Citations 73

ALPHA2 Study: ALLO-501A Allogeneic CAR T in LBCL, Updated Results Continue to Show Encouraging Safety and Efficacy with Consolidation Dosing

Blood | November 23, 2021 | Volume: 138 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 649-649

10.1182/blood-2021-146045

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-501A is a genetically modified anti-CD19 AlloCAR T™ cell product that uses TALEN ® gene editing 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). Here we present an update on the preliminary safety, efficacy, and correlative data. ALLO-501A uses Cellectis technologies. Methods ALPHA2 (NCT04416984) is a single-arm, open-label, Phase 1/2 trial of ALLO-501A in patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL including [R/R] diffuse LBCL [DLBCL], transformed follicular lymphoma [tFL], marginal zone lymphoma [tMZL], primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma [PMBCL], follicular lymphoma grade 3B [FL3B]) who received ≥2 prior lines of therapy (including an anthracycline and anti-CD20 mAb), have an ECOG performance status of 0 or 1. Subjects with donor specific antibodies are excluded. Following LD with ALLO-647, fludarabine 30 mg/m 2/d x 3d (F), and cyclophosphamide 300 or 500 mg/m 2/d x 3d (C), either a single (40 [DL1] or 120 [DL2] x 10 6 viable CAR T cells) or consolidation dose of ALLO-501A (DL2) are given. For consolidation dose, pts with ≥stable disease (SD) at day 28 receive consolidation with second ALLO-647 (no chemo) for LD and ALLO-501A (DL2) cell infusion. Results As of July 9, 2021, 20 pts were enrolled; 15 pts were treated with ALLO-501A (12 evaluable and 3 pending D28 assessment); 3 pts pending treatment; 2 pts withdrew due to adverse event (AE)/progressing disease (PD) prior to dosing. Patients were heavily pretreated with advanced-stage disease (Stage III: 4 [22.2%], Stage IV: 8 [44.4%]), median number of prior treatments was 3 with a high of 7. Three pts (16.7%) had primary refractory disease. Safety profile was manageable in both single dose and consolidation cohorts. Events of interest in the single dose cohort have been previously reported (ASCO 2021). In the consolidation cohort (13 enrolled, 9 pts dosed thus far), no cytokine release syndrome (CRS), no GvHD, no immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), no dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), no dose reductions, no Grade (Gr) 3+ infections and no related serious adverse events (SAEs) occurred, and infusion-related reactions were Gr 1. Among all treated, cytopenias were the most common AE and occurred in 72% of pts. Of the 12 evaluable pts (6 each treated in the single dose and consolidation dose cohort), both the overall response rate (ORR) and complete response (CR) were 50% (95% CI: 21.1, 78.9). In the consolidation cohort, both ORR and CR rate were 66.7% (95% CI: 22.3, 95.7) with 3/3 partial responses (PRs) converting to CR after consolidation; 1 pt had CR at days 28 and 56 post consolidation and 2 pts had PD at month 1 and did not receive consolidation. In single dose cohort, 2 pts have ongoing CR at 9 and 12+ months. CAR T expansion was greater in pts who achieved a CR with a geometric mean area under the curve (AUC) at D1-28 of 206,990 copies/ug*days (n=6; GSD 4.94) compared to pts who did not achieve a CR with AUC at D1-28 of 3,571 copies/ug*days (n=3; GSD 2.41). Pts who received the consolidation dose continued to have CAR T expansion after the 2 nd CAR T infusion with geometric mean AUC from D30-56 of 92,893 copies/ug*days (n=4; GSD 5.42). Conclusions ALLO-501A with consolidation dosing demonstrated comparable safety and an improved efficacy profile compared to single dosing with all 4 pts who received consolidation remaining in CR. Persistence of CAR T at D28 and expansion after consolidation dose was observed in addition to the observed deepening of responses in pts whose initial response was PR. Additional follow up is needed to determine whether consolidation also improves the durability of response. Consolidation was well tolerated and given the generally favorable overall safety profile, ALLO-501A may have the potential to be given in the outpatient setting. Enrollment is ongoing. Updated efficacy and follow-up will be presented at the meeting. Currently, an ALLO-501A Phase 2 trial is planned. Disclosures Locke: Cowen: Consultancy; Umoja: Consultancy, Other; Wugen: Consultancy, Other; Takeda: Consultancy, Other; Novartis: Consultancy, Other, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; Calibr: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; Amgen: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; GammaDelta Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; Cellular Biomedicine Group: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role, Research Funding; Legend Biotech: Consultancy, Other; Iovance Biotherapeutics: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role; EcoR1: Consultancy; Allogene Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: Scientific Advisory Role, Research Funding; Emerging Therapy Solutions: Consultancy; Gerson Lehrman Group: Consultancy; Moffitt Cancer Center: Patents & Royalties: field of cellular immunotherapy. 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; 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. Hamadani: Janssen, Incyte, ADC Therapeutics, Omeros, Morphosys, Kite: Consultancy; Sanofi, Genzyme, AstraZeneca, BeiGene: Speakers Bureau; Takeda, Spectrum Pharmaceuticals and Astellas Pharma: Research Funding. Frank: Allogene Therapeutics: Research Funding; Kite-Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Research Funding. Popplewell: Novartis: Other: Travel; Pfizer: Other: Travel; Hoffman La Roche: Other: Food. Abramson: Bluebird Bio: Consultancy; Kymera: Consultancy; BeiGene: Consultancy; Incyte Corporation: Consultancy; Astra-Zeneca: Consultancy; Allogene Therapeutics: Consultancy; Seagen Inc.: Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Morphosys: Consultancy; Kite Pharma: Consultancy; C4 Therapeutics: Consultancy; Genmab: Consultancy; EMD Serono: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers Squibb Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy. Munoz: Pharmacyclics/Abbvie: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gilead/Kite Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Juno/Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BMS: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Kyowa: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Alexion: Consultancy; Beigene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Fosunkite: Consultancy; Innovent: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Debiopharm: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Genmab: Consultancy; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy; Epizyme: Consultancy; Servier: Consultancy; Merck: Research Funding; Portola: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Millennium: Research Funding; Targeted Oncology: Honoraria; OncView: Honoraria; Physicians' Education Resource: Honoraria; Roche: Speakers Bureau; AstraZeneca: Speakers Bureau; Verastem: Speakers Bureau; Acrotech/Aurobindo: Speakers Bureau. Shin: Allogene Therapeutics, Inc.: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Loomis-Navale: Allogene: Current Employment, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Miklos: 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; 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: Patents & Royalties. OffLabel Disclosure: Discussion of fludarabine and cyclophosphamide in combination with ALLO-647 as conditioning regimen prior to administration of ALLO-501A in patients with R/R LBCL.
Comparison of 2-year outcomes with CAR T cells (ZUMA-1) vs salvage chemotherapy in refractory large B-cell lymphoma

Blood Advances | September 3, 2021 | Volume: 5 | Issue: 20 | Pages: 4149-4155

10.1182/bloodadvances.2020003848 | PMID 34478487

Abstract The SCHOLAR-1 international retrospective study highlighted poor clinical outcomes and survival among patients with refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) treated with conventional chemotherapy. Axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel), an autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, demonstrated durable responses in patients with refractory LBCL in the pivotal phase 1/2 ZUMA-1 study (NCT02348216). Here, we compared SCHOLAR-1 with the 2-year outcomes of ZUMA-1. Prior to comparison of clinical outcomes, propensity scoring (based on a broad set of prognostic covariates) was used to create balance between ZUMA-1 and SCHOLAR-1 patients. In the pivotal phase 2 portion of ZUMA-1, 101 patients received axi-cel and were evaluable for response and survival. In SCHOLAR-1, 434 and 424 patients were evaluable for response and survival, respectively. ZUMA-1 patients were more heavily pretreated than were SCHOLAR-1 patients. The median follow-up was 27.1 months in ZUMA-1. The objective response rate (ORR) and complete response rate were 83% and 54% in ZUMA-1 vs 34% and 12% in SCHOLAR-1, respectively. The 2-year survival rate was 54% in ZUMA-1 and 20% in SCHOLAR-1, and a 73% reduction in the risk of death was observed in ZUMA-1 vs SCHOLAR-1. These results were consistent with those of an additional standardization analysis in which strata were limited to 2 prognostic factors (refractory categorization and presence/absence of stem cell transplant after refractoriness to chemotherapy) to conserve sample size. Despite the limitations of a nonrandomized analysis, these results indicate that axi-cel produces durable responses and a substantial survival benefit vs non–CAR T-cell salvage regimens for patients with refractory LBCL.
Abstract CT166: Pretreatment (PreTx) immune cell phenotypes in peripheral blood associated with the tumor immune contexture, product attributes, and durable clinical efficacy in patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) treated with axicabtagene ciloleuce

Cancer Research | July 1, 2021 | Volume: 81 | Issue: 13_Supplement | Pages: CT166-CT166

10.1158/1538-7445.am2021-ct166

Abstract Background: Conventional prognostic factors for LBCL were not associated with outcomes in the pivotal ZUMA-1 study of axi-cel in relapsed LBCL (Neelapu et al. NEJM. 2017); however, other attributes like chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell fitness and composition (CCR7+CD45RA+ T cells), reduced preTx tumor burden, and immune tumor microenvironment (TME) with presence of activated CD8+PD-1+LAG-3+/-TIM-3- T cells were associated with efficacy (Locke et al. Blood Adv. 2020; Galon et al. ASCO 2020. #3022). Here, we evaluated preTx immune cell phenotypes in premanufacturing apheresis (premfg aph) material, comprising peripheral blood mononuclear cells, to determine associations with product attributes, immune TME features, and clinical efficacy in ZUMA-1. Methods: Evaluable samples from patients (pts) in Phase (Ph) 1 and Ph2 Cohorts (C) 1-3 were analyzed (NCT02348216; Ph1 and Ph2 C1+2, ≥2-y follow-up; C3, ≥6-mo follow-up). Memory T, myeloid, NK, NKT, and B cells in premfg aph material (n=101, excluding C3) were characterized by flow cytometry (FC). PreTx immune TME was analyzed by multiplex IHC (n=18) and gene expression analysis (n=30) as previously described (Rossi et al. AACR 2018. #LB-016; Galon et al. ASCO 2020. #3022). CAR T-cell fitness was analyzed by doubling time, viability during manufacturing, and product T-cell phenotypes by FC (n=145). Associations between these covariates, and with routine hematology tests, were performed by Spearman rank correlation or Wilcoxon tests. Effects on survival were assessed by Kaplan-Meier with optimized cutpoint selection. Results: The percentage (%) of naive (CCR7+CD45RA+) T helper (Th; CD4+CD127+CD25low) cells coexpressing CD27 and CD28 (median, 1%; range, 0.01%-15.8%; IQR, 0.3%-3.8%) in aph associated positively with axi-cel efficacy. The % of intermediate monocytes (IMs; CD14+CD16+; median, 1.8%; range, 0.003%-16.7%; IQR, 1%-3%) in aph associated negatively with efficacy. The % of circulating CD27+CD28+ naive Th cells associated positively with an enriched preTx immune TME T-cell signature, % CCR7+CD45RA+ product T cells, objective response rate, PFS, and OS. An increased % of IMs associated directly with negative predictive markers (preTx serum levels of LDH, IL-6, and CRP) and inversely with TME T-cell signature, PFS, and OS. The premfg ratio of CD27+CD28+ naive Th cells/IMs associated directly with CAR T-cell expansion and efficacy. Conclusions: This work points to a link between the pre-existing state of the immune system, reflected in premfg aph, and immune TME, as well as product attributes influencing axi-cel efficacy in LBCL. These data bear practical implications towards the development of predictive biomarkers for axi-cel efficacy. [JB and JC contributed equally.] Citation Format: Justin Budka, Justin Chou, Vicki Plaks, Francesca Milletti, Zixing Wang, Frederick L. Locke, Sattva S. Neelapu, David B. Miklos, Caron A. Jacobson, Lazaros J. Lekakis, Yi Lin, Armin Ghobadi, Zahid Bashir, Nathalie Scholler, Jérôme Galon, John M. Rossi, Adrian Bot. Pretreatment (PreTx) immune cell phenotypes in peripheral blood associated with the tumor immune contexture, product attributes, and durable clinical efficacy in patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr CT166.
Phase 2 study of MGTA-145 + plerixafor for rapid and reliable hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) mobilization for autologous transplant in multiple myeloma.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | June 2, 2021 | Volume: 39 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: 8023-8023

10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.8023

8023 Background: MGTA-145 (GroβT), a CXCR2 agonist, has shown promising activity for HSC mobilization with plerixafor in pre-clinical models and healthy volunteers. Methods: This phase 2 single center study evaluates HSC mobilization with MGTA-145 + plerixafor and same day apheresis in patients with multiple myeloma. Patients received plerixafor 0.24 mg/kg (0.16 mg/kg if renal dysfunction) SQ, followed 2 hours later by MGTA-145 (0.03 mg/kg) IV over 3-10 minutes and apheresis within 30 minutes. Mobilization was repeated for a second day if day 1 yield was < 6 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg. This interim analysis reports on mobilization in 10 patients (of 25 planned), including safety cohort of first 6 patients completing transplant. Primary endpoint is collection of 2 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg. Results: Median age was 63 years (range: 46-68), 50% were female, 22% had ISS stage 3 & 50% had high-risk FISH. Induction therapy was VRD in 7 and daratumumab + VRD in 3 patients; median induction duration: 4 months (3-6) & median lenalidomide exposure: 6 cycles (4-6), with > VGPR in 70%. Median total stem cell yield (CD34+ cells/kg x 106) was 7.1 (3-16.2), day 1 yield was 5.4 (1.1-16.2) & yield per apheresis session was 4 (1.1-16.2). 100% of patients met the primary endpoint of collecting sufficient HSCs in < 2 days of mobilization + apheresis to proceed to transplant (2 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg). Secondary endpoints of 4 and 6 x 106 CD34+ cells/kg in < 2 days were met in 90% & 80% patients. 30% patients underwent 1 apheresis, while 70% underwent 2 sessions. MGTA-145 was well tolerated. At least 1 adverse event (AE) was seen in 90% of patients, 20% had grade 2 AEs (anemia, hypokalemia) and 20% had grade 3 AEs (worsening of baseline grade 3 anemia; hypocalcemia); all resolved. Acute & transient bone pain was seen in 40% of patients (back-2, hip-1, sternum-1), all grade 1, all on day 1, & resolved without intervention after 6 minutes (3-10). All 6 patients in the safety cohort have completed transplant with melphalan 200 mg/m2. Median of 4.1 (3.4-5.6) x 106 CD34+ cells/kg were infused. All patients have engrafted timely (DiPersio Blood 2009); median time to neutrophil engraftment: 12 days (11-13) & platelet engraftment: 17 days (16-19). Apheresis graft analysis is available in these 6 patients. Grafts with MGTA-145+plerixafor showed high enrichment for CD90+CD45RA- among CD34+ cells, a CD34 subset of long term engrafting HSCs (median: 31% of CD34+ cells, 27-52), higher than seen with G-CSF (6%, Goncalves TCT 2021). 67% of grafts were minimal residual disease negative with next generation flow cytometry. Conclusions: This is the first study to evaluate the novel regimen of MGTA-145 + plerixafor for same day stem cell mobilization & collection in myeloma/hematologic malignancies, with 100% efficacy in interim analysis and the first to demonstrate successful engraftment in patients with cells collected with this GCSF free regimen. Clinical trial information: NCT04552743.
Real-world evidence of axicabtagene ciloleucel (Axi-cel) for the treatment of large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) in the United States (US).

Journal of Clinical Oncology | June 2, 2021 | Volume: 39 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: 7552-7552

10.1200/jco.2021.39.15_suppl.7552

7552 Background: Axi-cel is approved in the US for the treatment of adult patients with relapsed or refractory LBCL after 2 or more lines of systemic therapy. Post-market long term follow up study of commercial Axi-cel recipients using the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research was recently completed. Methods: From October 2017 to August 2020, 1,500 Axi-cel recipients from 79 centers were enrolled. Of these, 1001 patients with at least 6 months of follow-up were included in this analysis. Outcomes include complete and overall responses rates (CR and ORR), duration of response (DOR), progression-free and overall survival (PFS and OS), cytokine release syndrome (CRS) (Lee D 2014 and American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy [ASTCT]), immune effector cell associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), hematologic recovery and subsequent neoplasm (SN). Subgroup analysis by sensitivity to therapy, defined as responsive to the last line of therapy prior to Axi-cel. Median follow-up was 12 months (range, 6-28 months). Results: The median age overall was 62 years, 37% were ≥ 65 years, 83% with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score 0-1, 28% with transformed lymphoma, 14% with high grade lymphoma, 29% with prior autologous transplant, and 66% with chemotherapy-resistant disease prior to Axi-cel. The median time from diagnosis to Axi-cel infusion was 15 months. Best ORR was 70% (CR 53%). Landmark analysis of patients in CR at 6 months post Axi-cel demonstrates a low number of subsequent progression/death events. With respect to outcomes for chemotherapy-sensitive disease versus resistant disease, the ORR, CR, 12-month PFS and OS were 78% vs. 66%, 60% vs. 48%, 55% (95% CI, 48-62%) vs. 40% (95% CI, 37-44%), and 70% (95% CI, 63-76%) vs. 54% (95% CI, 50-58%), respectively. CRS of any grade was reported in 83% of patients. Incidence of Grades ≥ 3 CRS was 10% according to Lee et al 2014, and 13% according to ASTCT Consensus Grading. Median time to any grade CRS was 4 days (range, 1-28 days), and 93% of CRS cases resolved with a median duration of 7 days (range, 1-121 days). ICANS were reported in 576 (57%) patients, grade >3 was 26%. The median time to onset of ICANS was 7 days (range, 1-82 days), and 86% resolved with a median duration of 9 days (range, 1 to 115 days). Twenty-nine patients (2.9%) reported SN: hematologic (N = 17), solid tumors (N = 12). Conclusions: This is the largest report on Axi-cel in the real-world setting and demonstrates consistent efficacy outcomes and further characterizes safety outcomes. Patients in CR at 6 months have sustained disease control with low number of relapse events. Although patients with therapy-sensitive disease experience better outcomes than patients with therapy-resistant, the overall outcomes on both groups of patients are favorable.
Outcomes of Patients with Large B-cell Lymphoma Progressing after Axicabtagene Ciloleucel

Blood | November 6, 2020 | Volume: No volume available | Issue: No issue available | Pages: No page available

10.1182/blood.2020006245 | PMID 33156925

Outcomes of Patients (Pts) in ZUMA-9, a Multicenter, Open-Label Study of Axicabtagene Ciloleucel (Axi-Cel) in Relapsed/Refractory Large B Cell Lymphoma (R/R LBCL) for Expanded Access and Commercial Out-of-Specification (OOS) Product

Blood | November 4, 2020 | Volume: 136 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 2-3

10.1182/blood-2020-136136

Background: Axi-cel, an autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, is approved for treatment of adult pts with R/R LBCL after ≥ 2 lines of systemic therapy. In the pivotal ZUMA-1 study, axi-cel demonstrated durable responses and a largely manageable safety profile (Locke FL, et al. Lancet Oncol. 2019). ZUMA-9 (NCT03153462), a multicenter, open-label study, provided pts with R/R LBCL with expanded access to axi-cel until commercial availability (Cohort 1 [C1]) and later, if commercially manufactured product did not meet commercial release specification(s) (Cohort 2 [C2]). Safety and efficacy of axi-cel (C1 and C2) and translational analyses (C2) are presented. Methods: Eligible adults had histologically confirmed R/R LBCL, ECOG ≤ 1, and received prior CD20-targeting and an anthracycline-containing regimen. C2 pts must have had commercial OOS product. Pts underwent leukaphersis and conditioning chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2/day and fludarabine 30 mg/m2/day) for 3 days followed by a single axi-cel infusion (target dose, 2 × 106 CAR T cells/kg). C1 and C2 pts with high disease burden could receive bridging therapy before conditioning at investigator's discretion. Endpoints included frequency of adverse events (AEs), objective response rate (ORR) per standard-of-care imaging assessment, overall survival (OS) for C1 and C2, and blood CAR T cells levels and serum cytokines for C2 only. Outcomes were contextualized with the primary analysis of ZUMA-1 C1+2 (n = 101; ≥ 6 mo of follow-up; Neelapu SS, et al. NEJM. 2017). Results: As of 11/29/2019 (C1) and 3/15/2020 (C2), 25 C1 pts and 36 C2 pts received axi-cel with a median follow-up of 27.1 mo (range, 23.6 - 29.6) and 13.2 mo (range, 0.4 - 25.7), respectively. In C1, median age was 56 y (range, 28 - 76), 60% were male, 80% had DLBCL, 48%/0% had ECOG1/≥2, 44% had IPI ≥3, and 64% had ≥ 3 prior lines of therapy. In C2, median age was 61 y (range, 24 - 81), 75% were male, 78% had DLBCL, 58%/17% had ECOG 1/≥2, 56% had IPI ≥3, and 69% had ≥ 3 prior lines of therapy. In C2, 50% of pts had OOS product with low viability, 28% had high IFN-γ, 14% had low IFN-γ, 14% received a low dose, and 6% had high transduction ratio. The ORR was 76% (64% complete response [CR]) for C1, 53% (36% CR) for C2, and 82% (54% CR) for ZUMA-1 C1+2. Median OS was 23.8 mo (95% CI, 13.5 - NE) for C1 and not reached (95% CI, 3.4 - NE) for C2, respectively. ORR and OS were consistent in C2 OOS subgroups (Table). Grade ≥ 3 AEs were reported in 88% and 89% of C1 and C2 pts, respectively. Grade ≥ 3 CRS (Lee et al, Blood. 2014) was not observed in C1 but was reported in 3% of C2 pts (13% in ZUMA-1 C1+2). Grade ≥ 3 neurologic events (NEs) occurred in 36% and 19% of pts in C1 and C2, respectively, and 28% of pts in ZUMA-1 C1+2. No Grade 5 CRS or NEs occurred in C1 or C2. All CRS and NEs resolved in C1, and most CRS (29/30) and NEs (19/24) resolved in C2 as of the data cutoff. Of 3 Grade 5 AEs in C1, 2 were unrelated to axi-cel (clostridial sepsis [on Day (D) 6] and respiratory failure [on D212]) and 1 was related to conditioning (myelodysplastic syndrome [on D563]). Of 3 Grade 5 AEs in C2, 2 were unrelated to axi-cel (multiple organ dysfunction syndrome [on D6] and cardiac arrest [on D482]) and 1 was related to axi-cel (systemic mycosis [on D30]). Median peak CAR T cell levels and median CAR T cell expansion (area under the curve in the first 28 days) were lower in ZUMA-9 C2 (n = 32/36; 12 cells/µL [range, 0 - 442] and 112 cells/µL × days [range, 0 - 3413]) vs ZUMA-1 C1+2 (n = 96/101; 42 cells/µL [range, 1 - 1514] and 462 cells/µL × days [range, 5 - 14,329]). Serum IFN-γ levels peaked within 8 days after axi-cel infusion (median, 170 pg/mL [range, 8 - 1876]) and were lower vs ZUMA-1 C1+2 (median, 477 pg/mL [range, 8 - 8209]). Axi-cel in ZUMA-9 C2 contained fewer, less differentiated CCR7+ naïve and central memory T cells, and a greater proportion of more differentiated CCR7- effector memory and effector T cells vs ZUMA-1 C1+2. No cases of replication-competent retroviruses were reported in C1 or C2. Conclusion: Axi-cel treatment demonstrated a manageable safety profile and meaningful clinical benefit in this expanded access and OOS product study. While CAR T cell therapy showed clinical benefit in C2 (OOS product), the lower CR rate was corroborated by lower CAR T cell expansion and a more differentiated product vs ZUMA-1 C1+2, warranting further investigation. ZUMA-9 C2 is enrolling pts and evaluation is ongoing. Disclosures Jacobson: Precision Biosciences: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel support; Celgene/BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel support; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel support; AXIS: Speakers Bureau; Nkarta: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel support; Clinical Care Options: Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Research Funding; Lonza: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel support; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel support. Locke:Calibr: Consultancy; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Wugen: Consultancy; GammaDelta Therapeutics: Consultancy; Celgene/Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Cellular Biomedicine Group: Other: Consultancy with grant options; Allogene: Consultancy. Miklos:Adaptive Biotech: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Juno-Celgene-Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Allogene Therapeutics Inc.: Research Funding; Miltenyi Biotec: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel support; Kite-Gilead: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel support, Research Funding. Vose:Incyte: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Karyopharm Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Allogene: Honoraria; Loxo: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Miltenyi Biotec: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Epizyme: Honoraria, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Kite, a Gilead Company: Honoraria, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Verastem: Consultancy, Honoraria; Wugen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Roche/Genetech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other. Lin:Sorrento: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Merck: Research Funding; Vineti: Consultancy; Gamida Cells: Consultancy; Takeda: Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Legend BioTech: Consultancy; Juno: Consultancy; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding. Budde:Roche: Consultancy; Merck: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy; Mustang Therapeutics: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Research Funding. Maloney:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; A2 Biotherapeutics: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Honoraria; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria; Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Patents & Royalties: Patents are pending, but not issued, licensed, no royalties, no licensees., Research Funding; Bioline Rx: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Honoraria; MorphoSys: Consultancy, Honoraria; Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Jaglowski:Juno: Consultancy; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; CRISPR: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding. Riedell:MorphoSys: Research Funding; Kite/Gilead: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm Therapeutics: Consultancy; Celgene/Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Perales:Celgene: Honoraria; MolMed: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Omeros: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bellicum: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Kite/Gilead: Honoraria, Research Funding; Miltenyi Biotec: Research Funding; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria; Nektar Therapeutics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Cidara Therapeutics: Other; Servier: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other; Medigene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other; NexImmune: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding. Kim:Gilead Sciences: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Kite, a Gilead Company: Current Employment. Kawashima:Kite, a Gilead Company: Current Employment; Gilead Sciences: Other: stock or other ownership . Yang:Kite, a Gilead Company: Current Employment. Rossi:Kite, a Gilead Company: Current Employment; Gilead Sciences: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Goyal:Kite, a Gilead Company: Current Employment. Neelapu:Legend Biotech: Other; Allogene Therapeutics: Other: personal fees, Research Funding; Cell Medica/Kuur: Other: personal fees; Incyte: Other: personal fees; Unum Therapeutics: Other, Research Funding; Adicet Bio: Other; Novartis: Other: personal fees; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Other: personal fees, Research Funding; Merck: Other: personal fees, Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Other: personal fees, Research Funding; Precision Biosciences: Other: personal fees, Research Funding; Poseida: Research Funding; Calibr: Other; Acerta: Research Funding; Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Patents & Royalties; Celgene: Other: personal fees, Research Funding; Pfizer: Other: personal fees; Karus Therapeutics: Research Funding; Cellectis: Research Funding; N/A: Other.
Long-Term Survival and Gradual Recovery of B Cells in Patients with Refractory Large B Cell Lymphoma Treated with Axicabtagene Ciloleucel (Axi-Cel)

Blood | November 4, 2020 | Volume: 136 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 40-42

10.1182/blood-2020-134362

Background: Axi-cel is an autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy approved for the treatment of patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory large B cell lymphoma (LBCL) with ≥ 2 prior systemic therapies. ZUMA-1 is the multicenter, single-arm, registrational Phase 1/2 study of axi-cel in pts with refractory LBCL. In a 2-year analysis of ZUMA-1 (median follow-up, 27.1 months; N=101), axi-cel demonstrated objective response, complete response (CR), and ongoing response rates of 83%, 58%, and 39%, respectively (Locke et al. Lancet Oncol. 2019). Here, we present additional survival follow up and recovery of normal, polyclonal B cells from ongoing responders in ZUMA-1. Methods: Eligible pts with refractory large B cell lymphoma (diffuse large B cell lymphoma, primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma, transformed follicular lymphoma) underwent leukapheresis at enrollment and subsequently received low-dose conditioning chemotherapy (fludarabine and cyclophosphamide) followed by a target dose of 2 × 106 anti-CD19 CAR T cells/kg (Neelapu et al. NEJM. 2017; NCT02348216). The primary endpoint was objective response rate (ORR), and the first response assessment was 4 weeks post infusion. Response assessments were performed per protocol up to 24 months or disease progression, whichever occurred first. For pts in ongoing response beyond Month 24, response assessments continued per institutional standard-of-care (SOC). Blood levels of CAR T cells were quantified using polymerase chain reaction and B cells were characterized using flow cytometry in pts with ongoing responses and evaluable samples. Results: A total of 111 pts were enrolled, and axi-cel was administered to 101 pts. As previously reported in the ZUMA-1 2-year analysis, among pts who received axi-cel, the median time from axi-cel infusion to both objective response and CR was 1.0 month (range, 1 - 12 months; Locke et al. Lancet Oncol 2019). When the entire enrolled population (N = 111) was included on an intent-to-treat basis, the median manufacturing time was 17 days (range, 14 - 51; n = 110 as manufacturing was not feasible for 1 pt). Additionally, among the 111 pts, the median time from enrollment/leukapheresis to objective response and CR was 1.7 months (range, 0.7 - 12.9) and 1.9 months (range, 0.7 - 13.3), respectively. Responses have been durable, and with a minimum of 3 years of follow-up (median, 39.1 months), the median overall survival (OS) was 25.8 months, and the 3-year OS rate was 47%. Importantly, no axi-cel-related secondary malignancies have been reported. As previously reported, pts in ongoing response after 2 years had significantly greater peak CAR T cell expansion in blood 7 - 14 days after axi-cel infusion than did those with relapse (P = 0.014) or no response (P = 0.0003; Locke et al. Lancet Oncol 2019). Blood samples from 22 pts in ongoing response (per institutional SOC) at ≥ 3 years were available for analysis of CAR T cells and evaluation of B cell recovery. All evaluable pts had detectable B cells in blood at 3 years post axi-cel. Notably, 91% of pts in ongoing response at 3-year follow-up demonstrated recovery of polyclonal B cells measured by presence of both kappa and lambda light chains on non-malignant CD19+CD20+ B cells. The median kappa-lambda ratio of 1.6 and relative levels of key B cell subsets, including memory and naive B cell immunophenotypes, suggested reconstitution of B cell repertoire, consistent with published data from healthy individuals (Deneys et al. J Immunol Methods 2001; Scott et al. J Clin Pathol 2018). Additionally, 15/22 (68%) had both minimal levels of detectable CAR gene-marked cells and detectable polyclonal B cells in blood. Altogether, these findings support the hypothesis that persistence of functional CAR T cells is not necessary for durable remissions of LBCL. Overall survival and translational findings with ≥ 4 years of follow-up will be presented. Conclusions: Axi-cel produced rapid responses and longterm disease control in pts with refractory LBCL. Most responses occurred by the first assessment, and the brief time elapsed between enrollment and response supports both the speed and success of manufacturing. Furthermore, axi-cel-treated pts with ongoing responses at ≥ 3 years showed evidence of restoration of a normal B cell compartment and clearance of functional CAR T cells, a critical component of the long-term safety of CD19-directed CAR T cell therapies. Disclosures Locke: Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Wugen: Consultancy; Calibr: Consultancy; Allogene: Consultancy; Cellular Biomedicine Group: Other: Consultancy with grant options; GammaDelta Therapeutics: Consultancy; Celgene/Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy. Ghobadi:Celegene: Consultancy; Wugen: Consultancy; Atara: Consultancy; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; EUSA: Consultancy. Miklos:Novartis: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Allogene Therapeutics Inc.: Research Funding; Juno-Celgene-Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: Travel support; Miltenyi Biotec: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Adaptive Biotech: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Kite-Gilead: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel support, Research Funding. Oluwole:Pfizer: Consultancy; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy. Lin:Legend BioTech: Consultancy; Juno: Consultancy; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gamida Cells: Consultancy; Sorrento: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Vineti: Consultancy. Hill:Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AstraZenica: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Beigene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Timmerman:Merck: Research Funding; Corvus: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Marker Therapeutics: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Immune Design: Honoraria; Celldex Therapeutics: Consultancy; BMS: Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Bluebird Bio: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Genmab: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Valor: Research Funding. Deol:Novartis: Consultancy; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy. Reagan:Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy; Curis: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Stiff:Kite, a Gilead Company: Research Funding; Delta-Fly: Research Funding; Gamida Cell: Research Funding; Atara: Research Funding; Unum: Research Funding; Macrogenics: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding. Flinn:Celgene: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Trillium Therapeutics: Research Funding; Curio Science: Consultancy; Merck: Research Funding; Constellation Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; BeiGene: Consultancy, Research Funding; ArQule: Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Genentech, Inc.: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Calithera Biosciences: Research Funding; Agios: Research Funding; Karyopharm Therapeutics: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Research Funding; Forty Seven: Research Funding; Forma Therapeutics: Research Funding; Loxo: Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; MorphoSys: Consultancy, Research Funding; Rhizen Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Yingli Pharmaceuticals ≠: Consultancy, Research Funding; Johnson & Johnson: Other; Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding; Vincera Pharma: Consultancy; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Iksuda Therapeutics: Consultancy; Great Point Partners: Consultancy; Curis: Research Funding; Nurix Therapeutics: Consultancy; Portola Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Acerta Pharma: Research Funding; Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Unum Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Infinity Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; IGM Biosciences: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Teva: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Triphase Research & Development Corp.: Research Funding; Verastem: Consultancy, Research Funding. Farooq:Kite, a Gilead Company: Honoraria. Goy:COTA: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Other: leadership role; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Genentech/Roche: Research Funding; Constellation: Research Funding; Bayer: Research Funding; CALBG: Research Funding; PracticeUpdate Oncology: Consultancy; RCCA/OMI: Current Employment; Acerta: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: leadership role, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: leadership role, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Hackensack UMC and University of Nebraska: Research Funding; Infinity: Research Funding; Xcenda: Consultancy; Infinity Verastem: Research Funding; Morphosys: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; MD Anderson: Research Funding; Regional Cancer Care Associates/OMI: Current Employment; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Honoraria, Other: leadership role, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: leadership role, Research Funding. McSweeney:Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Colorado Blood Cancer Institute: Current Employment; Fred Hutchinson: Patents & Royalties. Munoz:Juno/Celgene/BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Alexion: Consultancy; Beigene: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Fosunkite: Consultancy; Innovent: Consultancy; Acrotech/Aurobindo: Speakers Bureau; Kyowa: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Consultancy; Verastem: Speakers Bureau; AstraZeneca: Speakers Bureau; Genentech/Roche: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; AbbVie: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Merck: Research Funding; Portola: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Millenium: Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Siddiqi:Oncternal: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Janssen: Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Speakers Bureau; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; BeiGene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding. Rossi:Gilead Sciences: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Kite, a Gilead Company: Current Employment. Bot:Kite, a Gilead Company: Current Employment; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Other: Travel support . Zheng:Kite, a Gilead Company: Current Employment; Gilead Sciences: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Vezan:Merck: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Abbvie: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Kite, a Gilead Company: Current Employment, Honoraria, Other: Travel support. Bashir:Kite, a Gilead Company: Current Employment; OmniacPharmConsult Ltd: Current Employment, Current equity holder in private company. Kim:Kite, a Gilead Company: Current Employment; Gilead Sciences: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Chu:Kite, a Gilead Company: Current Employment; Gilead Sciences: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Amgen: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; Celgene: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company. Neelapu:N/A: Other; Takeda Pharmaceuticals: Patents & Royalties; Acerta: Research Funding; Karus Therapeutics: Research Funding; Cellectis: Research Funding; Poseida: Research Funding; Unum Therapeutics: Other, Research Funding; Calibr: Other; Kite, a Gilead Company: Other: personal fees, Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Other: personal fees, Research Funding; Merck: Other: personal fees, Research Funding; Novartis: Other: personal fees; Celgene: Other: personal fees, Research Funding; Pfizer: Other: personal fees; Allogene Therapeutics: Other: personal fees, Research Funding; Adicet Bio: Other; Legend Biotech: Other; Precision Biosciences: Other: personal fees, Research Funding; Incyte: Other: personal fees; Cell Medica/Kuur: Other: personal fees.
Tumor burden, inflammation, and product attributes determine outcomes of axicabtagene ciloleucel in large B-cell lymphoma

Blood Advances | October 9, 2020 | Volume: 4 | Issue: 19 | Pages: 4898-4911

10.1182/bloodadvances.2020002394 | PMID 33035333

Abstract ZUMA-1 demonstrated a high rate of durable response and a manageable safety profile with axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel), an anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, in patients with refractory large B-cell lymphoma. As previously reported, prespecified clinical covariates for secondary end point analysis were not clearly predictive of efficacy; these included Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (0 vs 1), age, disease subtype, disease stage, and International Prognostic Index score. We interrogated covariates included in the statistical analysis plan and an extensive panel of biomarkers according to an expanded translational biomarker plan. Univariable and multivariable analyses indicated that rapid CAR T-cell expansion commensurate with pretreatment tumor burden (influenced by product T-cell fitness), the number of CD8 and CCR7+CD45RA+ T cells infused, and host systemic inflammation, were the most significant determining factors for durable response. Key parameters differentially associated with clinical efficacy and toxicities, with both theoretical and practical implications for optimizing CAR T-cell therapy. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02348216.
Tumor microenvironment associated with increased pretreatment density of activated PD-1+ LAG-3+/− TIM-3− CD8+ T cells facilitates clinical response to axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) in patients (pts) with large B-cell lymphoma.

Journal of Clinical Oncology | May 25, 2020 | Volume: 38 | Issue: 15_suppl | Pages: 3022-3022

10.1200/jco.2020.38.15_suppl.3022

3022 Background: Axi-cel is a US and EU-approved autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy for pts with relapsed/refractory large B cell lymphoma after ≥ 2 prior therapies. In ZUMA-1 (NCT02348216), the objective response rate was 83% (58% complete response rate; Locke et al. Lancet Oncol. 2019). T cell-related biology (Immunosign 21; Immunoscore) measured pretreatment in the tumor microenvironment (TME) was associated with response to axi-cel (Rossi et al. AACR 2018. #LB-016; Rossi et al. AACR 2019. #CT153). This expanded analysis characterized the pretreatment TME immune contexture and examined associations between immune cell subsets and response. Methods: In ZUMA-1, pts received axi-cel at a target dose of 2.0 × 106 CAR T cells/kg. Archival pretreatment tumor biopsy samples were analyzed by multiplex immunohistochemistry (Brightplex). Two panels were developed and applied to assess T cell (CD3, CD8, FoxP3, PD-1, LAG-3, TIM-3) and myeloid cell (CD11b, CD14, CD15, LOX1, S100A9, CD68) subsets (n = 14 total). The association between T cell and myeloid cell subset density, prespecified immune scores (Immunosign 21; Immunoscore), and objective response was evaluated. T test values were based on Brightplex analysis. Results: Pretreatment tumor biopsy samples from 18 pts were analyzed (14 objective responders and 4 nonresponders). The pretreatment TME comprised all major myeloid and T cell subsets, with diverse distribution across samples analyzed. The median TME density of monocytes (CD11b+ CD15− CD14+; 1215 cells/mm2) and macrophages (CD68+; 530 cells/mm2) was greater than that of the total CD8+ T cell subset (312 cells/mm2). The pretreatment Immunosign 21 and Immunoscore scores associated positively with the density of all major T cell subsets and some myeloid subsets. The density of activated CD8+ T cells (PD-1+ LAG-3+/− TIM-3−) was most significantly associated with clinical response versus other T cell subsets. The density of nonactivated CD8+ T cells (PD-1− LAG-3− TIM-3−) and exhausted CD8+ T cells (PD-1+ LAG-3+ TIM-3+) were not significantly associated with response. Additional characterization of the immune contexture and correlative analysis of cell subsets will be presented. Conclusions: These results suggest that a TME associated with increased density of activated PD-1+ LAG-3+/− TIM-3− CD8+ T cells, measurable pretreatment, facilitates clinical response in pts post–axi-cel.