Oloyede, Temitope

Abstract Background: Infections account for over half of the non-relapse deaths among chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell recipients. Non-relapse mortality estimates are among the highest in patients with relapsed / refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) receiving B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA)-directed CAR-T cell therapy. The current Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplantation Research (CIBMTR) study analyzed the burden, types, risk factors, and outcomes of infection and its impact on survival in 807 patients with RRMM receiving commercial idecabtagene vicleucel (ide-cel) CAR-T therapy from March 2021 to December 2023. Methods: The primary endpoint was infection density for overall infections and for organism type (bacterial, viral, or fungal) within 100 days post-CAR-T infusion. Infection density was estimated as the number of infections per 100 person days at risk, stratified into two distinct time intervals following CAR-T cell infusion: days 0-30 and days 31-100.Additional endpoints included the cumulative incidence of infections, infection-related mortality (IRM), and overall survival (OS). Multivariable Cox proportional hazards models were employed to identify factors associated with infectious complications within 100 days post-CAR-T cell infusion. Pre-specified risk factors were considered for the multivariable analysis (MVA) models. We further examined the impact of infections within 100 days of CAR-T on OS at any time beyond 100 days following CAR-T infusion. Results: Infections developed in 114 (14.1%) patients within 30 days and 226 (28%) patients within 100 days post-CAR-T infusion, resulting in an overall infection density of 0.49 per 100 patient-days and a 100-day cumulative incidence of 27.2%. Proportions of bacterial, viral, and fungal infections within 30 days of ide-cel infusion were 82 (10.2%), 50 (6.2%), and 5 (0.6%), respectively. Similarly, proportions of bacterial, viral, and fungal infections within 100 days of CAR T-cell infusion were 126 (15.6%), 125 (15.5%), and 8 (1%), respectively, with corresponding infection densities of 0.23, 0.22, and 0.012 per 100 patient-days. The 100-day cumulative incidence of bacterial, viral, and fungal infections were 14.1% (95% CI, 11.8-16.6%), 14.4% (95% CI, 12-16.9%), and 0.9% (95% CI, 0.3-1.6%) respectively. The 100-day IRM was 1.1% (95% CI, 0.5-2%). With a median follow-up of 11.6 months (1.1-26.7), 222 (27.5%) patients died, and infection was the primary cause of death in 17 cases (7.7%). In MVA, Karnofsky performance score ≤80 (p<0.001), infection prior to CAR-T cell infusion requiring with ongoing treatment after d+0 (p<0.001), cytokine release syndrome grade ³2 (p=0.002), and severe immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome [ICANS] (grade ≥3) (p<0.001) were associated with an increased infection risk within 100 days post-infusion. Similarly, infection prior to CAR-T infusion requiring with continuing treatment after d+0 (p<0.001 for bacterial and p=0.003 for viral infections) and grade ≥3 ICANS (p<0.001 for bacterial and p=0.015 for viral infections) significantly conferred a heightened risk for bacterial and viral infections within 100 days of CAR-T infusion. Number of infections within 100 days (hazard ratio [HR], 2.36 for ≥2 vs. 0 infections; 95%CI, 1.48-3.77; p<0.001), extramedullary disease or plasma cell leukemia (HR, 1.8; 95%CI, 1.19-2.74; p=0.006), and prior BCMA-directed therapy (HR, 1.57; 95%CI, 1.06-2.33; p=0.025) were independent risk factors for inferior OS beyond day+100 after CAR-T therapy. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) replacement post-CAR-T therapy conferred a survival advantage (HR, 0.52; 95%CI, 0.38-0.72; p<0.001). Conclusion: In conclusion, study results demonstrate a significant incidence of infections for a prolonged duration (14.1% in the first 30 days and 28% in the first 100 days) in patients with RRMM undergoing ide-cel therapy. Notably, viral infections increased beyond d+30. Multiple infections (≥2 episodes) were associated with inferior OS. Results identify patients at an increased risk for infection and provide insights into risk-adapted interventions to mitigate infections and improve patient outcomes. Furthermore, continued surveillance for infection pre-emption and prevention beyond 3 months post-CAR T therapy may be necessary to reduce infection burden and IRM. Prophylactic strategies such as IVIG replacement could potentially modify infection risk in patients with RRMM receiving ide-cel.

Abstract Background: Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with TP53 alteration (TP53alt), including deletion (TP53del) detected by cytogenetics (CG) (karyotype, FISH, or genomic microarray) and/or TP53 mutation (TP53mut) identified by next-generation sequencing, is associated with poor prognosis. However, a subset of patients may achieve long-term survival after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). Patient-, disease-, and transplant-related variables may inform risk stratification and improve treatment decision-making in this high-risk population. We used the CIBMTR registry to investigate outcomes of patients with TP53alt AML undergoing allo-HCT. Methods: We included adult patients with 2017 ELN adverse-risk AML who underwent first allo-HCT between 2013–2019 and had available CG and molecular data. TP53del was centrally reviewed by expert cytogeneticist. Patients were stratified into three TP53alt groups: Group 1 (TP53mut+/ TP53del+), Group 2 (TP53mut −/ TP53del+), and Group 3 (TP53mut+/ TP53del −). The control group comprised patients with 2017 ELN adverse-risk AML negative for both TP53mut and TP53del. Patients from embargoed centers, lacking consent or comprehensive research data, or missing CG and molecular information were excluded. Results: Of 6,474 patients with adverse-risk AML, 703 patients with TP53alt met inclusion criteria: Group 1 (n=203), Group 2 (n=271), Group 3 (n=229). The control group included 2,763 patients. Median age was 58 years (44% ≥60); 44% were female; 16% had Karnofsky score <90, and 52% had HCT-CI ≥3. Secondary AML was more frequent in TP53alt groups (32%, 27%, 27%) versus control (21%) (p<.01). Complex and monosomal karyotypes were most common in Group 1 (61%), followed by Group 2 (54%), Group 3 (31%), and control (6%), p<.01. More patients in Groups 1 and 2 (28% each) underwent HCT in primary induction failure/relapse (PIF/Rel) versus Group 3 (19%) and control (19%), p<.01. Median time from diagnosis to transplant was 5 months (1-331). Donor type was matched related in 23%, matched or mismatched unrelated in 50%, haploidentical in 18%, and umbilical cord blood in 7%. Conditioning intensity was myeloablative (MA) in 51%; reduced-intensity (RIC) in 36% , and 13% non-MA (NMA). Post-transplant cyclophosphamide (PTCy) was used in 27%; and in vivo T-cell depletion (ATG or alemtuzumab) in 26%. After median follow-up of 66 months (3-130), 5-yr OS was 18% (Group 1), 18% (Group 2), 35% (Group 3) vs 46% in controls (p<0.001). 5-yr LFS was 14%, 15%, and 28%, respectively, vs 38% (p<0.001). 5-yr CIR was 69%, 66%, and 52% vs 43% (p<0.001). Transplant-related mortality (TRM) was similar across groups (1-year: 12–16%). On multivariate analysis, compared with controls, TP53del (with or without TP53mut) was independently associated with higher relapse risk: Group 1 HR 1.97, Group 2 HR 1.91, Group 3 HR 1.45 (all p<0.001). These findings translated into inferior OS (HR 1.94, 1.87, and 1.45, respectively, p<0.001). PIF/Rel and CR2+ were also associated with worse survival (HR 2.58 (p<0.001) and 1.18 (p<0.001, respectively). No significant difference was observed between MA and RIC for relapse, while non-myeloablative regimens (HR 1.65; p<0.001) were associated with higher CIR. In vivo T-cell depletion increased relapse risk (HR 1.22; p=0.004). TRM was not influenced by TP53alt status; it was impacted by age, KPS, time from diagnosis to HCT, and GVHD prophylaxis regiment (non-PTCy). Conclusions: This large, registry-based study with long term median follow-up showed that among patients with adverse-risk AML, TP53alt is a strong independent predictor of poor post-HCT outcomes in AML, particularly when TP53del is present. Patients with TP53del , with or without concurrent TP53mut, experienced the worst outcomes, followed by those with isolated TP53mut. Despite the limitations of registry data including lack of information on timing of TP53mut, variant allele frequency (VAF), number of mutations, or accurate information on measurable residual disease (MRD), these findings reinforce the adverse prognostic impact of TP53alt and support its inclusion in risk stratification frameworks. While some patients with TP53alt —particularly those with isolated mutations—may benefit from allo-HCT, relapse remains the dominant cause of failure. Future studies incorporating TP53 functional status, VAF, clonal architecture, specific CG, MRD, and novel transplant approaches are warranted.

Abstract The cumulative impact of baseline comorbidities on outcomes of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is not well established. Therefore, we developed and validated a Cellular Therapy Comorbidity Index (CT-CI) to predict outcomes following CD19-directed CAR-T therapy for large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). Patients aged 18 or older receiving commercial CAR-T therapy for LBCL during 2017 to 2020 were selected from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research registry. Patients were randomly assigned to training or validation cohorts. Comorbidities given weighted scores comprised the CT-CI, which was then validated for overall survival (OS) prognostication. A total of 1916 patients from 97 medical centers were included, with a median age of 64 years (19-91 years). About 70% of patients had comorbidities, such as cardiac disease (12%); diabetes (14%); hepatic dysfunction (mild, 8%; moderate to severe, 2%); psychiatric disturbance (18%); and pulmonary dysfunction (moderate, 15%; severe, 12%). The CT-CI was calculated, stratified patients in 3 categories, and was associated with increased mortality. Patients with higher CT-CI scores had worse OS (CT-CI 1: hazard ratio [HR], 1.37 [95% confidence interval [CI], 1.16-1.62; P< .001]; CT-CI 2: HR, 1.49 [95% CI, 1.17-1.89; P = .001]; CT-CI ≥ 3: HR, 2.55 [95% CI, 1.90-3.42; P< .001]). Higher CT-CI scores predicted treatment-related mortality and relapse. There was no correlation between the CT-CI score and CAR-T–related toxicities. The novel CT-CI score stratifies the effect of patient comorbidities on survival after CAR-T therapy and can be used for clinical decision-making and treatment selection in high-risk populations. However, comorbidities and fear of increased toxicity should not preclude patients from this effective therapy.

Background: Autologous CAR-T therapy targeting CD19 is an effective treatment for relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). However, morbidity and mortality related to CAR-T toxicity remain significant concerns. This study aims to evaluate the patterns, risk factors, and implications of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) following CD19-CAR-T therapy in LBCL. Methods: This retrospective analysis includes 1916 LBCL patients treated with CD19-CAR-T cell therapy (axicabtagene-ciloleucel [axi-cel] 75% and tisagenlecleucel 25%) between 2018 and 2020 and reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR). Patient demographics, baseline characteristics, treatment-related variables, and clinical outcomes were collected. The incidence, severity and timing of onset of CRS and ICANS (according to median time to onset) were analyzed, factors associated with these outcomes and their impact on overall survival as time dependent covariates were done using Cox Regression multivariate analyses. Results: The median age of the patients was 64 years, with a majority having a Karnofsky performance status (KPS) below 90% (61%) and not receiving bridging therapy (67%). CRS was observed in 75.1% of patients, with 9% experiencing severe CRS (grades ≥ 3). Similarly, 43% of patients experienced ICANS, with 20% having severe ICANS (grade ≥ 3). The median time to toxicity was shorter for CRS (4 days) compared to ICANS (7 days). Nearly all the patients who developed ICANS also experienced CRS (98%; ), and the correlation between these two events and respective severities are shown in the Figure 1a. In the multivariate analyses, factors associated with development of CRS were gender (women, Odds ratio [OR] 1.39, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10- 1.76, p=0.006), high LDH at time of infusion (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.22 - 2.00, p=0.002) and product (axi-cel OR 4.60, 95% CI 3.56 -5.81, p<0.001). Factors associated with the development of ICANS included age (> 65 years, OR 1.83; 1.50-2.24, p<0.001), KPS (<80%, OR 2.48; 1.88-3.27, p<0.001), disease status at infusion (treatment resistant disease, OR 1.98; 1.09-3.58, p=0.024; and untreated relapse OR 2.62, 1.35-5.10, p=0.004) and product (axi-cel, OR 5.85; 4.47-7.64, p<0.0001). Factors associated with severe and early onset CRS and ICANS are listed in the table below. The median follow-up of 14.2 months, the estimated 12-month overall survival, progression-free survival (PFS), and treatment-related mortality were 61.6% (95% CI: 59.4-63.9), 42.2% (39.9-44.5), and 4.3% (3.4-5.3), respectively. Overall CRS, early onset CRS and overall ICANS were not associated with higher mortality, however grade >3 CRS (HR 1.79; 1.41-2.28, p<0.001), grade >3 ICANS (hazard ratio [HR] 1.34; 95% CI 1.13-1.59, p=0.002) and early onset ICANS (<7 days, HR 1.23; 1.05-1.44, p=0.01) were associated with higher mortality. The impact of severe CRS on survival are shown in the landmark analysis at 30 days from infusion in the figure 1B. Conclusion: In the largest analysis of CD19-CAR-T cell therapy toxicities to date, we observed a high burden of CRS and ICANS among LBCL patients. The CAR T cell product type was consistently associated with higher incidence, shorter onset and higher severity of both toxicities. High LDH, older age and low performance score also influence the severity and onset of these outcomes. Additionally, patients who developed higher grades of CRS/ICANS and earlier onset ICANS had a higher mortality, stressing the need to develop novel strategies to mitigate the incidence and optimize management of these patients to improve their outcomes.