Three-Year Follow-Up of KTE-X19 in Patients With Relapsed/Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma, Including High-Risk Subgroups, in the ZUMA-2 Study

Anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy in older patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma: A multicenter study

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, despite being a potentially curative therapy in relapsed or refractory (RR) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), remains underutilized in older patients due to limited clinical data. We therefore studied the safety and efficacy of CAR-T therapy in older patients with RR LBCL in the real-world setting. Patients aged ≥65 years with RR LBCL, treated with anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy at 7 US institutions were included in this multicenter, retrospective, observational study. In total, 226 patients were included. Median age at infusion was 71 years (range 65-89). Best objective and complete response rates were 86% and 62%, respectively. Median follow-up after infusion was 18.3 months. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 6.9 months, with 6- and 12-month PFS estimates of 54% and 44%, respectively. The nonrelapse mortality (NRM) rate was 10.9% at day 180, primarily due to infections, and not impacted by the age groups. Grade ≥3 cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity occurred in 7% and 26%, respectively. In univariate analysis, no significant difference in PFS was seen regardless of the age groups or CAR-T type, whereas ECOG PS ≥2, elevated LDH, bulky disease, advanced stage, extranodal involvement, the need for bridging therapy, and prior bendamustine exposure were associated with shorter PFS. These findings support the use of CAR-T in older patients, including those aged ≥80 years. The age at CAR-T therapy did not influence safety, survival, and NRM outcomes. Older patients should not be excluded from receiving CAR-T therapy solely based on their chronological age.

Real-World Evidence of Relapsed/Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma Patients and Treatments: A Systematic Review

Introduction

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an incurable disease with an aggressive clinical course, and most patients eventually relapse after chemotherapy. Targeted therapies developed for relapsed/refractory MCL have been approved based on clinical trial data. However, real-world setting data are scarce and scattered.

Areas Covered

This systematic review aimed to collect, synthesize, and describe the characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with relapsed/refractory MCL after receiving a second or subsequent line of therapy in the real-world setting.

Expert Opinion

R/R MCL is clinically and biologically heterogeneous and still represents a therapeutic challenge, with high-risk and early relapsed patients remaining an unmet medical need. This systematic review is limited by the quality of the available data and the difficulty of comparing outcomes in R/R MCL due to the heterogeneity of the disease, but the results suggest that covalent BTKis should be positioned as second-line therapy, followed by CAR T-cells in BTK-i-relapsed patients. Chemo-free and combination therapies with established chemoimmunotherapy backbones in the relapsed and front-line settings have been recently developed, and front-line options are being improved to move targeted and cellular therapies to earlier lines, including front-line therapy, in elderly and younger fit patients. In the upcoming years, many new targeted agents will play an important role and will be incorporated to the routine practice as their sequence, and outcomes in unselected patients are determined.

Circulating Tumor DNA as a Complementary Prognostic Biomarker during CAR-T Therapy in B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas

The emergence of CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has revolutionized the treatment paradigm for R/R B-cell NHLs. However, challenges persist in accurately evaluating treatment response and detecting early relapse, necessitating the exploration of novel biomarkers. Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) via liquid biopsy is a non-invasive tool for monitoring therapy efficacy and predicting treatment outcomes in B-NHL following CAR-T therapy. By overcoming the limitations of conventional imaging modalities, ctDNA assessments offer valuable insights into response dynamics, molecular mechanisms of resistance, and early detection of molecular relapse. Integration of ctDNA monitoring into clinical practice holds promise for personalized therapeutic strategies, guiding the development of novel targeted therapies, and enhancing patient outcomes. However, standardization of assay methodologies and consensus on clinical response metrics are imperative to unlock the full potential of ctDNA in the management of B-NHL. Prospective validation of ctDNA in clinical trials is necessary to establish its role as a complementary decision aid.

Overcoming the challenges of primary resistance and relapse after CAR-T cell therapy

INTRODUCTION

While CAR T-cell therapy has led to remarkable responses in relapsed B-cell hematologic malignancies, only 50% of patients ultimately have a complete, sustained response. Understanding the mechanisms of resistance and relapse after CAR T-cell therapy is crucial to future development and improving outcomes.

AREAS COVERED

We review reasons for both primary resistance and relapse after CAR T-cell therapies. Reasons for primary failure include CAR T-cell manufacturing problems, suboptimal fitness of autologous T-cells themselves, and intrinsic features of the underlying cancer and tumor microenvironment. Relapse after initial response to CAR T-cell therapy may be antigen-positive, due to CAR T-cell exhaustion or limited persistence, or antigen-negative, due to antigen-modulation on the target cells. Finally, we discuss ongoing efforts to overcome resistance to CAR T-cell therapy with enhanced CAR constructs, manufacturing methods, alternate cell types, combinatorial strategies, and optimization of both pre-infusion conditioning regimens and post-infusion consolidative strategies.

EXPERT OPINION

There is a continued need for novel approaches to CAR T-cell therapy for both hematologic and solid malignancies to obtain sustained remissions. Opportunities for improvement include development of new targets, optimally combining existing CAR T-cell therapies, and defining the role for adjunctive immune modulators and stem cell transplant in enhancing long-term survival.

Post-marketing risk analysis of bendamustine: a real-world approach based on the FAERS database

Objective: Bendamustine was approved for treating chronic lymphocytic leukemia and indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Despite its therapeutic benefits, the long-term safety of bendamustine in a large population remains inadequately understood. This study evaluates the adverse events (AEs) associated with bendamustine, using a real-world pharmacovigilance database to support its clinical application. Methods: We conducted a post-marketing risk analysis to assess the association between bendamustine and its AEs. Data were extracted from the US FDA's Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS), covering the period from January 2017 to September 2023. The characteristics of bendamustine-associated AEs and the onset time were further analyzed. Statistical analysis was performed using MYSQL 8.0, Navicat Premium 15, Microsoft EXCEL 2016, and Minitab 21.0. Results: 9,461,874 reports were collected from the FAERS database, 9,131 identified bendamustine as the "primary suspected" drug. We identified 331 significant disproportionality preferred terms (PTs). Common AEs included pyrexia, neutropenia, infusion site reaction, progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML), injection site vasculitis, and pneumonia-all documented on bendamustine's label. Notably, 16 unexpected and significant AEs were discovered, including hypogammaglobulinemia, which is concerning due to its potential to increase infection susceptibility following bendamustine treatment. Other significant findings were anaphylactic reactions, PML, and cutaneous malignancies, suggesting updates to the drug's label may be necessary. Physicians should monitor for neurological and skin changes in patients and discontinue treatment if PML is suspected. Moreover, the median onset time for bendamustine-associated AEs was 13 days, with an interquartile range [IQR] of 0-59 days, predominantly occurring on the first day post-initiation. The β of bendamustine-related AEs suggested risk reduction over time. Conclusion: Our study uncovered some potential pharmacovigilance signals for bendamustine, providing important insights for its safe and effective clinical use.

B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas

B-cell lymphomas occur with an incidence of 20 new cases per 100 000 people per year in high-income countries. They can affect any organ and are characterised by heterogeneous clinical presentations and courses, varying from asymptomatic, to indolent, to very aggressive cases. Since the topic of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas was last reviewed in The Lancet in 2017, a deeper understanding of the biological background of this heterogeneous group of malignancies, the availability of new diagnostic methods, and the development and implementation of new targeted and immunotherapeutic approaches have improved our ability to treat patients. This Seminar provides an overview of the pathobiology, classification, and prognostication of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas and summarises the current knowledge and standard of care regarding biology and clinical management of the most common subtypes of mature B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas. It also highlights new findings in deciphering the molecular background of disease development and the implementation of new therapeutic approaches, particularly those targeting the immune system.

Chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy: a new emerging landscape in autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapy, an innovative immune cell therapy, has revolutionized the treatment landscape of haematological malignancies. The past 2 years has witnessed the successful application of CD19-targeting CAR constructs in refractory cases of autoimmune rheumatic diseases, including systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis and anti-synthetase syndrome. In comparison with existing B cell depletion therapies, targeting CD19 has demonstrated a more rapid and profound therapeutic effect, enabling drug-free remission with manageable adverse events. These promising results necessitate validation through long-term, large-sample randomized controlled studies. Corroborating the role of CAR-T therapy in refractory rheumatological disorders and affirming safety, efficacy and durability of responses are the aims of future clinical studies. Optimizing the engineering strategies and better patient selection are also critical to further refining the successful clinical implementation of CAR-T therapy.

Finding Your CAR: The Road Ahead for Engineered T Cells

Adoptive cellular therapy using chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) has transformed immunotherapy by engineering T cells to target specific antigens on tumor cells. As the field continues to advance, pathology laboratories will play increasingly essential roles in the complicated multi-step process of CAR T-cell therapy. These include detection of targetable tumor antigens by flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry at the time of disease diagnosis and the isolation and infusion of CAR T cells. Additional roles include: i) detecting antigen loss or heterogeneity that renders resistance to CAR T cells as well as identifying alternative targetable antigens on tumor cells, ii) monitoring the phenotype, persistence, and tumor infiltration properties of CAR T cells and the tumor microenvironment for factors that predict CAR T-cell therapy success, and iii) evaluating side effects and biomarkers of CAR T-cell cytotoxicity such as cytokine release syndrome. This review highlights existing technologies that are applicable to monitoring CAR T-cell persistence, target antigen identification, and loss. Also discussed are emerging technologies that address new challenges such as how to put a brake on CAR T cells. Although pathology laboratories have already provided companion diagnostic tests important in immunotherapy (eg, programmed death-ligand 1, microsatellite instability, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 testing), we draw attention to the exciting new translational research opportunities in adoptive cellular therapy.

Remission after CAR T-cell therapy: Do lymphoma patients recover a normal life?

Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR T cells) can induce prolonged remission in a substantial subset of patients with relapse/refractory lymphoma. However, little is known about patients' life after CAR T-cell therapy. We prospectively assessed the multidimensional recovery of lymphoma patients in remission, before leukapheresis, before CAR T-cell infusion, and 3, 6, and 12 months thereafter. Validated tools were used to measure lymphoma-related and global health-related quality of life (HRQoL; Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Lymphoma [FACT-Lym] and EQ-5D-5L), cognitive complaint (FACT-Cognition), fatigue (FACIT-Fatigue subscale), psychological status (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Post-Traumatic Check List Scale), and sexuality (Relationship and Sexuality Scale). Beyond 12 months of remission, we also surveyed physical, professional, sexual, and general life status. At 3, 6, and 12 months, 53, 35, and 23 patients were evaluable, respectively. Improvement in lymphoma-related HRQoL was clinically relevant at 3, 6, and 12 months with a mean change from baseline of 10.9 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.8; 16.1), 12.2 (95% CI: 4.2; 20.1), and 11.72 (95% CI: 2.06; 21.38), respectively. Improvement in global HRQoL, fatigue, and anxiety was clinically relevant, but 20%-40% of patients experienced persistent fatigue, psychological distress, and cognitive complaints over time. Beyond 12 months after CAR T cells, 81.8% of 22 evaluable patients were satisfied with their daily life. Physical activity, professional, sexual, and global well-being had returned to prediagnosis levels in nearly half of the patients. We found an improvement in HRQoL after CAR T-cell therapy including anxiety, depression, sexual satisfaction, and general well-being. However, not all patients recover a "normal life." Further research is needed to determine which patients are at risk of quality-of-life impairment to improve recovery after CAR T-cell infusion.

The potential and promise for clinical application of adoptive T cell therapy in cancer

Adoptive cell therapy has revolutionized cancer treatment, especially for hematologic malignancies. T cells are the most extensively utilized cells in adoptive cell therapy. Currently, tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes, T cell receptor-transgenic T cells and chimeric antigen receptor T cells are the three main adoptive T cell therapies. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes kill tumors by reinfusing enlarged lymphocytes that naturally target tumor-specific antigens into the patient. T cell receptor-transgenic T cells have the ability to specifically destroy tumor cells via the precise recognition of exogenous T cell receptors with major histocompatibility complex. Chimeric antigen receptor T cells transfer genes with specific antigen recognition structural domains and T cell activation signals into T cells, allowing T cells to attack tumors without the assistance of major histocompatibility complex. Many barriers have been demonstrated to affect the clinical efficacy of adoptive T cell therapy, such as tumor heterogeneity and antigen loss, hard trafficking and infiltration, immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and T cell exhaustion. Several strategies to improve the efficacy of adoptive T cell therapy have been explored, including multispecific chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy, combination with immune checkpoint blockade, targeting the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, etc. In this review, we will summarize the current status and clinical application, followed by major bottlenecks in adoptive T cell therapy. In addition, we will discuss the promising strategies to improve adoptive T cell therapy. Adoptive T cell therapy will result in even more incredible advancements in solid tumors if the aforementioned problems can be handled.

The role of chimeric antigen receptor T cells targeting more than one antigen in the treatment of B-cell malignancies

Several products containing chimeric antigen receptor T cells targeting CD19 (CART19) have been approved for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Despite very impressive response rates, a significant percentage of patients experience disease relapse and die of progressive disease. A major cause of CART19 failure is loss or downregulation of CD19 expression in tumour cells, which has prompted a myriad of novel strategies aimed at targeting more than one antigen (e.g. CD19 and CD20 or CD22). Dual targeting can the accomplished through co-administration of two separate products, co-transduction with two different vectors, bicistronic cassettes or tandem receptors. In this manuscript, we review the pros and cons of each strategy and the clinical results obtained so far.

The new era of immunological treatment, last updated and future consideration of CAR T cell-based drugs

Cancer treatment is one of the fundamental challenges in clinical setting, especially in relapsed/refractory malignancies. The novel immunotherapy-based treatments bring new hope in cancer therapy and achieve various treatment successes. One of the distinguished ways of cancer immunotherapy is adoptive cell therapy, which utilizes genetically modified immune cells against cancer cells. Between different methods in ACT, the chimeric antigen receptor T cells have more investigation and introduced a promising way to treat cancer patients. This technology progressed until it introduced six US Food and Drug Administration-approved CAR T cell-based drugs. These drugs act against hematological malignancies appropriately and achieve exciting results, so they have been utilized widely in cell therapy clinics. In this review, we introduce all CAR T cells-approved drugs based on their last data and investigate them from all aspects of pharmacology, side effects, and compressional. Also, the efficacy of drugs, pre- and post-treatment steps, and expected side effects are introduced, and the challenges and new solutions in CAR T cell therapy are in the last speech.

Matching-Adjusted Indirect Comparison of Brexucabtagene Autoleucel (ZUMA-2) and Pirtobrutinib (BRUIN) in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma Previously Treated with a Covalent Bruton Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor

INTRODUCTION

Patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) often require multiple lines of treatment and have a poor prognosis, particularly after failing covalent Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (cBTKi) therapy. Newer treatments such as brexucabtagene autoleucel (brexu-cel, chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy) and pirtobrutinib (non-covalent BTKi) show promise in improving outcomes.

METHODS

Without direct comparative evidence, an unanchored matching-adjusted indirect comparison was conducted to estimate the relative treatment effects of brexu-cel and pirtobrutinib for post-cBTKi R/R MCL. Using logistic propensity score models, individual patient-level data from ZUMA-2 brexu-cel-infused population (N = 68) were weighted to match pre-specified clinically relevant prognostic factors based on study-level data from the BRUIN cBTKi pre-treated cohort (N = 90). The base-case model incorporated the five most pertinent factors reported in ≥ 50% of both trial populations: morphology, MCL International Prognostic Index, number of prior lines of therapy, disease stage, and prior autologous stem cell transplant. A sensitivity analysis additionally incorporated TP53 mutation and Ki-67 proliferation. Relative treatment effects were expressed as odds ratios (ORs) or hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).

RESULTS

In the base-case model, brexu-cel was associated with higher rates of objective response (OR 10.39 [95% CI 2.81-38.46]) and complete response (OR 10.11 [95% CI 4.26-24.00]), and improved progression-free survival (HR 0.44 [95% CI 0.25-0.75]), compared to pirtobrutinib. Overall survival and duration of response favored brexu-cel over pirtobrutinib but the differences crossed the bounds for statistical significance. Findings were consistent across the adjusted and unadjusted analyses.

CONCLUSIONS

Findings suggest that brexu-cel may offer clinically and statistically significant benefits regarding objective response, complete response, and progression-free survival compared to pirtobrutinib among patients with R/R MCL after prior cBTKi therapy. Given the short follow-up and high degree of censoring in BRUIN, an analysis incorporating updated BRUIN data may provide more definitive overall survival results.

[Optimizing efficacy and security of CAR-T cells, and immune monitoring]

The immune system plays a critical role in the control and eradication of tumors. A better understanding of the anti-tumor immune mechanisms over the last decade has led to the development of immunotherapies, including cellular therapies such as those using CAR-T cells. These therapies have been remarkably effective in hematological malignancies. However, their application to solid tumors requires some optimization. Many efforts are being made in this regard, both to increase the efficacy of CAR-T cells, and to make them more secure. For the former goal, there is a need for the identification of new targets, better activation strategies, or arming T cells in a way that makes them able to overcome intra-tumoral barriers. For the latter goal, dose adjustment, locoregional administration or use of suicide genes are currently investigated as ways to mitigate the risks of this therapy. Together, these adjustments will permit larger applicability of CAR-T cells, in anti-tumor immunity, but also in the context of auto-immune diseases or fibrolytic therapies.

Long-term remission and survival in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma after treatment with LCAR-B38M CAR T cells: 5-year follow-up of the LEGEND-2 trial

BACKGROUND

The autologous anti-B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy LCAR-B38M has been approved for the treatment of relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma in many countries across the world under the name ciltacabtagene autoleucel. LEGEND-2 was the first-in-human trial of LCAR-B38M and yielded deep and durable therapeutic responses. Here, we reported the outcomes in LEGEND-2 after a minimal 5-year follow-up.

METHODS

Participants received an average dose of 0.5 × 106 cells/kg LCAR-B38M in split or single unfractionated infusions after cyclophosphamide-based lymphodepletion therapy. Investigator-assessed response, survival, safety and pharmacokinetics were evaluated.

RESULTS

Seventy-four participants enrolled and had a median follow-up of 65.4 months. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 21.0% and 49.1%, with progressive flattening of the survival curves over time. Patients with complete response (CR) had longer PFS and OS, with 5-year rates of 28.4% and 65.7%, respectively. Twelve patients (16.2%) remained relapse-free irrespective of baseline high-risk cytogenetic abnormality and all had normal humoral immunity reconstituted. An ongoing CR closely correlated with several prognostic baseline indices including favorable performance status, immunoglobulin G subtype, and absence of extramedullary disease, as well as a combination cyclophosphamide and fludarabine preconditioning strategy. Sixty-two (83.8%) suffered progressive disease (PD) and/or death; however, 61.1% of PD patients could well respond to subsequent therapies, among which, the proteasome inhibitor-based regimens benefited the most. Concerning the safety, hematologic and hepatic function recovery were not significantly different between non-PD and PD/Death groups. A low rate of second primary malignancy (5.4%) and no severe virus infection were observed. The patients who tested positive for COVID-19 merely presented self-limiting symptoms. In addition, a sustainable CAR T population of one case with persistent remission was delineated, which was enriched with indolently proliferative and lowly cytotoxic CD4/CD8 double-negative functional T lymphocytes.

CONCLUSIONS

These data, representing the longest follow-up of BCMA-redirected CAR T-cell therapy to date, demonstrate long-term remission and survival with LCAR-B38M for advanced myeloma.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

LEGEND-2 was registered under the trial numbers NCT03090659, ChiCTRONH-17012285.

PRMT5 activates lipid metabolic reprogramming via MYC contributing to the growth and survival of mantle cell lymphoma

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an incurable and aggressive subtype of non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma. Increased lipid uptake, storage, and lipogenesis occur in a variety of cancers and contribute to rapid tumor growth. However, no data has been explored for the roles of lipid metabolism reprogramming in MCL. Here, we identified aberrant lipid metabolism reprogramming and PRMT5 as a key regulator of cholesterol and fatty acid metabolism reprogramming in MCL patients. High PRMT5 expression predicts adverse outcome prognosis in 105 patients with MCL and GEO database (GSE93291). PRMT5 deficiency resulted in proliferation defects and cell death by CRISPR/Cas9 editing. Moreover, PRMT5 inhibitors including SH3765 and EPZ015666 worked through blocking SREBP1/2 and FASN expression in MCL. Furthermore, PRMT5 was significantly associated with MYC expression in 105 MCL samples and the GEO database (GSE93291). CRISPR MYC knockout indicated PRMT5 can promote MCL outgrowth by inducing SREBP1/2 and FASN expression through the MYC pathway.

Immunotherapy of Hematological Malignancies of Human B-Cell Origin with CD19 CAR T Lymphocytes

Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) are hematological malignancies with high incidence rates that respond relatively well to conventional therapies. However, a major issue is the clinical emergence of patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) NHL or ALL. In such circumstances, opportunities for complete remission significantly decline and mortality rates increase. The recent FDA approval of multiple cell-based therapies, Kymriah (tisagenlecleucel), Yescarta (axicabtagene ciloleucel), Tecartus (Brexucabtagene autoleucel KTE-X19), and Breyanzi (Lisocabtagene Maraleucel), has provided hope for those with r/r NHL and ALL. These new cell-based immunotherapies use genetically engineered chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells, whose success can be attributed to CAR's high specificity in recognizing B-cell-specific CD19 surface markers present on various B-cell malignancies and the subsequent initiation of anti-tumor activity. The efficacy of these treatments has led to promising results in many clinical trials, but relapses and adverse reactions such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity (NT) remain pervasive, leaving areas for improvement in current and subsequent trials. In this review, we highlight the current information on traditional treatments of NHL and ALL, the design and manufacturing of various generations of CAR T-cells, the FDA approval of Kymriah, Yescarta Tecartus, and Breyanzi, and a summary of prominent clinical trials and the notable disadvantages of treatments. We further discuss approaches to potentially enhance CAR T-cell therapy for these malignancies, such as the inclusion of a suicide gene and use of FDA-approved drugs.

Functional CRISPR screens in T cells reveal new opportunities for cancer immunotherapies

T cells are fundamental components in tumour immunity and cancer immunotherapies, which have made immense strides and revolutionized cancer treatment paradigm. However, recent studies delineate the predicament of T cell dysregulation in tumour microenvironment and the compromised efficacy of cancer immunotherapies. CRISPR screens enable unbiased interrogation of gene function in T cells and have revealed functional determinators, genetic regulatory networks, and intercellular interactions in T cell life cycle, thereby providing opportunities to revamp cancer immunotherapies. In this review, we briefly described the central roles of T cells in successful cancer immunotherapies, comprehensively summarised the studies of CRISPR screens in T cells, elaborated resultant master genes that control T cell activation, proliferation, fate determination, effector function, and exhaustion, and highlighted genes (BATF, PRDM1, and TOX) and signalling cascades (JAK-STAT and NF-κB pathways) that extensively engage in multiple branches of T cell responses. In conclusion, this review bridged the gap between discovering element genes to a specific process of T cell activities and apprehending these genes in the global T cell life cycle, deepened the understanding of T cell biology in tumour immunity, and outlined CRISPR screens resources that might facilitate the development and implementation of cancer immunotherapies in the clinic.

CAR T-Cell Immunotherapy in Minority Patients with Lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Administration of anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CART19) immunotherapy for large B-cell lymphomas (LBCLs), a subset of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), involves high costs and access to specialized tertiary care centers. We investigated whether minority health populations (MHPs) have equal access to CART19 and whether their outcomes are similar to those of non-MHPs.

METHODS

We analyzed the prevalence and clinical outcomes of patients treated with commercial CART19 at two geographically and socioeconomically different institutions: the Abramson Cancer Center (ACC, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) and the Knight Cancer Institute (KCI, Portland, Oregon).

RESULTS

In the ACC catchment area, 8956 patients were diagnosed with NHL between 2015 and 2019 (latest available data from the state registry), including 17.9% MHPs. In the ACC, between 2018 and 2022 (CART became available in 2018), 1492 patients with LBCL were treated, and 194 received CART19. The proportion of MHPs was 15.7% for the entire LBCL cohort but only 6.7% for the CART19 cohort. During the same time, in the KCI catchment area, 4568 patients were diagnosed with NHL, including 4.2% MHPs. In the KCI, 396 patients with LBCL were treated, and 47 received CART19. The proportion of MHPs was 6.6% for the entire LBCL cohort and 4.2% for the CART19 cohort. The 3-month response, survival, and toxicities after CART19 infusion showed similar results, although the number of patients who were treated was limited.

CONCLUSIONS

This study shows that the access of MHPs to tertiary centers for LBCL care was preserved but appeared reduced for commercial CART19 immunotherapy. Although clinical outcomes of MHPs seemed similar to those of non-MHPs, the small sample size precludes drawing firm conclusions. Further studies are needed. (Funded by the Laffey McHugh Foundation and others.).

Lisocabtagene Maraleucel in Relapsed/Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Primary Analysis of the Mantle Cell Lymphoma Cohort From TRANSCEND NHL 001, a Phase I Multicenter Seamless Design Study

PURPOSE

To report the primary analysis results from the mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) cohort of the phase I seamless design TRANSCEND NHL 001 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02631044) study.

METHODS

Patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) MCL after ≥two lines of previous therapy, including a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi), an alkylating agent, and a CD20-targeted agent, received lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel) at a target dose level (DL) of 50 × 106 (DL1) or 100 × 106 (DL2) chimeric antigen receptor-positive T cells. Primary end points were adverse events (AEs), dose-limiting toxicities, and objective response rate (ORR) by independent review committee per Lugano criteria.

RESULTS

Of 104 leukapheresed patients, liso-cel was infused into 88. Median (range) number of previous lines of therapy was three (1-11) with 30% receiving ≥five previous lines of therapy, 73% of patients were age 65 years and older, 69% had refractory disease, 53% had BTKi refractory disease, 23% had TP53 mutation, and 8% had secondary CNS lymphoma. Median (range) on-study follow-up was 16.1 months (0.4-60.5). In the efficacy set (n = 83; DL1 + DL2), ORR was 83.1% (95% CI, 73.3 to 90.5) and complete response (CR) rate was 72.3% (95% CI, 61.4 to 81.6). Median duration of response was 15.7 months (95% CI, 6.2 to 24.0) and progression-free survival was 15.3 months (95% CI, 6.6 to 24.9). Most common grade ≥3 treatment-emergent AEs were neutropenia (56%), anemia (37.5%), and thrombocytopenia (25%). Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) was reported in 61% of patients (grade 3/4, 1%; grade 5, 0), neurologic events (NEs) in 31% (grade 3/4, 9%; grade 5, 0), grade ≥3 infections in 15%, and prolonged cytopenia in 40%.

CONCLUSION

Liso-cel demonstrated high CR rate and deep, durable responses with low incidence of grade ≥3 CRS, NE, and infections in patients with heavily pretreated R/R MCL, including those with high-risk, aggressive disease.

Clinical features of neurotoxicity after CD19 CAR T-cell therapy in mantle cell lymphoma

ABSTRACT

CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has proven highly effective for treating relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). However, immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) remains a significant concern. This study aimed to evaluate the clinical, radiological, and laboratory correlatives associated with ICANS development after CD19 CAR T-cell therapy in patients with MCL. All patients (N = 26) who received standard-of-care brexucabtagene autoleucel until July 2022 at our institution were evaluated. Laboratory and radiographic correlatives including brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and electroencephalogram (EEG) were evaluated to determine the clinical impact of ICANS. Seventeen (65%) patients experienced ICANS after treatment, with a median onset on day 6. Ten (38%) patients experienced severe (grade ≥3) ICANS. All patients with ICANS had antecedent cytokine release syndrome (CRS), but no correlation was observed between ICANS severity and CRS grade. Overall, 92% of EEGs revealed interictal changes; no patients experienced frank seizures because of ICANS. In total, 86% of patients with severe ICANS with postinfusion brain MRIs demonstrated acute neuroimaging findings not seen on pretreatment MRI. Severe ICANS was also associated with higher rates of cytopenia, coagulopathy, increased cumulative steroid exposure, and prolonged hospitalization. However, severe ICANS did not affect treatment outcomes of patients with MCL. Severe ICANS is frequently associated with a range of postinfusion brain MRI changes and abnormal EEG findings. Longer hospitalization was observed in patients with severe ICANS, especially those with abnormal acute MRI or EEG findings, but there was no discernible impact on overall treatment response and survival.

Comparing R-Bendamustine vs. R-CHOP Plus Maintenance Therapy as First-Line Systemic Treatment in Follicular Lymphoma: A Multicenter Retrospective GELTAMO Study

Rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) and R-bendamustine (R-B) are the most common frontline treatment strategies for advanced-stage follicular lymphoma (FL). After R-CHOP induction therapy, using rituximab for maintenance therapy notably improves outcomes; however, whether this can be achieved by using the same approach after R-B therapy is still being determined. This retrospective analysis compared 476 FL patients from 17 GELTAMO centers who received R-based regimens followed by rituximab maintenance therapy for untreated advanced-stage FL. The complete response rate at the end of induction was higher with R-B and relapses were more frequent with R-CHOP. During induction, cytopenias were significantly more frequent with R-CHOP and so was the use of colony-stimulating factors. During maintenance therapy, R-B showed more neutropenia and infectious toxicity. After a median follow-up of 81 months (95% CI: 77-86), the 6-year rates of progression-free survival (PFS) were 79% (95% CI: 72-86) for R-bendamustine vs. 67% (95% CI: 61-73) for R-CHOP (p = 0.046), and 6-year overall survival (OS) values were 91% (95% CI: 86-96) for R-B vs. 91% (95% CI: 87-94) for R-CHOP (p = 0.49). In conclusion, R-B followed by rituximab maintenance therapy in patients with previously untreated FL resulted in significantly longer PFS than R-CHOP, with older patients also benefiting from this treatment without further toxicity. Adverse events during maintenance were more frequent with R-B without impacting mortality.

Bendamustine as Lymphodepletion for Brexucabtagene Autoleucel Therapy of Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Brexucabtagene autoleucel (brexu-cel) is an autologous CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy approved for treatment of relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). During a fludarabine shortage, we used bendamustine as an alternative to standard cyclophosphamide/fludarabine (cy/flu) lymphodepletion (LD) prior to brexu-cel. We assessed MCL patient outcomes as well as CAR T-cell expansion and persistence after brexu-cel following bendamustine or cy/flu LD at our center. This was a retrospective single institution study that utilized prospectively banked blood and tissue samples. Clinical efficacy was assessed by 2014 Lugano guidelines. CAR T-cell expansion and persistence in peripheral blood were assessed on day 7 and at ≥month 6 for patients with available samples. Seventeen patients received bendamustine and 5 received cy/flu. For the bendamustine cohort, 14 (82%) received bridging therapy and 4 (24%) had CNS involvement. Fifteen patients (88%) developed CRS with 4 (24%) ≥grade 3 events. Six (35%) patients developed ICANS with 4 (24%) events ≥grade 3. No patient had ≥grade 3 cytopenias at day 90. Best objective (BOR) and complete response (CRR) rates were 82% and 65%, respectively. At 24.5 months median follow-up, 12-month progression-free survival (PFS) was 45%, 24-month PFS was 25%, and median duration of response was 19 months. Median OS was not reached. BOR was 25% (1/4) for patients with CNS involvement. CAR transgene expansion after bendamustine LD was observed on day 7 in all (4/4) patients tested and persisted at ≥6 months (2/2), regardless of response. Bendamustine LD before brexu-cel for MCL is feasible and safe with a lower frequency and shorter duration of cytopenias than reported for cy/flu. Both CAR T-cell expansion and persistence were observed after bendamustine LD. Outcomes appear comparable to the real world outcomes reported with cy/flu LD.

FDA-Approved Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T Cell Therapy for Different Cancers-A Recent Perspective

Cancer is one of the most prevalent diseases in the world, and their rate of occurence has been increased in recent decades. Current review article, summarizes the novel treatment options Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T (CAR-T) cell therapy for various cancers constitute a major health and development challenge, impacting every aspect of sustainable development quoted by goal 3 good health and well-being of UN sustainable goals. WHO estimates that 70% of cancer deaths occur in low- and middle- income countries (LMICs) by 2030, LMICs are expected to bear the brunt of the expected 24.1 million new cancer cases per year. This current review article focuses and discussed about CAR-T cell therapy for various cancers against most prevalent non-communicable disease cancer disease stipulated by WHO and UN sustainable goals. Three literature databases Google scholar, Science Direct, PubMed was utilized to search and collect CAR-T cell treatment options for different cancers published articles sources in between January 2000 and December 2023. There were a total of 18,700 papers found, with 48 of them being found to be eligible focusing various cancer treatment by CAR-T cells utilized for the study. Based on the information gathered, CAR-T cell therapy treating different cancers and their merit and its advantages in heal and improve certain cancers was also discussed in this review article with their detailed molecular mechanisms. This article also gives an insight to utilize CAR-T cell treatment protocols for rejuvenating cancer patient from such ruthless cancer disease condition thereby improving life span of cancer patients and eradication of disease in some cases.

Long-Term Follow-Up of Rituximab Maintenance in Young Patients With Mantle-Cell Lymphoma Included in the LYMA Trial: A LYSA Study

Clinical trials frequently include multiple end points that mature at different times. The initial report, typically based on the primary end point, may be published when key planned coprimary or secondary analyses are not yet available. Clinical trial updates provide an opportunity to disseminate additional results from studies, published in JCO or elsewhere, for which the primary end point has already been reported.The LYMA trial demonstrated the benefit of rituximab maintenance (RM) in first-line young patients with mantle-cell lymphoma. In this prolonged follow-up of 7.5 years (95% CI, 7.4 to 7.7) from inclusion, the median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) for the full population were not reached (NR) with a 7-year PFS of 55.5% (95% CI, 49.5 to 61) and OS of 69.5% (95% CI, 63.8 to 74.5). The EFS remained statistically superior in favor of RM (median NR v 5.8 years, P < .0001; HR, 0.39 [95% CI, 0.52 to 0.6] and 7-year estimate, 76.2% versus 46% for RM and observation, respectively). Similarly, RM prolonged PFS (estimated PFS at 7 years, 78.5% v 47.4% and HR, 0.36 [95% CI, 0.23 to 0.56] for RM and observation, respectively, P < .0001). The 7-year OS estimate was 83.2% versus 72.2%, respectively (P = .088, HR, 0.63 [95% CI, 0.37 to 1.08]). Cause of death was not significantly distinct between the two groups, with lymphoma being the leading cause with a very low rate of infection-related death. Overall, the PFS benefit of RM after autologous stem cell transplantation remains after 7-year follow-up, and RM was not associated with an increase in infection-related mortality, making this strategy a safe standard of care with long-term follow-up.

CAR T-cell therapy: A collaboration between authorized treatment centers and community oncologists

With the approval of the first CAR T-cell products for hematological malignancies in 2017, these autologous cell therapies have changed the treatment paradigm for patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), who have a poor prognosis and few effective treatment options. Despite the demonstrated clinical benefit in patients with r/r diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, and follicular lymphoma, many patients who are eligible for CAR T-cell therapies do not receive them or are treated with CAR T cells as a later line of therapy at advanced stages of disease. Several barriers exist for referring patients to an authorized treatment center (ATC) for CAR T-cell therapy. Although most patients with NHL are treated by community-based oncologists, educational gaps may exist for some community oncologists about the availability of CAR T-cell therapies in certain indications, the overall treatment process, and how they can access these therapies for their patients. In addition to navigation of the referral process from the community setting to the ATC, other barriers include timely identification of candidates eligible for CAR T-cell therapy and logistical and reimbursement concerns. Here, we examine the patient CAR T-cell experience, which begins and ends in the community setting, and identify and discuss opportunities for improved collaboration between community oncologists and ATC physicians to help address barriers to treatment and enhance patient outcomes. Treatment decisions for a patient's second or third line of therapy for NHL are critically important, owing to declining probabilities for favorable outcomes with each successive line of therapy. For patients who are eligible, CAR T-cell therapies should be considered as early as possible in their treatment course. A better understanding of the CAR T-cell process, the patient's experience, and the collaboration necessary for timely patient identification, better access, and successful outcomes will enable more patients to benefit from CAR T-cell therapies.

CAR T cells and time-limited ibrutinib as treatment for relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma: the phase 2 TARMAC study

ABSTRACT

CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) achieve high response rates in patients with relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). However, their use is associated with significant toxicity, relapse concern, and unclear broad tractability. Preclinical and clinical data support a beneficial synergistic effect of ibrutinib on apheresis product fitness, CAR-T expansion, and toxicity. We evaluated the combination of time-limited ibrutinib and CTL019 CAR-T in 20 patients with MCL in the phase 2 TARMAC study. Ibrutinib commenced before leukapheresis and continued through CAR-T manufacture for a minimum of 6 months after CAR-T administration. The median prior lines of therapy was 2; 50% of patients were previously exposed to a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi). The primary end point was 4-month postinfusion complete response (CR) rate, and secondary end points included safety and subgroup analysis based on TP53 aberrancy. The primary end point was met; 80% of patients demonstrated CR, with 70% and 40% demonstrating measurable residual disease negativity by flow cytometry and molecular methods, respectively. At 13-month median follow-up, the estimated 12-month progression-free survival was 75% and overall survival 100%. Fifteen patients (75%) developed cytokine release syndrome; 12 (55%) with grade 1 to 2 and 3 (20%) with grade 3. Reversible grade 1 to 2 neurotoxicity was observed in 2 patients (10%). Efficacy was preserved irrespective of prior BTKi exposure or TP53 mutation. Deep responses correlated with robust CAR-T expansion and a less exhausted baseline T-cell phenotype. Overall, the safety and efficacy of the combination of BTKi and T-cell redirecting immunotherapy appears promising and merits further exploration. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT04234061.

SOHO State of the Art Updates and Next Questions: Treatment Evolution of Mantle Cell Lymphoma: Navigating the Different Entities and Biological Heterogeneity of Mantle Cell Lymphoma in 2024

Progress in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) has led to significant improvement in outcomes of patients even in the real world (RW) setting albeit to a lesser degree. In parallel to the demonstration of benefit using combination therapy with rituximab plus high-dose cytarabine (R-AraC) as well as dose intensive therapy-autologous stem cell transplantation (DIT-ASCT) consolidation and maintenance, it became clear over the last 2 decades that MCL is a highly heterogenous disease at the molecular level, explaining differences observed in clinical behavior and response to therapy. While clinical prognostic factors and models have helped stratify patients with distinct outcomes, they failed to help guide therapy. The identification of molecular high-risk (HR) features, in particular, but not only, p53 aberrations (including mutations and deletions [del]), as well as complex karyotype (CK), has allowed to identify subsets of patients with poorer outcomes (median overall survival [OS] <2 years) regardless of conventional therapies used. The constant pattern of relapse seen in MCL has fueled sustained and productive efforts, with 7 novel agents approved in the United States (US), showing high and durable efficacy even in HR and chemo-refractory patients and likely curing a subset of patients in the relapsed or refractory (R/R) setting. Progress in diagnostics, in particular next-generation sequencing (NGS), which is accessible in routine practice nowadays, can help recognize patients with HR features, well beyond MIPI or Ki-67 prognostication, although the impact on decision making is still unclear. The era of integrating novel agents into our prior standard of care (SOC) has begun with a confirmed benefit, for example, ibrutinib (Ib) in the TRIANGLE study, defining the first new potential SOC in younger patients in over 30 years. Expanding on novel agents, either in combination, sequentially or to replace chemotherapy altogether, using biological doublets or triplets has led to a median progression-free survival (PFS) in excess of 72 months, certainly competitive with prior SOC and will continue to reshape the management of MCL patients. Achieving minimal residual disease negative (MRD-ve) status is becoming a new endpoint in MCL, and customizing maintenance and/or de-escalation/consolidation strategies is within reach, although it will require prospective, built-in MRD-based approaches, with the goal of eliminating subclinical disease and not simply delaying time to relapse. Taking into account the biological diversity of MCL is now feasible in routine clinical practice and has already helped recognize what not to do for HR patients (i.e., avoid intensive induction chemotherapy and/or ASCT for p53 mutated patients) as well as identify promising novel options. Ongoing and future work will help expand on these dedicated approaches, to further improve the management and outcomes of all MCL patients.

Three-year follow-up analysis of axicabtagene ciloleucel in relapsed/refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (ZUMA-5)

ABSTRACT

Axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) is an autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy approved for relapsed/refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma (FL). Approval was supported by the phase 2, multicenter, single-arm ZUMA-5 study of axi-cel for patients with R/R indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL; N = 104), including FL and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). In the primary analysis (median follow-up, 17.5 months), the overall response rate (ORR) was 92% (complete response rate, 74%). Here, we report long-term outcomes from ZUMA-5. Eligible patients with R/R iNHL after ≥2 lines of therapy underwent leukapheresis, followed by lymphodepleting chemotherapy and axi-cel infusion (2 × 106 CAR T cells per kg). The primary end point was ORR, assessed in this analysis by investigators in all enrolled patients (intent-to-treat). After median follow-up of 41.7 months in FL (n = 127) and 31.8 months in MZL (n = 31), ORR was comparable with that of the primary analysis (FL, 94%; MZL, 77%). Median progression-free survival was 40.2 months in FL and not reached in MZL. Medians of overall survival were not reached in either disease type. Grade ≥3 adverse events of interest that occurred after the prior analyses were largely in recently treated patients. Clinical and pharmacokinetic outcomes correlated negatively with recent exposure to bendamustine and high metabolic tumor volume. After 3 years of follow-up in ZUMA-5, axi-cel demonstrated continued durable responses, with very few relapses beyond 2 years, and manageable safety in patients with R/R iNHL. The ZUMA-5 study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03105336.

Hematopoiesis and immune reconstitution after CD19 directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cells (CAR-T): A comprehensive review on incidence, risk factors and current management

Impaired function of hematopoiesis after treatment with chimeric antigen T-cells (CAR-T) is a frequent finding and can interest a wide range of patients, regardless of age and underlying disease. Trilinear cytopenias, as well as hypogammaglobulinemia, B-cell aplasia, and T-cell impairment, can severely affect the infectious risk of CAR-T recipients, as well as their quality of life. In this review, we provide an overview of defects in hematopoiesis after CAR-T, starting with a summary of different definitions and thresholds. We then move to summarize the main pathogenetic mechanisms of cytopenias, and we offer insight into cytomorphological aspects, the role of clonal hematopoiesis, and the risk of secondary myeloid malignancies. Subsequently, we expose the major findings and reports on T-cell and B-cell quantitative and functional impairment after CAR-T. Finally, we provide an overview of current recommendations and leading experiences regarding the management of cytopenias and defective B- and T-cell function.

Polatuzumab vedotin plus rituximab and lenalidomide in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a cohort of a multicentre, single-arm, phase 1b/2 study

BACKGROUND

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma comprises nearly 30% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases and patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who are ineligible for stem-cell transplantation have few treatment options and poor prognoses. We aimed to determine whether the novel combination of polatuzumab vedotin in combination with rituximab and lenalidomide (Pola+R+Len) would provide a tolerable treatment option with enhanced antitumour response in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

METHODS

This completed phase 1b/2, open-label, multicentre, single-arm study (GO29834) evaluated the safety and efficacy of Pola+R+Len in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma at 19 sites in three countries (USA, Spain, and UK). Patients (≥18 years old) were eligible for inclusion if they had histologically documented CD20-positive relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2 or lower, had received at least one previous line of chemoimmunotherapy, including an anti-CD20 agent, and were ineligible for stem-cell transplantation. The dose-escalation phase (1b) used escalating doses of lenalidomide to find the recommended phase 2 dose. Patients received six 28-day cycles of induction treatment with intravenous rituximab 375 mg/m2 and intravenous polatuzumab vedotin 1·8 mg/kg (all cohorts) plus oral lenalidomide at the following doses: 10 mg (cohort A); 15 mg (cohort B); and 20 mg (cohort C). Rituximab and polatuzumab vedotin were administered on day 1 and lenalidomide on days 1-21 of each 28-day cycle. During the dose-expansion phase (2), patients received six 28-day cycles of Pola+R+Len at the recommended phase 2 dose established during dose escalation. In both phases, patients with a complete response or partial response at the end of induction were eligible for post-induction therapy with rituximab 375 mg/m2 on day 1 and lenalidomide 10 mg/day on days 1-21 of each 28-day cycle for a maximum of 6 cycles. The primary safety objective of the dose-escalation phase was identification of the maximum tolerated dose through incidence of dose-limiting toxic effects. The primary efficacy outcome of the dose-expansion phase was Independent Review Committee-assessed complete response rate at end of induction, based on PET-CT. Analyses were conducted in the safety population, which included all patients who received at least one dose of any study drug, and the efficacy population, which included all patients who received at least one dose of any study drug at the recommended phase 2 dose. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02600897.

FINDINGS

Between July 11, 2017 and Feb 3, 2020, 57 patients were enrolled (median age 71 years [IQR 60-75]; 38 [67%] were male and 19 (33%) were female; 47 [82%] were not Hispanic or Latino; and the median previous lines of therapy was 2 [IQR 1-3]). 18 participants were included in phase 1b and 39 were included in phase 2. Phase 1b confirmed a 20 mg recommended phase 2 dose for lenalidomide. After a median follow-up of 11·8 months (IQR 4·7-25·8), the complete response rate, as assessed by the Independent Review Committee, was 31% (90% CI 20-43). The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were neutropenia (35 [61%] of 57) and thrombocytopenia (eight [14%] of 57). Serious adverse events were reported in 23 (40%) of 57 patients and one patient died due to a treatment-related adverse event (neutropenic sepsis).

INTERPRETATION

Although the combination of Pola+R+Len did not meet the prespecified activity threshold, some patients derived clinical benefit and the regimen had a tolerable safety profile in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

FUNDING

Genentech/F Hoffmann-La Roche.

Sustained efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy in central nervous system lymphoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis of individual data

Background: Central nervous system lymphoma (CNSL) is considered an aggressive lymphoma with a poor prognosis. Studies investigating CNSL have shown that chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has demonstrated an effective response in limited sample sizes. Therefore, we conducted this systematic review and meta-analysis to clarify the sustained efficacy and factors associated with the sustained efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy in the treatment of CNSL. Methods: We searched studies from PubMed, Embase, Medline, and the Cochrane Center Register of Controlled Trials up to July 2023. Studies that included individual data on the duration of response (DoR) after receiving CAR T-cell therapy were enrolled. Pooled response rates were calculated using fixed-effects or random-effects models. Subgroup analysis was performed to analyze the heterogeneity, and a Cox regression model was performed to identify the factors associated with sustained efficacy. Results: In total, 12 studies including 69 patients were identified and included in this meta-analysis. The pooled relapse rate was 45% [95% CI 35, 56]. Subgroup analyses of relapse rates revealed that CAR T-cells using the CD28/4-1BB domain (CD28/4-1BB vs. CD28 vs. 4-1BB, p = 0.0151), parenchymal or leptomeningeal involvement (parenchymal or leptomeningeal vs. both parenchymal and leptomeningeal, p < 0.0001), and combined treatment with CAR T-cell therapy [Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) plus CAR T-cell therapy vs. CAR T cells with maintenance therapy vs. CAR T-cell therapy alone, p = 0.003] were associated with lower relapse rates in patients. Time-to-event endpoints were assessed using reconstructed individual patient survival data to explore key modulators of DoR. Partial response status at CAR-T infusion and the use of ASCT plus CAR T-cell therapy were associated with longer DoR at the multivariate level, with hazard ratios of 0.25 and 0.26, respectively. Conclusion: CAR T-cell therapy shows promising and sustained efficacy in CNSL patients. However, further prospective large-scale studies are needed to assess these effect modifiers to optimize patient selection and improve the sustained efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy in the treatment of CNSL. Systematic review registration: https://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier PROSPERO CRD42023451856.

Recent Bendamustine Treatment Before Apheresis Has a Negative Impact on Outcomes in Patients With Large B-Cell Lymphoma Receiving Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy

PURPOSE

Approximately 30%-40% of patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) infused with CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells achieve durable responses. Consensus guidelines suggest avoiding bendamustine before apheresis, but specific data in this setting are lacking. We report distinct outcomes after CAR T-cell therapy according to previous bendamustine exposure.

METHODS

The study included CAR T-cell recipients from seven European sites. Safety, efficacy, and CAR T-cell expansion kinetics were analyzed according to preapheresis bendamustine exposure. Additional studies on the impact of the washout period and bendamustine dose were performed. Inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) and propensity score matching (PSM) analyses were carried out for all efficacy comparisons between bendamustine-exposed and bendamustine-naïve patients.

RESULTS

The study included 439 patients with R/R LBCL infused with CD19-targeted commercial CAR T cells, of whom 80 had received bendamustine before apheresis. Exposed patients had significantly lower CD3+ cells and platelets at apheresis. These patients had a lower overall response rate (ORR, 53% v 72%; P < .01), a shorter progression-free survival (PFS, 3.1 v 6.2 months; P = .04), and overall survival (OS, 10.3 v 23.5 months; P = .01) in comparison with the bendamustine-naïve group. Following adjustment methods for baseline variables, these differences were mitigated. Focusing on the impact of bendamustine washout before apheresis, those with recent (<9 months) exposure (N = 42) displayed a lower ORR (40% v 72%; P < .01), shorter PFS (1.3 v 6.2 months; P < .01), and OS (4.6 v 23.5 months; P < .01) in comparison with bendamustine-naïve patients. These differences remained significant after IPTW and PSM analysis. Conversely, the cumulative dose of bendamustine before apheresis did not affect CAR-T efficacy outcomes.

CONCLUSION

Recent bendamustine exposure before apheresis was associated with negative treatment outcomes after CD19-targeted CAR T-cell therapy and should be therefore avoided in CAR T-cell candidates.

Novel treatment for mantle cell lymphoma - impact of BTK inhibitors and beyond

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) primarily affects older adults, accounting for 3-10% of all non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in western countries. The disease course of MCL is heterogenous; driven by clinical, cytogenetics, and molecular features that shape differences in outcomes, including proliferation index, MIPI scores, and mutational profile such as TP53 aberration. The advent of novel agents has fundamentally evolved the treatment landscape for MCL with treatment strategies that can now be more effectively tailored based on both patient- and disease-specific factors. In this review, we discuss the major classes of novel agents used for the treatment of MCL, focusing on efficacy and notable toxicities of BTK inhibitors. We further examine effective novel combination regimens and, lastly, discuss future directions for the evolution of targeted approaches for the treatment of MCL.

Recent advances in genomics and therapeutics in mantle cell lymphoma

Over the past decades, significant strides have been made in understanding the pathobiology, prognosis, and treatment options for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The heterogeneity observed in MCL's biology, genomics, and clinical manifestations, including indolent and aggressive forms, is intricately linked to factors such as the mutational status of the variable region of the immunoglobulin heavy chain gene, epigenetic profiling, and Sox11 expression. Several intriguing subtypes of MCL, such as Cyclin D1-negative MCL, in situ mantle cell neoplasm, CCND1/IGH FISH-negative MCL, and the impact of karyotypic complexity on prognosis, have been explored. Notably, recent immunochemotherapy regimens have yielded long-lasting remissions in select patients. The therapeutic landscape for MCL is continuously evolving, with a shift towards nonchemotherapeutic agents like ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, and venetoclax. The introduction of BTK inhibitors has brought about a transformative change in MCL treatment. Nevertheless, the challenge of resistance to BTK inhibitors persists, prompting ongoing efforts to discover strategies for overcoming this resistance. These strategies encompass non-covalent BTK inhibitors, immunomodulatory agents, BCL2 inhibitors, and CAR-T cell therapy, either as standalone treatments or in combination regimens. Furthermore, developing novel drugs holds promise for further improving the survival of patients with relapsed or refractory MCL. In this comprehensive review, we methodically encapsulate MCL's clinical and pathological attributes and the factors influencing prognosis. We also undertake an in-depth examination of stratified treatment alternatives. We investigate conceivable resistance mechanisms in MCL from a genetic standpoint and offer precise insights into various therapeutic approaches for relapsed or refractory MCL.

A retrospective analysis of ibrutinib outcomes in relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma

Background

While treatment strategies for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) have evolved, patients often experience disease progression and require additional treatment therapies. Ibrutinib presents a promising option for relapsed or refractory MCL (RR-MCL). This study investigated real-world treatment outcomes of ibrutinib in patients with RR-MCL.

Methods

A single-center retrospective analysis investigated clinical characteristics and survival outcomes of patients with RR-MCL, treated with ibrutinib.

Results

Forty-two patients were included, with 16 received rituximab and bendamustine, and 26 receiving anthracycline-based regimens as front-line treatment. During a median follow-up of 46.0 months, the response rate to ibrutinib was 69%, with 12 CRs and 8 partial responses. Disease progression (54.8%) and adverse events (11.9%) were the primary reasons for discontinuation. Median progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were approximately 16.4 and 50.1 months, respectively. Patients older than 70 years (P=0.044 and P=0.006), those with splenomegaly (P=0.022 and P=0.006), and those with a high-risk simplified Mantle Cell Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (sMIPI) (P＜0.001 and P＜0.001) exhibited siginificantly inferior PFS and OS. Notably, patients with a high-risk sMIPI relapsed earlier. Post-ibrutinib treatment yilded an OS of 12.2 months, while clinical trial participants demonstrated superior survival compared to those receiving chemotherapy alone.

Conclusion

This study underscores the importance of considering patient characteristics before administering ibrutinib as salvage therapy. Early relapse was associated with poor outcomes, highlighting the need for novel therapeutic strategies.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cells in Indolent Lymphoma, Mantle Cell Lymphoma, Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

The advent of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of several hematological malignancies. Although the initial benefit was mainly observed in aggressive leukemias and lymphomas, recent data have resulted in the approval of multiple CAR-T therapies in indolent lymphomas, with ongoing research showing great promise for further improvements and therapeutic optimizations. In this article, we review the published data and approved therapies for CAR-T cell therapy for indolent lymphomas focusing on mantle cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma while describing the work in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and future strategies.

SOHO State of the Art Updates and Next Questions | Immunotherapeutic Options for Patients With Mantle Cell Lymphoma Who Progress on BTK Inhibitors

Mantle cell lymphoma is a challenging subtype of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma treat characterized by its aggressive nature and propensity for relapse or refractory (R/R) disease for many patients. The introduction of Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors has significantly improved the outcomes for patients with R/R MCL, but a considerable proportion of patients eventually experience disease progression or develop resistance to these agents. In recent years, immunotherapeutic approaches have emerged as promising treatment options. The treatment landscape is quickly progressing with the FDA approval of CAR-T cell therapy as well as several promising bispecific antibody therapies and antibody-drug conjugates in clinical development. This review article aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of immunotherapeutic options available for patients with R/R MCL.

Mechanisms of resistance to chimeric antigen receptor-T cells in haematological malignancies

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells have recently emerged as a powerful therapeutic approach for the treatment of patients with chemotherapy-refractory or relapsed blood cancers, including acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, diffuse large B cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Nevertheless, resistance to CAR-T cell therapies occurs in most patients. In this Review, we summarize the resistance mechanisms to CAR-T cell immunotherapy by analysing CAR-T cell dysfunction, intrinsic tumour resistance and the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment. We discuss current research strategies to overcome multiple resistance mechanisms, including optimization of the CAR design, improvement of in vivo T cell function and persistence, modulation of the immunosuppressive tumour microenvironment and synergistic combination strategies.

CAR-modified Cellular Therapies in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia: Is the Uphill Road Getting Less Steep?

The clinical development of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has been more challenging for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) compared to other settings. One of the main reasons is the CLL-associated state of immune dysfunction that specifically involves patient-derived T cells. Here, we provide an overview of the clinical results obtained with CAR T-cell therapy in CLL, describing the identified immunologic reasons for the inferior efficacy. Novel CAR T-cell formulations, such as lisocabtagene maraleucel, administered alone or in combination with the Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor ibrutinib, are currently under investigation. These approaches are based on the rationale that improving the quality of the T-cell source and of the CAR T-cell product may deliver a more functional therapeutic weapon. Further strategies to boost the efficacy of CAR T cells should rely not only on the production of CAR T cells with an improved cellular composition but also on additional changes. Such alterations could include (1) the coadministration of immunomodulatory agents capable of counteracting CLL-related immunological alterations, (2) the design of improved CAR constructs (such as third- and fourth-generation CARs), (3) the incorporation into the manufacturing process of immunomodulatory compounds overcoming the T-cell defects, and (4) the use of allogeneic CAR T cells or alternative CAR-modified cellular vectors. These strategies may allow to develop more effective CAR-modified cellular therapies capable of counteracting the more aggressive and still incurable forms of CLL.

Assessment and predictive ability of the absolute neutrophil count in peripheral blood for in vivo CAR T cells expansion and CRS

BACKGROUND

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is an advanced and effective immunotherapy for relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies. High expansion of CAR T cells in vivo and durable antitumor activity indicate a persistent therapeutic response. However, this treatment is linked to a high frequency of adverse events, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS), which affects its efficacy and can even be life-threatening. At present, a variety of markers associated with clinical response and treatment toxicity after CAR T cells infusion have been reported. Although these biomarkers can act as effective indicators reflecting CAR T cells expansion as well as CRS, they fail to predict the expansion rate of CAR T cells. Hence, further investigation is urgent to find a new biomarker to fill this void.

METHODS

We analyzed the association between the absolute neutrophil count (ANC) and CAR expansion and CRS in 45 patients with B-cell malignancies from two clinical trials. We proposed that ANC could be a practical biomarker for CAR T cells expansion and CRS, and conducted a feasibility analysis on its predictive ability.

RESULTS

In this study, 17 B-cell hematological malignancy patients with anti-B-cell maturation antigen CAR-treated and 28 with CAR19/22 T-cell-treated were enrolled and divided into an ANC-absence group and an ANC-presence group. The results showed that ANC absence correlated positively with CAR expansion and the expansion rate. The ANC can be used as a predictive marker for CAR T cells expansion. Moreover, the patients with ANC absence experienced a more severe CRS, and ANC performed a predictive ability for CRS. In addition, the peak serum concentration of several cytokines involved in CRS was higher in patients with ANC absence.

CONCLUSION

Thus, we suggest ANC as an evaluative and predictive biomarker for CAR expansion and CRS during CAR T cell therapy, which can help to maximize clinical efficacy, reduce treatment-related toxicity and prolong survival.