support falls to these caregivers. Given the novelty of immunotherapy treatment, there is a need to better understand the psychosocial experience of patients receiving this treatment and their caregivers. This article describes the psychosocial characteristics of patients undergoing cellular immunotherapies and their caregivers across time, including patient/caregiver distress, coping, and caregiver burden and preparedness.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell Therapy in Hematologic Malignancies and Patient-reported Outcomes: A Scoping Review

The inclusion of patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures in chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy research is critical for understanding the impact of this novel approach from a unique patient standpoint. We performed a scoping review to map the available literature on the use of PRO measures in CAR T-cell therapy studies of patients with hematologic malignancies published between January 2015 and July 2022. Fourteen studies were identified, of which 7 (50%) were investigational early-phase trials, 6 (42.9%) were observational studies, and 1 (7.1%) was a pilot study. The EQ-5D and the PROMIS-29 were the 2 most frequently used PRO measures, being included in 6 (42.9%) and 5 (35.7%) studies, respectively. Despite differences in study designs, there seems to be evidence of improvements over time since CAR T-cell infusion in important domains such as physical functioning and fatigue, at least in patients who respond to therapy. Overall, the studies identified in our review have shown the added value of PRO assessment in CAR T-cell therapy research by providing novel information that complements the knowledge on safety and efficacy. However, there are several questions which remain to be answered in future research. For example, limited evidence exists regarding patient experience during important phases of the disease trajectory as only 4 (28.6%) and 5 (35.7%) studies provided information on PROs during the first 2 weeks from CAR T-cell infusion and after the first year, respectively. Time is ripe for a more systematic implementation of high-quality PRO assessment in future clinical trials and in real-life settings of patients treated with CAR T-cell therapy.

Access to and affordability of CAR T-cell therapy in multiple myeloma: an EBMT position paper

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a promising immunotherapeutic approach in the treatment of multiple myeloma, and the recent approval of the first two CAR T-cell products could result in improved outcomes. However, it remains a complex and expensive technology, which poses challenges to health-care systems and society in general, especially in times of crises. This potentially accelerates pre-existing inequalities as access to CAR T-cell therapy varies, both between countries, depending on the level of economic development, and within countries, due to structural disparities in access to quality health care-a parameter strongly correlated with socioeconomic status, ethnicity, and lifestyle. Here, we identify two important issues: affordability and access to CAR T-cell treatment. This consensus statement from clinical investigators, clinicians, nurses, and patients from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) proposes solutions as part of an innovative collaborative strategy to make CAR T-cell therapy accessible to all patients with multiple myeloma.

Feasibility of a new electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) system for an advanced therapy clinical trial in immune-mediated inflammatory disease (PROmics): protocol for a qualitative feasibility study

INTRODUCTION

The use of electronic patient-reported outcome (ePRO) systems to capture PRO data in clinical trials is increasing; however, their feasibility, acceptability and utility in clinical trials of advanced therapy medicinal products (ATMPs) are not yet well understood. This protocol describes a qualitative study that aims to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of ePRO data capture using a trial-specific ePRO system (the PROmics system) within an advanced therapy trial involving patients with immune-mediated inflammatory disease (rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) and Crohn's disease).

METHODS AND ANALYSIS

This protocol for a remote, qualitative, interview-based feasibility study is embedded within the POLARISE trial, a single-arm, phase II, multisite ATMP basket trial in the UK. 10-15 patients enrolled in the POLARISE trial and 10-15 research team members at the trial sites will be recruited. Participants will take part in semistructured interviews which will be transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically according to the framework method. Data collection and analysis will occur concurrently and iteratively. Researcher triangulation will be used to achieve a consensus-based analysis, enhancing rigour and trustworthiness.

ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION

This study was approved by the London-West London and GTAC Research Ethics Committee (Ref: 21/LO/0475). Informed consent will be obtained from all participants prior to data collection. The study findings will be published in peer-review journals and disseminated via conference presentations and other media. Our patient and public involvement and engagement group and ATMP stakeholder networks will be consulted to maximise dissemination and impact.

TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER

ISRCTN80103507.

Longitudinal Patient Reported Outcomes with CAR-T Cell Therapy Versus Autologous and Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplant

There are limited data on patient experience after chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, especially in comparison to autologous and allogeneic transplantation, which are more established forms of cellular therapy. We prospectively evaluated longitudinal patient-reported quality of life (QoL), symptom burden and cognition after CAR-T cell therapy and compared it with prospective cohorts of patients undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation (autoSCT) and allogeneic SCT (alloSCT). This was a single center study. The primary endpoint was change in QoL. Secondary endpoints were patient-reported adverse events (PRO-AEs) measured by Patient-Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO-CTCAE) and cognitive function (NeuroQOLv2 questionnaire). Time profile of PRO-AEs was evaluated using longitudinal analysis, Toxicity over Time (ToxT). Patients completed questionnaires at baseline, week 2 and monthly for 6 months. One hundred four patients were evaluable (CAR-T: 34, autoSCT: 33, alloSCT: 37). Baseline QoL was similar across groups. We observed a short-term decline in QoL in all groups that gradually returned to baseline. The nadir in QoL was at week 2 and coincided with peak in symptom burden. The decline in overall QoL, physical and functional well-being was significantly less with CAR-T versus SCT groups and returned to baseline faster. Patients in the alloSCT group experienced the greatest symptom burden, greater decrease in performance status, largest short-term decline in QoL and slowest recovery. This study provides comprehensive data comparing QoL, PRO-AEs and cognition following CAR-T cell therapy versus autoSCT and alloSCT, and the first application of ToxT to PRO-CTCAE data. Short-term QOL, including physical and functional domains was better in the CAR-T group versus SCT groups, although all groups experienced an initial decline coinciding with peak symptoms. These data can serve as a guide for patient education, symptom management, and future studies in CAR-T cell therapy.

Change in Patients' Perceived Cognition Following Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy for Lymphoma

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy can lead to durable responses in patients with relapsed/refractory hematologic malignancies. Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) and cytokine release syndrome (CRS) are common and may place patients at risk for longer-term cognitive impairment. This study examined changes in cognition in the first year after CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy for lymphoma, as well as CAR T-cell therapy-specific risk-factors (e.g., ICANS, CRS) and nonspecific risk factors (e.g., baseline quality of life, frailty) for worsening cognition. Patients' perceived cognition was assessed at baseline and at days 90 and 360. Clinical variables were abstracted from medical records. Piecewise mixed models were used to examine acute change (i.e., within 90 days) and longer-term change (i.e., from 90 days to 360 days) in cognition, as well as to explore risk factors for worsening cognition. Among 118 participants (mean age 61, 59% male), mean levels of perceived cognition did not change from baseline to day 90 (P> .05) but worsened from day 90 to day 360 in global cognition and in the domains of memory, language, organization, and divided attention (P< .05). Although statistically significant, changes were small (d values 0.15-0.28). Greater baseline fatigue, anxiety, and depression were associated with worse global cognition at day 90 (P< .01). Patients with more severe ICANS post-CART reported worse global cognition at day 360 (P< .05), although there were no differences in perceived cognition by severity of CRS (P> .05). Other putative risk factors were not associated with acute or longer-term changes in perceived cognition (P> .05). CAR T-cell therapy recipients reported delayed deterioration in several cognitive domains, although changes were small. These findings may be useful when educating future patients on what to expect when receiving CAR T-cell therapy.

Important questions for the malignant hematologist to consider when designing or evaluating a study with patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs)

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), which are measures of symptom burden, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), and therapy effectiveness have become increasingly important in clinical research. They are unique in that they are reported directly from the patient, without clinician interpretation, thereby avoiding clinician bias. With an increased focus on the patient at the center of health care, PROMs have been increasingly incorporated into clinical research, systematic reviews, and clinical guidelines. Despite the recognition of the importance of including PROMs into clinical haematologic cancer research, barriers have prevented their integration into cancer research. This review highlights the value of including PROMs into clinical haematologic cancer research and addresses the methodological challenges in using and evaluating PROMs. We propose important questions for the malignant haematologist to consider when designing or evaluating a study that includes PROMs.

Longitudinal Collection of Patient-Reported Outcomes and Activity Data during CAR-T Therapy: Feasibility, Acceptability, and Data Visualization

Background: Clinicians must closely monitor patients for toxicities after chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T). Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) (e.g., toxicities, quality of life) and activity data (e.g., steps, sleep) may complement clinicians’ observations. This study tested the feasibility and acceptability of collecting PROs and activity data from patients with hematologic malignancies during CAR-T and explored preliminary data patterns. Methods: Participants wore a Fitbit tracker and completed PROs at several timepoints through 90-days post-infusion. Feasibility was assessed with a priori benchmarks for recruitment (≥50%), retention (≥70%), PRO completion (≥70%), and days wearing the Fitbit (≥50%). Acceptability was assessed with participant satisfaction (a priori benchmark > 2 on a 0−4 scale). Results: Participants (N = 12) were M = 66 years old (SD = 7). Rates of recruitment (68%), retention (83%), PRO completion (85%), and days wearing the Fitbit (85%) indicated feasibility. Satisfaction with completing the PROs (M = 3.2, SD = 0.5) and wearing the Fitbit (M = 2.9, SD = 0.5) indicated acceptability. Preliminary data patterns suggested that participants with better treatment response (vs. progressive disease) had a higher toxicity burden. Conclusions: Longitudinal PRO and activity data collection was feasible and acceptable. Data collected on a larger scale may be used to specify risk prediction models to identify predictors of severe CAR-T-related toxicities and inform early interventions.

Patient-reported outcomes and neurotoxicity markers in patients treated with bispecific LV20.19 CAR T cell therapy

Background

With the rising number of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell treated patients, it is increasingly important to understand the treatment's impact on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and, ideally, identify biomarkers of central nervous system (CNS) adverse effects.

Methods

The purpose of this exploratory study was to assess short-term PROs and serum kynurenine metabolites for associated neurotoxicity among patients treated in an anti-CD20, anti-CD19 (LV20.19) CAR T cell phase I clinical trial (NCT03019055). Fifteen CAR T treated patients from the parent trial provided serum samples and self-report surveys 15 days before and 14, 28, and 90 days after treatment.

Results

Blood kynurenine concentrations increased over time in patients with evidence of neurotoxicity (p = 0.004) and were increased in self-reported depression (r = 0.52, p = 0.002). Depression improved after CAR T infusion (p = 0.035). Elevated 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3HAA) concentrations prior to cell infusion were also predictive of neurotoxicity onset (p = 0.031), suggesting it is a biomarker of neurotoxicity following CAR T cell therapy.

Conclusions

Elevated levels of kynurenine pathway metabolites among CAR T cell recipients are associated with depressed mood and neurotoxicity. Findings from this exploratory study are preliminary and warrant validation in a larger cohort.

Health-related quality of life with idecabtagene vicleucel in relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma

Idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel), a B-cell maturation antigen-directed chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy, showed deep, durable responses in patients with triple-class exposed, relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) in the phase 2 KarMMa (Efficacy and Safety Study of bb2121 in Subjects With Relapsed and Refractory Multiple Myeloma) trial. We assessed health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among KarMMa patients. The European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life C30 Questionnaire and its supplementary 20-item multiple myeloma module, as well as the EuroQol 5-dimension 5-level instrument, were administered at screening, baseline (≤72 hours before or same day as lymphodepletion), day of ide-cel treatment, and after ide-cel treatment. Mean changes from baseline that exceeded the predetermined threshold of minimally important difference were deemed clinically meaningful. The proportions of patients experiencing clinically meaningful changes in HRQoL were assessed using within-patient change thresholds. Time to stable improvement (≥2 consecutive visits with clinically meaningful HRQoL improvements) was analyzed by using the Kaplan-Meier method. A total of 126 (98%) of 128 patients treated with ide-cel were included in the HRQoL analysis. Pretreatment baseline RRMM burden was high and meaningfully worse than that in the age- and sex-weighted general population. Statistically significant and clinically meaningful improvements from baseline were observed by month 1 for pain (-8.9) and disease symptoms (-10.2), and by month 2 for fatigue (-7.2), physical functioning (6.1), cognitive functioning (6.7), and global health status/QoL (8.0). Clinically meaningful improvements in fatigue, pain, and physical functioning were most prominent at months 9, 12, and 18, respectively, and were sustained through 15 to 18 months after ide-cel treatment. For triple-class exposed patients with RRMM with a poor prognosis and few treatment options, a single ide-cel infusion provides early, sustained, statistically significant, and clinically meaningful improvements in HRQoL. This study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03361748.

Patient Perspectives on Health-Related Quality of Life in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Treated with Car T-Cell Therapy: A Qualitative Study

Introduction

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy offers a potentially curative option for patients with relapsed and refractory hematologic malignancies, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Patient-reported experiences with CAR T therapy are limited and have not been well characterized. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore patient descriptions of key domains of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in DLBCL patients treated with CAR T therapy.

Methods

A targeted literature review was initially conducted to inform the development of the interview guide comprising predetermined open-ended questions. Two focus groups were conducted with a total of 18 patients with DLBCL identified from patient advisory boards. Focus group sessions were recorded and transcribed verbatim. MAXQDA 18.2.0 qualitative data analysis software was utilized to facilitate a constant-comparative coding process to identify key concepts.

Results

Eight domain impairments (social functioning, emotional functioning, fatigue, physical functioning, cognitive functioning, role functioning, sleep, and pain/discomfort) were identified from the qualitative analysis and endorsed by DLBCL patients treated with CAR T. Compared with before CAR T therapy, patients reported increased impairment in every domain during or immediately after CAR T therapy. This impairment improved for each domain 6 months after CAR T therapy except for pain/discomfort. Compared with before CAR T therapy, improvement in impairment for each domain was observed 6 months after CAR T therapy except for fatigue, sleep, and pain/discomfort.

Conclusion

This study provides meaningful information regarding the impact of CAR T therapy on HRQoL in patients with DLBCL throughout their treatment journey. Health care professionals and investigators can utilize these data in examining existing patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures that are used in DLBCL clinical trials and to better understand the needs of DLBCL survivors.

TNF-α increases the risk of bleeding in patients after CAR T-cell therapy: A bleeding model based on a real-world study of Chinese CAR T Working Party

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has shown excellent clinical efficacy in patients with hematologic malignancies. However, severe bleeding after this treatment is a life-threatening complication for most patients. This study evaluated the risk factors associated with bleeding in CAR T treatment and developed a predictive model for this complication. Analysis performed in the First Affiliated Hospital of Suzhou University and external validation launched in Suzhou Hongci Hematology Hospital (Jiangsu, China). We conducted a real-world study incorporating data from 400 patients with hematologic malignancies treated with CAR T between 1 November 2015 and 1 September 2019. Also, 39 patients from another hospital were selected for external validation. Patients with severe bleeding (hazard ratio [HR] 13.04, 95% confidence interval 5.82-29.18; p < 0.001) had a higher risk of death after CAR T. Stage III and IV cytokine release syndrome (CRS) (odds ratio [OR] 6.07, 95% CI 2.35-16.76; p < 0.001) and higher tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) levels (OR 4.00, 95% CI 1.53-11.35; p < 0.001) were independent factors of bleeding in patients after CAR-T treatment. The predictive model developed by Lasso regression, which selected factors such as CRS period, transfusion volume, platelet percentage, platelet count, thrombinogen time, interleukin 6, and TNF-α levels, and showed Nomogram, yielded excellent agreement (C-statistics = 0.905) with the calibration curve, which improved clinical benefit with respect to established bleeding scores such as outpatient bleeding risk index (MOBRI). External validation was performed using 39 patients from another hospital with an AUC of 0.700. Patients with severe bleeding after Car-T therapy had increased the risk of death. A cross-validated bleeding risk score based on CRS stages and TNF-α level show significant prognostic value in patients undergoing CAR-T treatment.

Balancing Quality, Cost, and Access During Delivery of Newer Cellular and Immunotherapy Treatments

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

The chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is currently changing the landscape of hematologic malignancies with multiple FDA-approved cell therapy products in the USA. The current administration process of the CAR T-cell therapy is complicated, labor-intensive, and expensive.

RECENT FINDINGS

The chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is currently changing the landscape of hematologic malignancies with multiple FDA-approved cell therapy products in the USA. The current administration process of the CAR T-cell therapy is complicated, labor-intensive, and expensive. This review article addresses the present-day challenges and discusses opportunities to optimize the access and affordability of the CAR T-cell therapy. The field of cellular immunotherapy is going to change the future of solid tumors and non-oncological diseases. However, this promising therapy poses challenges in the administration and management of quality in the current field of healthcare. We describe various novel approaches to manage challenges in improving access and improving widescale implementation of cellular therapies.

Patient-Reported Symptom and Functioning Status during the First 12 Months after Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy for Hematologic Malignancies

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is being increasingly used to treat patients with advanced hematologic malignancies; however, the symptoms related to standard of care CAR T cell therapy during the first year after treatment have not been assessed using patient-reported outcome (PRO) measurements. This study aimed to quantify patients' perspectives of symptom burden and functional status using PROs during the first year after CAR T cell therapy for hematologic malignancies, especially in patients who experienced grade 2-4 toxicities. Sixty patients were enrolled in this observational cross-sectional study at any time during their first 12 months post-treatment. All 60 had received CAR T cell therapy as standard of care at MD Anderson Cancer Center in 2019. PROs were measured using the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI), the PROs Measurement Information System 29 (PROMIS-29), the global health tool EQ5D-5L, and the single-item health-related quality of life scale (HRQoL). Twenty-two additional symptoms related to CAR T cell therapy, as identified by an expert panel, were also evaluated. CAR T cell therapy-related toxicities were rated according to the ASTCT consensus grading criteria. The majority of patients (52 of 60; 87%) received axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta). One-third of the patients developed grade 2-4 cytokine release syndrome or neurotoxicity. The first 90 days after infusion represented the most symptomatic period, in which >10% of patients rated 18 symptoms as severe (ie, MDASI symptom score of 7 to 10 on scale of 0 to 10), strongly indicating the need for effective symptom management. Physical functioning, measured by interference on the "general activity" item on the MDASI and this domain on the PROMIS-29, were significantly worse in patients who underwent therapy during the first 30 days compared with those who underwent therapy over 90 days (all P < .05 with the Hochberg step-up procedure), whereas the EQ5D-5L and single-item HRQoL did not detect such differences. Compared with patients who had mild cytokine release syndrome or neurotoxicity (grade 0-1), patients who developed grade 2-4 toxicities persistently reported multiple severe symptoms after 30 days following therapy (all P < .05). Furthermore, although using a different recall period, patient-reported scores on several PROMIS-29 domains were significantly correlated with the scores of corresponding MDASI symptom items. This real-world quantitative PRO symptoms study provides evidence of unique profiles of the physical, psychological, and cognitive symptom burden in patients undergoing CAR T cell therapy that varies within the first year after infusion and demonstrates differences among PRO measurement scales. These results support the need for validation of fit-for-purpose PRO measurements for routinely monitoring symptom and toxicity burdens in CAR T cell therapy care settings.

Next-Generation Implementation of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy Using Digital Health

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is a paradigm-shifting immunotherapy modality in oncology; however, unique toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome limit its ability to be implemented more widely in the outpatient setting or at smaller-volume centers. Three operational challenges with CAR-T therapy include the following: (1) the logistics of toxicity monitoring, ie, with frequent vital sign checks and neurologic assessments; (2) the specialized knowledge required for toxicity management, particularly with regard to CRS and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome; and (3) the need for high-quality symptomatic and supportive care during this intensive period. In this review, we explore potential niches for digital innovations that can improve the implementation of CAR-T therapy in each of these domains. These tools include patient-facing technologies and provider-facing platforms: for example, wearable devices and mobile health apps to screen for fevers and encephalopathy, electronic patient-reported outcome assessments-based workflows to assist with symptom management, machine learning algorithms to predict emerging CRS in real time, clinical decision support systems to assist with toxicity management, and digital coaching to help maintain wellness. Televisits, which have grown in prominence since the novel coronavirus pandemic, will continue to play a key role in the monitoring and management of CAR-T-related toxicities as well. Limitations of these strategies include the need to ensure care equity and stakeholder buy-in, both operationally and financially. Nevertheless, once developed and validated, the next-generation implementation of CAR-T therapy using these digital tools may improve both its safety and accessibility.

Beyond the storm - subacute toxicities and late effects in children receiving CAR T cells

As clinical advances with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are increasingly described and the potential for extending their therapeutic benefit grows, optimizing the implementation of this therapeutic modality is imperative. The recognition and management of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) marked a milestone in this field; however, beyond the understanding gained in treating CRS, a host of additional toxicities and/or potential late effects of CAR T cell therapy warrant further investigation. A multicentre initiative involving experts in paediatric cell therapy, supportive care and/or study of late effects from cancer and haematopoietic stem cell transplantation was convened to facilitate the comprehensive study of extended CAR T cell-mediated toxicities and establish a framework for new systematic investigations of CAR T cell-related adverse events. Together, this group identified six key focus areas: extended monitoring of neurotoxicity and neurocognitive function, psychosocial considerations, infection and immune reconstitution, other end organ toxicities, evaluation of subsequent neoplasms, and strategies to optimize remission durability. Herein, we present the current understanding, gaps in knowledge and future directions of research addressing these CAR T cell-related outcomes. This systematic framework to study extended toxicities and optimization strategies will facilitate the translation of acquired experience and knowledge for optimal application of CAR T cell therapies.

Effect of lisocabtagene maraleucel on HRQoL and symptom severity in relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma

CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has shown efficacy as a third-line or later treatment in patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). Using the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30) and the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) questionnaire, we evaluated the impact of CAR T-cell treatment with lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel) on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and symptoms in patients with relapsed/refractory LBCL in the ongoing, open-label, nonrandomized TRANSCEND NHL 001 trial. Clinically meaningful improvement was observed in EORTC QLQ-C30 scores for global health status/QoL, based on a minimally important difference of 10 points at 2 to 18 months after liso-cel infusion. There were no clinically meaningful changes in physical functioning and pain, whereas clinically meaningful improvements were observed in fatigue at 2, 12, and 18 months. The proportion of patients with clinically meaningful improvement in global health status/QoL was generally higher for treatment responders than for nonresponders. A trend toward decreased mean EQ-5D-5L index scores was observed at 1 month after liso-cel infusion, followed by subsequent increases through 18 months. Mean EQ-5D-5L visual analog scale scores increased from 2 through 18 months. In summary, patients with relapsed/refractory LBCL treated with liso-cel had early, sustained, and clinically meaningful improvements in HRQoL and symptoms that correlated with antitumor activity. This study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02631044.

DLBCL patients treated with CD19 CAR T cells experience a high burden of organ toxicities but low nonrelapse mortality

Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome are the most notable toxicities of CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. In addition, CAR T-cell-mediated toxicities can involve any organ system, with varied impacts on outcomes, depending on patient factors and involved organs. We performed detailed analysis of organ-specific toxicities and their association with outcomes in 60 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with CD19 CAR T cells by assessing all toxicities in organ-based groups during the first year posttreatment. We observed 539 grade ≥2 and 289 grade ≥3 toxicities. Common grade ≥3 toxicities included hematological, metabolic, infectious, and neurological complications, with corresponding 1-year cumulative incidence of 57.7%, 54.8%, 35.4%, and 18.3%, respectively. Patients with impaired performance status had a higher risk of grade ≥3 metabolic complications, whereas elevated lactate dehydrogenase was associated with higher risks of grade ≥3 neurological and pulmonary toxicities. CRS was associated with higher incidence of grade ≥3 metabolic, pulmonary, and neurologic complications. The 1-year nonrelapse mortality and overall survival were 1.7% and 69%, respectively. Only grade ≥3 pulmonary toxicities were associated with an increased mortality risk. In summary, toxicity burdens after CD19 CAR T-cell therapy were high and varied by organ systems. Most toxicities were manageable and were rarely associated with mortality. Our study emphasizes the importance of toxicity assessment, which could serve as a benchmark for further research to reduce symptom burdens and improve tolerability in patients treated with CAR T cells.

Patient-reported long-term quality of life after tisagenlecleucel in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

The JULIET phase 2 trial evaluated a single infusion of tisagenlecleucel in adult patients with relapsed/refractory (r/r) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The objective of the current analysis was to evaluate patient-reported health-related quality of life (HRQoL) with a median follow-up of 19.3 months among patients infused with a single dose of tisagenlecleucel. Patients enrolled were ≥18 years of age with r/r DLBCL after ≥2 lines of therapy and had either undergone a failed autologous stem cell transplant or were ineligible for the procedure. Two validated HRQoL instruments, Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lymphoma (FACT-Lym) and Short Form-36 (SF-36) Health Survey, were used to measure HRQoL at baseline and months 3, 6, 12, and 18. At data cutoff (21 May 2018), 115 patients had received tisagenlecleucel infusion. Among the 99 patients evaluated, overall response rate was 54%, and 40% of patients achieved complete response (CR). Initially, 108 patients completed the HRQoL assessments at baseline, including 57 patients who eventually achieved CR or partial response (PR). Further, 30 and 21 patients in clinical response who completed assessments at baseline also completed assessments at months 12 and 18, respectively. Patients who achieved CR or PR sustained HRQoL improvement in all FACT scores at all time points. SF-36 instruments showed improvement above the minimal clinically important differences on 5 of 8 subscales. Long-term follow-up in the phase 2 JULIET study demonstrated that patients with r/r DLBCL who respond to tisagenlecleucel therapy had sustained, clinically meaningful improvements in HRQoL. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02445248.

Trajectory of Symptoms in Patients Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplant for Multiple Myeloma: A Population-Based Cohort Study of Patient-Reported Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is an established treatment for patients with newly diagnosed multiple myeloma (NDMM). Understanding the symptom burden associated with ASCT may be an important consideration for patients with NDMM when selecting treatment options.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a population-based study of patients who underwent an ASCT for NDMM in Ontario, Canada, between 2007 and 2018. The patient-reported outcome, Edmonton Symptom Assessment System (ESAS) score, which captures nine common cancer-associated symptoms and is routinely collected at all outpatient visits, was linked to provincial administrative healthcare data. The monthly prevalence of moderate or severe symptoms (ESAS ≥ 4) each month in the first year following ASCT was analyzed. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to identify factors associated with moderate to severe symptoms.

RESULTS

In our final cohort of 1969 patients who had undergone an ASCT, a total of 12,820 unique assessments were captured. Symptom burden was highest at 1 month post-ASCT, with moderate to severe tiredness and impaired well-being being the two most common symptoms. Symptom burden substantially improved by 3 months post-ASCT, reaching a new baseline for the year following. On multivariable analysis, female sex, increased co-morbidities, earlier year of diagnosis, and myeloma-related end-organ damage (specifically, bone and kidney disease) were associated with a higher odds of reporting moderate to severe symptoms.

CONCLUSION

In this large population-based study using patient-reported outcomes, there was a substantial burden of symptoms noted among NDMM patients 1 month post-ASCT, which improved over time. Tailored supportive care interventions should focus on strategies to optimize management of identified symptoms.

Evaluation of mid-term (6-12 months) neurotoxicity in B-cell lymphoma patients treated with CAR T-cells: a prospective cohort study

BACKGROUND

CAR T-cells are profoundly changing the standard of care in B-cell malignancies. This new therapeutic class induces a significant number of acute neurotoxicity, but data regarding mid and long-term neurological safety are scarce. We evaluated mid-term neurological safety, with special emphasis on cognitive functions, in a series of adults treated with CAR T-cells.

METHODS

Patients treated in a single centre with CD19-targeted CAR T-cells for a relapsing B-cell lymphoma were prospectively followed-up by neurologists. Before CAR T-cells infusion, all patients underwent neurological examinations with neuropsychological testing, and filled out questionnaires assessing anxiety, depression and cognitive complains. Patients surviving without tumour progression were re-evaluated similarly, six to 12 months later.

RESULTS

In this prospective cohort of 56 consecutive adult patients treated with CAR T-cells, 27 were eligible for mid-term evaluation (median time 7.6 months). Twelve patients developed an acute and reversible neurotoxicity with median duration time of 5.5 days. In all patients, neurological examination on mid-term evaluation was similar to baseline. In self-assessment questionnaires, 63% of patients reported clinically meaningful anxiety, depression or cognitive difficulties at baseline, a number reduced to 44% at time of mid-term evaluation. On cognitive assessments, no significant deterioration was found when compared to baseline, in any cognitive functions assessed (verbal and visual memory, executive functions, language and praxis), even in patients who developed acute neurotoxicity.

CONCLUSION

In this cohort of patients treated with CD19-targeted CAR-T cells , we found no evidence for neurological or cognitive toxicity, 6 and 12 months after treatment.

Late Effects after Chimeric Antigen Receptor T cell Therapy for Lymphoid Malignancies

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell [CAR T] therapy has changed the treatment landscape of relapsed/refractory lymphoid malignancies. With an expanding pool of post CAR T-cell therapy survivors, prevention and management of late toxicities is emerging as an important component of survivorship care. This review summarizes the current state of evidence on late toxicities after CAR T-cell therapy in lymphoid malignancies. Late effects that are well described in clinical trials and observational studies include hypogammaglobulinemia, prolonged cytopenias, late infections, neurologic and neuropsychiatric effects, immune-related late effects, and subsequent malignancies. Hypogammaglobulinemia is the most common late effect in the setting of CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy, which necessitates immunoglobulin replacement. Common determinants of late toxicities are age, underlying tumor type, prior therapy, CAR construct, and acute toxicities. Among currently approved indications, the incidence of hypogammaglobulinemia and prolonged cytopenia is higher in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia compared to aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Patient-reported physical and mental quality of life in long-term survivors is comparable to general population, albeit, with limited data thus far. This review provides an overview of the incidence, known risk-factors, and strategies for prevention and management of late toxicities in this population. Further research is needed to characterize the trajectory of late effects from population-based registries and long-term follow-up of ongoing clinical trials.

Acute patient-reported outcomes in B-cell malignancies treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel

Chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell therapy with axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi‐cel) has considerably improved survival in adults with relapsed/refractory large B‐cell lymphoma. This study reports patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) such as quality of life (QOL) and toxicity in the first 90 days after treatment. Hematologic cancer patients treated with axi‐cel (N = 103, mean age = 61, 39% female) completed SF‐36 or PROMIS‐29 QOL questionnaires prior to treatment and 90 days after. PRO‐Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events toxicity items were completed by patients at baseline and 14, 30, 60, and 90 days after treatment. Mixed models examined change in PROs over time. From preinfusion to 90 days later, patients reported improvements in physical functioning, pain, and fatigue (ps < 0.01), but worsening of anxiety (p = 0.02). Patient‐reported toxicities worsened by day 14 with improvement thereafter. The five most severe symptoms at day 14 included fatigue, decreased appetite, dry mouth, diarrhea frequency, and problems with concentration. Results indicate improvement in some domains of QOL over time with transient patient‐reported toxicities.

Patient-Reported Outcomes for Cancer Patients with Hematological Malignancies Undergoing Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy: A Systematic Review

Databases were searched to identify studies published over the past 10 years that addressed the utility of patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients receiving chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy in patients with hematological malignancies. Among 280 records, three articles covering 206 patients were eligible. The data were prospectively collected at multiple time points. The compliance rates were 70% to 94%. There was an inverse relationship between fatigue and social function among adults. The quality of life (QoL) improvement and ability to complete PROs were linked to disease status. About 40% of adults reported at least some cognitive difficulties, with a detrimental impact on mental and physical health status. In adults, the most commonly reported cognitive impairment was memory difficulties. Depression was associated with cognitive difficulties. Younger adults were at higher risk of long-term poor mental health, anxiety, and depression. For pediatric and adolescent patients, emotional dysfunction improves over time. QoL status improved over time; yet, severe cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity caused delayed improvement. Information regarding whether the PROs were integrated into medical records and clinical guidelines is lacking. Utilizing PROs in patients on CAR T cell therapy seems feasible and informative. Studies utilizing larger sample sizes and using validated PRO tools at different time points remain unmet needs.

Patient-Reported Outcomes in Clinical Trials Leading to Cancer Immunotherapy Drug Approvals From 2011 to 2018: A Systematic Review

BACKGROUND

Patient-reported outcomes (PROs) promote patient centeredness in clinical trials; however, in the field of rapidly emerging and clinically impressive immunotherapy, data on PROs are limited.

METHODS

We systematically identified all immunotherapy approvals from 2011 through 2018 and assessed the analytic tools and reporting quality of associated PRO reports. For randomized clinical trials (RCTs), we developed a novel 24-point scoring scale: the PRO Endpoints Analysis Score based on 24 criteria derived from the recommendations of the Setting International Standards in Analyzing Patient-Reported Outcomes and Quality of Life Endpoints Data Consortium.

RESULTS

We assessed 44 trial publications supporting 42 immunotherapy approvals. PROs were published for 21 of the 44 (47.7%) trial publications. Twenty-three trials (52.3%) were RCTs and 21 (47.7%) pertained to single-arm trials. The median time between primary clinical outcomes publications and their corresponding secondary PRO publications was 19 months (interquartile range = 9-29 months). Of the 21 PRO reports, 4 (19.0%) reported a specific hypothesis, and most (85.7%) used descriptive statistics. Three (3 of 21 [14.3%]) studies performed a control for type I error. As for RCTs, 14 of 23 (60.9%) published PRO data, including 13 (56.5%) that published a secondary dedicated manuscript. One-half of these 14 trials scored less than 13 points on the 24-point PRO Endpoints Analysis Score. The mean score was 12.71 (range = 5-17, SD = 3.71), and none met all the recommendations of the Setting International Standards in Analyzing Patient-Reported Outcomes and Quality of Life Endpoints Data Consortium.

CONCLUSIONS

Suboptimal reporting of PROs occurs regularly in cancer immunotherapy trials. Increased efforts are needed to maximize the value of these data in cancer immunotherapy development and approval.

The Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer consensus statement on immunotherapy for the treatment of multiple myeloma

Outcomes in multiple myeloma (MM) have improved dramatically in the last two decades with the advent of novel therapies including immunomodulatory agents (IMiDs), proteasome inhibitors and monoclonal antibodies. In recent years, immunotherapy for the treatment of MM has advanced rapidly, with the approval of new targeted agents and monoclonal antibodies directed against myeloma cell-surface antigens, as well as maturing data from late stage trials of chimeric antigen receptor CAR T cells. Therapies that engage the immune system to treat myeloma offer significant clinical benefits with durable responses and manageable toxicity profiles, however, the appropriate use of these immunotherapy agents can present unique challenges for practicing physicians. Therefore, the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer convened an expert panel, which met to consider the current role of approved and emerging immunotherapy agents in MM and provide guidance to the oncology community by developing consensus recommendations. As immunotherapy evolves as a therapeutic option for the treatment of MM, these guidelines will be updated.

Use of Patient-Reported Outcomes to Understand & Measure the Patient Experience of Novel Cell and Gene Therapies

Patient reported outcomes (PROs) are the gold standard for assessing patients' experience of treatment in oncology, defined in the 21st Century Cures Act as information about patients' experiences with a disease or condition, including the impact of a disease or condition, or a related therapy or clinical investigation on patients' lives; and patient preferences with respect to treatment of their disease or condition [1]. PROs provide a comprehensive assessment of the benefits and risks of new medical products, as well as essential data to inform real-world use. Although RCTs are the ultimate source for information for evaluating products in development, they are not always feasible for rare diseases with few or no effective treatment options available. Thus, it is important to consider other measures that can help to improve the strength of evidence for cell and gene therapies targeting rare indications. While collection of PROs and other patient experience endpoints does not resolve the difficulty of conducting trials in small populations, doing so contributes empirical evidence that informs both product development and patient access. Additionally, including routine collection of PROs in registries may provide supplemental data to further characterize the benefit:risk profile of cell and gene therapies at follow-up times that would be infeasible to operationalize in a clinical trial setting.

Psychosocial care for children receiving chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has transformed the treatment of relapsed/refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, this new paradigm has introduced unique considerations specific to the patients receiving CAR T-cell therapy, including prognostic uncertainty, symptom management, and psychosocial support. With increasing availability, there is a growing need for evidence-based recommendations that address the specific psychosocial needs of the children who receive CAR T-cell therapy and their families. To guide and standardize the psychosocial care offered for patients receiving CAR T-cell therapy, we propose the following recommendations for addressing psychosocial support.

Beyond CAR T-Cell Therapy: Continued Monitoring and Management of Complications

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has recently emerged as a groundbreaking treatment for CD19-expressing hematologic malignancies and received rapid approval by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. Tisagenlecleucel and axicabtagene ciloleucel are now widely available at CAR T-cell therapy centers around the United States. Many patients have achieved complete response or remission despite failing multiple previous lines of therapy, but some patients endure the severe risks of cytokine release syndrome, neurotoxicity, and other immunologic effects. As more patients receive this therapy, they will present to their primary oncologists in the community setting for continued follow-up. Oncology-trained advanced practitioners must then have a working knowledge of CAR T-cell therapy, its toxicities, and follow-up care. This review presents the CAR T-cell therapy development and infusion process with associated immediate management. In addition, patient assessment and disease monitoring, relevant diagnostics, unique grading systems to CAR T-cell therapy toxicities, indications for hospitalization, infection prophylaxis, and management of nonneutropenic and neutropenic fever are presented.

Acute Kidney Injury after CAR-T Cell Therapy: Low Incidence and Rapid Recovery

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy using engineered cytotoxic T cells has shown promising responses in various hematologic malignancies. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurologic syndrome (ICANS) are recognized toxicities of CAR-T, whereas kidney injury remains less well recognized. The objective of the present study was to identify the incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) after CAR-T cell therapy, potential risk factors, and recovery of kidney function. We performed a retrospective review of 46 adult patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated with CAR-T therapy between February 2018 and February 2019 at our institution. Serum creatinine values before CAR-T therapy through day 100 were used to assess AKI, as defined by the Kidney Disease Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO) criteria: grade 1, 1.5- to <2-fold of baseline; grade 2, 2- to <3-fold of baseline; grade 3, ≥3-fold of baseline. CRS and ICANS were graded using the consensus criteria of the American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy. The overall incidence of CRS was 78.3% (95% confidence interval [CI], 66% to 90.5%), of whom 13% (95% CI, 3.3% to 22.8%) developed grade 3-4 CRS, whereas the overall incidence of ICANS was lower at 45.7% (95% CI, 3.1% to 60.3%). The cumulative incidence of any grade AKI by day 100 was 30% (95% CI, 16.9% to 43.9%), with a grade 1 AKI incidence of 21.7% (95% CI, 9.7% to 33.8%) and a grade 2-3 AKI incidence of 8.7% (95% CI, .4% to 17%). No patients developed severe AKI necessitating renal replacement therapy. Patients with previous autologous or allogeneic stem cell transplantation, those requiring intensive care unit level care and with grade 3-4 CRS had a higher incidence of AKI. Most patients recovered, with kidney function returning to baseline within 30 days. We conclude that with early recognition and management of CAR-T complications, the incidence of AKI is low, the severity of injury is mild, and most patients recover kidney function within 30 days.

Patient-Reported Neuropsychiatric Outcomes of Long-Term Survivors after Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy

CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) modified T cell immunotherapy is a novel treatment with promising results in patients with relapsed/refractory lymphoid malignancies. CAR T cell therapy has known early toxicities of cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity, but little is known about long-term neuropsychiatric adverse effects. We have used patient-reported outcomes, including Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures, to assess neuropsychiatric and other patient-reported outcomes of 40 patients with relapse/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia 1 to 5 years after treatment with CD19-targeted CAR T cells. Mean T scores of PROMIS domains of global mental health, global physical health, social function, anxiety, depression, fatigue, pain, and sleep disturbance were not clinically meaningfully different from the mean in the general US population. However, 19 patients (47.5%) reported at least 1 cognitive difficulty and/or clinically meaningful depression and/or anxiety, and 7 patients (17.5%) scored ≤40 in global mental health, indicating at least 1 standard deviation worse than the general population mean. Younger age was associated with worse long-term global mental health (P = .02), anxiety (P = .001), and depression (P= .01). Anxiety before CAR T cell therapy was associated with increased likelihood of anxiety after CAR T cell therapy (P = .001). Fifteen patients (37.5%) reported cognitive difficulties after CAR T cell therapy. Depression before CAR T cell therapy was statistically significantly associated with higher likelihood of self-reported post-CAR T cognitive difficulties (P = .02), and there was a trend for an association between acute neurotoxicity and self-reported post-CAR T cognitive difficulties (P = .08). Having more post-CAR T cognitive difficulties was associated with worse global mental health and global physical health. Our study demonstrates overall good neuropsychiatric outcomes in 40 long-term survivors after CAR T cell therapy. However, nearly 50% of patients in the cohort reported at least 1 clinically meaningful negative neuropsychiatric outcome (anxiety, depression, or cognitive difficulty), indicating that a significant number of patients would likely benefit from mental health services following CAR T cell therapy. Younger age, pre-CAR T anxiety or depression, and acute neurotoxicity may be risk factors for long-term neuropsychiatric problems in this patient population. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor-Engineered T-Cells - A New Way and Era for Lymphoma Treatment

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.

METHODS

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.