Oluwole, Olalekan O

PURPOSE Brexucabtagene autoleucel (brexu-cel) is an autologous CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy approved for relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). This therapy was approved on the basis of the single-arm phase II ZUMA-2 trial, which showed best overall and complete response rates of 91% and 68%, respectively. We report clinical outcomes with brexu-cel in the standard-of-care setting for the approved indication. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients who underwent leukapheresis between August 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021, at 16 US institutions, with an intent to manufacture commercial brexu-cel for relapsed/refractory MCL, were included. Patient data were collected for analyses of responses, outcomes, and toxicities as per standard guidelines. RESULTS Of 189 patients who underwent leukapheresis, 168 (89%) received brexu-cel infusion. Of leukapheresed patients, 79% would not have met ZUMA-2 eligibility criteria. Best overall and complete response rates were 90% and 82%, respectively. At a median follow-up of 14.3 months after infusion, the estimates for 6- and 12-month progression-free survival (PFS) were 69% (95% CI, 61 to 75) and 59% (95% CI, 51 to 66), respectively. The nonrelapse mortality was 9.1% at 1 year, primarily because of infections. Grade 3 or higher cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity occurred in 8% and 32%, respectively. In univariable analysis, high-risk simplified MCL international prognostic index, high Ki-67, TP53 aberration, complex karyotype, and blastoid/pleomorphic variant were associated with shorter PFS after brexu-cel infusion. Patients with recent bendamustine exposure (within 24 months before leukapheresis) had shorter PFS and overall survival after leukapheresis in intention-to-treat univariable analysis. CONCLUSION In the standard-of-care setting, the efficacy and toxicity of brexu-cel were consistent with those reported in the ZUMA-2 trial. Tumor-intrinsic features of MCL, and possibly recent bendamustine exposure, may be associated with inferior efficacy outcomes.

The aim of the NCCN Guidelines for Management of Immunotherapy-Related Toxicities is to provide guidance on the management of immune-related adverse events resulting from cancer immunotherapy. The NCCN Management of Immunotherapy-Related Toxicities Panel is an interdisciplinary group of representatives from NCCN Member Institutions, consisting of medical and hematologic oncologists with expertise across a wide range of disease sites, and experts from the areas of dermatology, gastroenterology, endocrinology, neurooncology, nephrology, cardio-oncology, ophthalmology, pulmonary medicine, and oncology nursing. The content featured in this issue is an excerpt of the recommendations for managing toxicities related to CAR T-cell therapies and a review of existing evidence. For the full version of the NCCN Guidelines, including recommendations for managing toxicities related to immune checkpoint inhibitors, visitNCCN.org.

Abstract Background Allogeneic (off the shelf) chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy addresses the logistical challenges, availability (including insufficient T-cell yields from low baseline absolute lymphocyte count), and variable product quality of autologous CAR T therapy. ALLO-715 is a genetically modified anti-BCMA AlloCAR T™ cell which uses Cellectis TALEN ® technology to disrupt the T-cell receptor alpha constant gene (TRAC) and the CD52 gene to reduce the risk of graft-versus-host disease (GvHD) and permit the use of ALLO-647, an anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody (mAb), for selective and transitory host lymphodepletion (LD). Methods UNIVERSAL is an open-label, Phase 1 trial (NCT04093596) in adults with relapsed/refractory (R/R) multiple myeloma who have received ≥3 prior lines of therapy including a proteasome inhibitor, immunomodulator, and anti-CD38 mAb. Patients (pts) must be refractory to their last treatment line. Pts receive LD followed by ALLO-715 at 1 of 4 dose levels (DLs) in a 3+3 dose escalation design: 40, 160, 320, and 480 x 10 6 CAR+ T cells. Several LD regimens are being evaluated: FCA39; FCA60; FCA90; and CA39; with fludarabine [F] 90 mg/m 2, cyclophosphamide [C] 900 mg/m 2, and ALLO-647 [A] 39, 60, or 90 mg divided over 3 days. Results As of June 21, 2021 data-cut, 47 subjects were enrolled; 42 were treated with ALLO-715; 5 progressed prior to treatment. Median time from enrollment to LD was 5 days and no treated pts required bridging therapy. Pts were heavily pretreated with a range of 3-11 prior lines of therapy; 42.9% were penta refractory. There were 19% ISS Stage III at screening, 34% had high risk cytogenetics, and 19% had extramedullary disease. The most common Grade (Gr) 3+ adverse events (AEs) included anemia, neutropenia, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) occurred in 52.4%, all Gr 1/2 except 1 pt with Gr 3. CRS was treated with tocilizumab (21.3%) and corticosteroids (12.8%). One pt (with Gr 2 CRS) experienced Gr 1 neurotoxicity that resolved. Gr 3+ infections occurred in 12.8% of pts, including 2 previously reported Gr 5 events (fungal pneumonia and adenovirus hepatitis). Early results from this trial have been presented previously (ASH 2020) and therefore the efficacy analysis on pts (n=26) treated at DL3 and DL4 with FCA LD, which are considered a more relevant cell dose and LD, is presented here (Table). In pts who received DL3 or DL4 (320 or 480 x 10 6 CAR T cells) (n=26), the ORR was 61.5% (95% CI: 40.6, 79.8); very good partial response or better (VGPR+) rate was 38.5% (95% CI: 20.2, 59.4). Median time to 1 st response was 16 days. The median follow-up for the DL3/DL4 pts was 7.4 months (95% CI: 3.6, 9.9) with a median duration of response of 8.3 months (95% CI: 1.5, not reached). Of the 10 pts with a best response of VGPR+, 8 were found to be negative by minimal residual disease (MRD) analysis. Conclusions UNIVERSAL demonstrates proof of concept for allogeneic CAR T therapy in multiple myeloma. ALLO-715 showed CAR T cell dose response relationship with higher doses (DL3/DL4) leading to clinically meaningful efficacy, including high VGPR+ rate of 38.5% and high MRD negativity without requiring leukapheresis or bridging therapy. ALLO-715 following LD with FCA has a tolerable safety profile. FCA induces a deep and durable window of lymphocyte depletion allowing CAR T cell expansion and persistence. A study using the next generation anti-BCMA CAR (ALLO-605) which supplies cytokine signaling to the CAR bearing cells is ongoing (IGNITE). The current UNIVERSAL trial continues to enroll, including a cohort with consolidation, and updated data will be presented at the meeting. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Mailankody: Allogene Therapeutics: Research Funding; Plexus Communications: Honoraria; Fate Therapeutics: Research Funding; Physician Education Resource: Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb/Juno: Research Funding; Jansen Oncology: Research Funding; Legend Biotech: Consultancy; Evicore: Consultancy; Takeda Oncology: Research Funding. Liedtke: Oncopeptides: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Kite: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Kura Oncology: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Alnylam: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Honoraria; Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GlaxoSmithKline: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Caelum: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Clinical Trial Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Sidana: BMS: Consultancy; Magenta Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Allogene: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding. Chhabra: GSK: Honoraria. Oluwole: Janssen: Consultancy; Pfizer: Consultancy; Curio Science: Consultancy; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding. Kumar: Oncopeptides: Consultancy; Antengene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Astra-Zeneca: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Adaptive: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy; Roche-Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Carsgen: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; KITE: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Beigene: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Tenebio: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding. Nath: Actinium: Consultancy, Honoraria; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria. Anwer: Janssen pharmaceutical: Honoraria, Research Funding; Allogene Therapeutics: Research Funding; GlaxoSmithKline: Research Funding; BMS / Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding. Raje: Caribou: Other; Janssen: Other; bluebird bio: Other; Amgen: Other; Celgene: Other; BMS: Other. Siegel: Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Honoraria; GlaxoSmithKline: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celularity: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Honoraria; Amgen Inc.: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Karski: Allogene Therapeutics: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Crispr Therapeutics: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Nektar Therapeutics: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Lovelace: Allogene Therapeutics, Inc.: Current Employment. Lourbakos: Allogene Therapeutics, Inc.: Current Employment. Hari: Millenium: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Sanofi: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Oncopeptides: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Adaptive Biotech: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; GSK: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene-BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau.

Abstract Introduction: Brexucabtagene autoleucel (brexu-cel) was approved by US FDA for relapsed/refractory (R/R) mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) on July 24, 2020 based on results from the pivotal ZUMA-2 (NCT02601313) study, in which an objective response rate (ORR) of 93% and a complete response (CR) rate of 67% were achieved among the 60 treated patients with at least 7 months of follow-up. The study had stringent eligibility criteria, including prior treatment with a BTK inhibitor (BTKi), and only allowed BTKi and/or corticosteroid for bridging therapy. We report here the safety and efficacy of brexu-cel in standard of care practice among centers in the US Lymphoma CAR-T Consortium. Methods: Fourteen centers participated in this retrospective study. Patients who underwent leukapheresis by 6/15/2021 with an intent to manufacture brexu-cel were included. Baseline clinical characteristics, bridging therapy, adverse events after brexu-cel infusion, and post-infusion outcome data were collected. Eligibility for ZUMA-2 was retrospectively determined based on characteristics at the time of leukapheresis. Duration of response (time from initial response to disease progression or death from any cause), progression-free survival (PFS; time from infusion to disease progression or death from any cause) and overall survival (OS; time from infusion to death from any cause) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: At the data cut-off date of 7/9/2021, 107 patients underwent leukapheresis, among whom 93 (87%) completed brexu-cel infusion, 2 (2%) were waiting for infusion, and 12 (11%) did not receive infusion (manufacture failure n=6, organ dysfunction n=1, death n=5). Baseline clinical characteristics of the 93 infused patients are shown in Table 1. The median age was 67 years and 81% were male. 32% had high risk simplified MIPI, 77% had Ki-67≥30%, 45% had blastoid or pleomorphic variant, 46% had TP53 alteration, 29% had complex karyotype, and 7% had CNS involvement. The median number of prior lines of therapy was 3. Eighty-two percent had prior BTKi treatment, and 44% had refractory disease to the last line of therapy. Sixty-eight (73%) patients would not have met ZUMA-2 eligibility criteria. Reasons for ineligibility included ECOG PS ≥2 (n=8), CNS involvement by lymphoma (n=6), prior therapies (n=33), cytopenia (n=11), renal or hepatic dysfunction (n=13), other medical conditions (n=18), and active infection (n=2). Sixty (65%) of the 93 patients received bridging therapy, which included BTKi (n=27), venetoclax (n=14), chemotherapy (n=19), CD20 antibody (n=26), lenalidomide (n=3), corticosteroid (n=9), and radiotherapy (n=13). Only 13 (14%) patients received BTKi or corticosteroid alone as in ZUMA-2. Among 93 infused patients, cytokine release syndrome (CRS) rate was 88% (8% grade ≥3), and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) rate was 58% (33% grade ≥3). No grade 5 CRS or ICANS occurred. Medications used to manage CRS and ICANS were 71 (76%) for tocilizumab, 64 (69%) for steroid, and 16 (17%) for anakinra. Twenty-four (26%) patients required ICU admission, 9 patients required vasopressors, and 4 patients required mechanical ventilation. With a median follow-up of 3.0 months (range 0.1-9.6), day 30 response was evaluable in 81 patients, and the ORR was 86%, with 64% CR (Table 2). The ORR/CR rates were 94%/70% for blastoid or pleomorphic variants, 82%/50% for TP53 altered, 84%/61% for BTKi-exposed, 94%/76% for BTKi-naïve, and 88%/67% for those not meeting ZUMA-2 eligibility criteria. The ORR/CR rates were 87%/69% for patients who received bridging therapy and 85%/56% for those who did not. For patients who achieved a response at day 30, the rate of continued response at 3-month was 83.7% (95% CI 68.3%-92.0%). The 3-month PFS rate was 80.6% (95% CI 68.6%-88.4%), and the 6-month OS rate was 82.1% (95% CI 67.7%-90.5%). Conclusions: This multicenter retrospective study demonstrated encouraging safety and efficacy data of brexu-cel in R/R MCL in the real world practice. The CRS and ICANS incidences were comparable to those reported in ZUMA-2, but use of tocilizumab and steroid was more frequent than in ZUMA-2. Although 73% of the patients would have been ineligible for ZUMA-2, the ORR and CR rate were comparable to those reported in ZUMA-2. Longer follow-up is necessary to confirm long term safety and efficacy. YW, PJ and FLL are co-first authors, and YL, MW and MDJ are co-senior authors. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Wang: Novartis: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Eli Lilly: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; InnoCare: Research Funding; LOXO Oncology: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; MorphoSys: Research Funding. Jain: Kite: Consultancy; Lilly: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Locke: Gerson Lehrman Group: Consultancy; Emerging Therapy Solutions: Consultancy; EcoR1: Consultancy; Cowen: Consultancy; GammaDelta Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role, Research Funding; Umoja: Consultancy, Other; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; Wugen: Consultancy, Other; Legend Biotech: Consultancy, Other; Takeda: Consultancy, Other; Novartis: Consultancy, Other, Research Funding; Moffitt Cancer Center: Patents & Royalties: field of cellular immunotherapy; Iovance Biotherapeutics: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; Calibr: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; Cellular Biomedicine Group: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; Amgen: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; Allogene Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role, Research Funding. Munoz: Bayer, Gilead/Kite Pharma, Celgene, Merck, Portola, Incyte, Genentech, Pharmacyclics, Seattle Genetics, Janssen, and Millennium: Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company, Kyowa, Bayer, Pharmacyclics/Janssen, Seagen, Acrotech/Aurobindo, Beigene, Verastem, AstraZeneca, Celgene/BMS, Genentech/Roche.: Speakers Bureau; Targeted Oncology, OncView, Kyowa Kirin, Physicians' Education Resource, and Seagen: Honoraria; Pharmacyclics/Abbvie, Bayer, Kite, a Gilead Company, Pfizer, Janssen, Juno/Celgene, Bristol Myers Squibb, Kyowa Kirin, Alexion, Fosun Kite, Innovent, Seagen, BeiGene, Debiopharm, Epizyme, Karyopharm, ADC Therapeutics, Servier, and Genmab: Consultancy, Other: advisory role; Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease: Other: Study investigator. Maurer: BMS: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Morphosys: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Nanostring: Research Funding. Beitinjaneh: Kite/Gilead: Other: Ad Board Event Attendee. Frank: Allogene Therapeutics: Research Funding; Kite-Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Research Funding. Dahiya: Miltenyi Biotech: Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Atara Biotherapeutics: Consultancy; BMS: Consultancy. McGuirk: Magenta Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Gamida Cell: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Bellicum Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Fresenius Biotech: Research Funding; Astelllas Pharma: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Allovir: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pluristem Therapeutics: Research Funding; Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Kite/ Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel accommodations, expense, Kite a Gilead company, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; EcoR1 Capital: Consultancy. Goy: Vincerx pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Michael J Hennessey Associates INC: Consultancy; Elsevier's Practice Update Oncology, Intellisphere, LLC(Targeted Oncology): Consultancy; Phamacyclics: Research Funding; Vincerx: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Rosewell Park: Consultancy; Kite Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AbbVie/Pharmacyclics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Incyte: Honoraria; Hoffman la Roche: Consultancy; LLC(Targeted Oncology): Consultancy; Xcenda: Consultancy, Honoraria; OncLive Peer Exchange: Honoraria; Infinity/Verastem: Research Funding; Genentech/Hoffman la Roche: Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Medscape: Consultancy; Xcenda: Consultancy; Bristol Meyers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Acerta: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bristol Meyers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AbbVie/Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Elsevier PracticeUpdate: Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genomic Testing Cooperative: Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Leadership role; Physicians' Education Resource: Consultancy, Other: Meeting/travel support; MorphoSys: Honoraria, Other; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Constellation: Research Funding; COTA (Cancer Outcome Tracking Analysis): Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Leadership role; Hackensack Meridian Health, Regional Cancer Care Associates/OMI: Current Employment. Vose: Kite, a Gilead Company: Honoraria, Research Funding. Hill: Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel Support, Research Funding; Celgene (BMS): Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Gentenech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Beigene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte/Morphysis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AstraZenica: Consultancy, Honoraria; Epizyme: Consultancy, Honoraria. Oluwole: Pfizer: Consultancy; Curio Science: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding. Deol: Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy. Shah: Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Other: Expenses; Novartis: Consultancy, Other: Expenses; Bristol-Myers Squibb/Celgene: Consultancy, Other: Expenses; BeiGene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy; Precision Biosciences: Consultancy; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Expenses, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics/Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Expenses; Acrotech/Spectrum: Honoraria; Servier Genetics: Other; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy. Paludo: Karyopharm: Research Funding. Miklos: Pharmacyclics: Patents & Royalties; Adaptive Biotechnologies, Novartis, Juno/Celgene-BMS, Kite, a Gilead Company, Pharmacyclics-AbbVie, Janssen, Pharmacyclics, AlloGene, Precision Bioscience, Miltenyi Biotech, Adicet, Takeda: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Pharmacyclics, Amgen, Kite, a Gilead Company, Novartis, Roche, Genentech, Becton Dickinson, Isoplexis, Miltenyi, Juno-Celgene-Bristol Myers Squibb, Allogene, Precision Biosciences, Adicet, Adaptive Biotechnologies: Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company, Amgen, Atara, Wugen, Celgene, Novartis, Juno-Celgene-Bristol Myers Squibb, Allogene, Precision Bioscience, Adicet, Pharmacyclics, Janssen, Takeda, Adaptive Biotechnologies and Miltenyi Biotechnologies: Consultancy. Ghobadi: Wugen: Consultancy; Atara: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Neelapu: Kite, a Gilead Company, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Celgene, Pfizer, Allogene Therapeutics, Cell Medica/Kuur, Incyte, Precision Biosciences, Legend Biotech, Adicet Bio, Calibr, Unum Therapeutics and Bluebird Bio: Honoraria; Takeda Pharmaceuticals and related to cell therapy: Patents & Royalties; Kite, a Gilead Company, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Celgene, Pfizer, Allogene, Kuur, Incyte, Precision BioSciences, Legend, Adicet Bio, Calibr, and Unum Therapeutics: Other: personal fees; Kite, a Gilead Company, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Poseida, Cellectis, Celgene, Karus Therapeutics, Unum Therapeutics (Cogent Biosciences), Allogene, Precision BioSciences, Acerta and Adicet Bio: Research Funding. Lin: Legend: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Gamida Cell: Consultancy; Vineti: Consultancy; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sorrento: Consultancy; Takeda: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding. Wang: Moffit Cancer Center: Honoraria; Chinese Medical Association: Honoraria; InnoCare: Consultancy, Research Funding; Epizyme: Consultancy, Honoraria; Hebei Cancer Prevention Federation: Honoraria; Newbridge Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Genentech: Consultancy; OMI: Honoraria; Physicians Education Resources (PER): Honoraria; Clinical Care Options: Honoraria; CAHON: Honoraria; VelosBio: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding; CStone: Consultancy; Loxo Oncology: Consultancy, Research Funding; BioInvent: Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy, Research Funding; DTRM Biopharma (Cayman) Limited: Consultancy; BGICS: Honoraria; Bayer Healthcare: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Molecular Templates: Research Funding; Imedex: Honoraria; Miltenyi Biomedicine GmbH: Consultancy, Honoraria; Dava Oncology: Honoraria; Oncternal: Consultancy, Research Funding; Lilly: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Anticancer Association: Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; The First Afflicted Hospital of Zhejiang University: Honoraria; BeiGene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Scripps: Honoraria; Mumbai Hematology Group: Honoraria; Acerta Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Jain: BMS, Kite/Gilead, Novartis, Precision Biosciences, Takeda: Consultancy.

Abstract Background: High-risk LBCL is associated with poor prognosis after first-line anti-CD20 mAb-containing regimens, highlighting the need for novel treatments. Axi-cel, an autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, is approved for treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) LBCL after ≥2 lines of systemic therapy. Here we report the primary analysis of ZUMA-12, a Phase 2, multicenter, single-arm study of axi-cel as part of first-line therapy in patients with high-risk LBCL. Methods: Eligible adults had high-risk LBCL, defined by histology (double- or triple-hit status [MYC and BCL2 and/or BCL6 translocations] per investigator) or an IPI score ≥3, plus a positive interim PET per Lugano Classification (Deauville score [DS] 4/5) after 2 cycles of an anti-CD20 mAb and anthracycline-containing regimen. Patients underwent leukapheresis and received conditioning chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide and fludarabine) followed by a single axi-cel infusion at 2×10 6 CAR T cells/kg. Non-chemotherapy bridging could be administered before conditioning per investigator discretion. The primary endpoint was investigator-assessed complete response (CR) rate per Lugano. Secondary endpoints included objective response rate (ORR; CR + partial response), duration of response (DOR), event-free survival (EFS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), incidence of adverse events (AEs), and levels of CAR T cells in blood and cytokines in serum. The primary analysis occurred after all treated patients had ≥6 months of follow-up. Results: As of May 17, 2021, 42 patients were enrolled and 40 were treated with axi-cel. Median age was 61 years (range, 23-86); 68% of patients were male, 63% had ECOG 1, 95% had stage III/IV disease, 48% had DS4, 53% had DS5, 25% had double- or triple-hit status per central assessment, and 78% had IPI score ≥3. A total of 37 patients had centrally confirmed double- or triple-hit histology or an IPI score ≥3 and were evaluable for response, with 15.9 months of median follow-up (range, 6.0-26.7). The CR rate was 78% (n=29; 95% CI, 62-90); 89% of patients had an objective response, and median time to initial response was 1 month. Among all 40 treated patients, 90% had an objective response (80% CR rate). At data cutoff, 73% of response-evaluable patients had ongoing responses. Medians for DOR, EFS, and PFS were not reached; 12-month estimates were 81%, 73%, and 75%, respectively. The estimated OS at 12 months was 91%. All 40 treated patients had AEs of any grade; 85% of patients had Grade ≥3 AEs, most commonly cytopenias (68%). Grade ≥3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurologic events (NEs) occurred in 3 patients (8%) and 9 patients (23%), respectively. Median times to onset of CRS and NEs were 4 days (range, 1-10) and 9 days (range, 2-44), with median durations of 6 days and 7 days, respectively. All CRS and most NEs (28/29) of any grade resolved by data cutoff (1 ongoing Grade 1 tremor); 39/40 CRS events resolved by 14 days post-infusion and 19/29 NEs resolved by 21 days post-infusion. Tocilizumab was administered to 63% and 3% of patients for management of CRS or NEs, respectively; corticosteroids were administered to 35% and 33% of patients for CRS and NE management. One Grade 5 event of COVID-19 occurred (Day 350). Median peak CAR T-cell level in all treated patients was 36 cells/µL (range, 7-560), and median expansion by AUC 0-28 was 495 cells/µL × days (range, 74-4288). CAR T-cell levels peaked at a median of 8 days post-infusion (range, 8-37). Higher frequency of CCR7+CD45RA+ T cells in axi-cel product, previously associated with greater expansion of CAR T cells (Locke et al. Blood Adv. 2020), was observed in ZUMA-12, compared with the ZUMA-1 study in R/R LBCL (Neelapu et al. New Engl J Med. 2017). Conclusion: In the primary analysis of ZUMA-12, axi-cel demonstrated a high rate of rapid and complete responses in patients with high-risk LBCL, a population with high unmet need. With 15.9 months of median follow-up, responses were durable as medians for DOR, EFS, and PFS were not yet reached and over 70% of patients remained in response at data cutoff. No new safety signals were reported with axi-cel in an earlier line. Overall, axi-cel may benefit patients exposed to fewer prior therapies, and further trials in first-line high-risk LBCL are warranted to assess axi-cel in this setting. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Neelapu: Kite, a Gilead Company, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Celgene, Pfizer, Allogene, Kuur, Incyte, Precision BioSciences, Legend, Adicet Bio, Calibr, and Unum Therapeutics: Other: personal fees; Kite, a Gilead Company, Bristol Myers Squibb, Merck, Poseida, Cellectis, Celgene, Karus Therapeutics, Unum Therapeutics (Cogent Biosciences), Allogene, Precision BioSciences, Acerta and Adicet Bio: Research Funding; Takeda Pharmaceuticals and related to cell therapy: Patents & Royalties; Kite, a Gilead Company, Merck, Bristol Myers Squibb, Novartis, Celgene, Pfizer, Allogene Therapeutics, Cell Medica/Kuur, Incyte, Precision Biosciences, Legend Biotech, Adicet Bio, Calibr, Unum Therapeutics and Bluebird Bio: Honoraria. Dickinson: Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Takeda: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Honoraria; Celgene: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria; MSD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel, accommodation, expenses, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Munoz: Kite, a Gilead Company, Kyowa, Bayer, Pharmacyclics/Janssen, Seagen, Acrotech/Aurobindo, Beigene, Verastem, AstraZeneca, Celgene/BMS, Genentech/Roche.: Speakers Bureau; Bayer, Gilead/Kite Pharma, Celgene, Merck, Portola, Incyte, Genentech, Pharmacyclics, Seattle Genetics, Janssen, and Millennium: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics/Abbvie, Bayer, Kite, a Gilead Company, Pfizer, Janssen, Juno/Celgene, Bristol Myers Squibb, Kyowa Kirin, Alexion, Fosun Kite, Innovent, Seagen, BeiGene, Debiopharm, Epizyme, Karyopharm, ADC Therapeutics, Servier, and Genmab: Consultancy, Other: advisory role; Alexion, AstraZeneca Rare Disease: Other: Study investigator; Targeted Oncology, OncView, Kyowa Kirin, Physicians' Education Resource, and Seagen: Honoraria. Thieblemont: Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Janssen: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Kyte: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Bristol Myers Squibb/Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses , Research Funding; Incyte: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Cellectis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses ; Hospira: Research Funding; Bayer: Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel, Accommodations, Expenses . Oluwole: Pfizer: Consultancy; Curio Science: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding. Herrera: Takeda: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Merck: Consultancy, Research Funding; Seagen: Consultancy, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Research Funding; Gilead Sciences: Research Funding; Tubulis: Consultancy; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy. Ujjani: Loxo: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Epizyme: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy; TG Therapeutics: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria; ACDT: Honoraria; Kite, a Gilead Company: Honoraria; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Research Funding; Atara Bio: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Lin: Sorrento: Consultancy; Legend: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gamida Cell: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy; Vineti: Consultancy; Takeda: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding. Riedell: Bayer: Honoraria; Karyopharm Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Morphosys: Research Funding; Celgene/Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Verastem Oncology: Honoraria; Kite, a Gilead Company: Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy; BeiGene: Consultancy; Calibr: Research Funding; Xencor: Research Funding; Tessa Therapeutics: Research Funding. Kekre: Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria. Lui: Gilead Sciences: Other: stock or other ownership; Kite, a Gilead Company: Current Employment, Other: travel support. Milletti: Kite, a Gilead company: Current Employment; Gilead Sciences: Other: stock or other ownership . Dong: Kite, a Gilead Company: Current Employment; Gilead Sciences: Other: stock or other ownership ; GliaCure/Tufts: Consultancy, Other: advisory role, Patents & Royalties. Xu: Kite, A Gilead Company: Current Employment; Gilead Sciences: Other: stock or other ownership . Chavez: MorphoSys, Bayer, Karyopharm, Kite, a Gilead Company, Novartis, Janssen, AbbVie, TeneoBio, and Pfizer: Consultancy; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Merk: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding; MorphoSys, AstraZeneca, BeiGene, Genentech, Kite, a Gilead Company, and Epizyme: Speakers Bureau; BMS: Speakers Bureau.