Frontiers in Immunology (Aug 2022)

Efficacy and safety of CD19-specific CAR-T cell-based therapy in secondary central nervous system lymphoma

  • Huanxin Zhang,
  • Huanxin Zhang,
  • Zhiling Yan,
  • Zhiling Yan,
  • Ying Wang,
  • Ying Wang,
  • Yuekun Qi,
  • Yuekun Qi,
  • Yongxian Hu,
  • Ping Li,
  • Jiang Cao,
  • Jiang Cao,
  • Meng Zhang,
  • Xia Xiao,
  • Ming Shi,
  • Ming Shi,
  • Jieyun Xia,
  • Jieyun Xia,
  • Sha Ma,
  • Sha Ma,
  • Jianlin Qiao,
  • Jianlin Qiao,
  • Hujun Li,
  • Hujun Li,
  • Bin Pan,
  • Bin Pan,
  • Kunming Qi,
  • Kunming Qi,
  • Hai Cheng,
  • Hai Cheng,
  • Haiying Sun,
  • Haiying Sun,
  • Feng Zhu,
  • Feng Zhu,
  • Wei Sang,
  • Wei Sang,
  • Depeng Li,
  • Depeng Li,
  • Zhenyu Li,
  • Zhenyu Li,
  • Junnian Zheng,
  • Junnian Zheng,
  • Mingfeng Zhao,
  • Aibin Liang,
  • He Huang,
  • Kailin Xu,
  • Kailin Xu

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2022.965224
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13

Abstract

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Encouraging response has been achieved in relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell lymphoma treated by chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells. The efficacy and safety of CAR-T cells in central nervous system lymphoma (CNSL) are still elusive. Here, we retrospectively analyzed 15 patients with R/R secondary CNSL receiving CD19-specific CAR-T cell-based therapy. The patients were infused with CD19, CD19/CD20 or CD19/CD22 CAR-T cells following a conditioning regimen of cyclophosphamide and fludarabine. The overall response rate was 73.3% (11/15), including 9 (60%) with complete remission (CR) and 2 (13.3%) with partial remission (PR). During a median follow-up of 12 months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 4 months, and the median overall survival (OS) was 9 months. Of 12 patients with systemic tumor infiltration, 7 (58.3%) achieved CR in CNS, and 5 (41.7%) achieved CR both systemically and in CNS. Median DOR for CNS and systemic disease were 8 and 4 months, respectively. At the end point of observation, of the 7 patients achieved CNS disease CR, one was still alive with sustained CR of CNS disease and systemic disease. The other 6 died of systemic progression. Of the 15 patients, 11 (73.3%) experienced grades 1-2 CRS, and no patient had grades 3-4 CRS. Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) occurred in 3 (20%) patients, including 1 (6.6%) with grade 4 ICANS. All the CRS or ICANS were manageable. The CD19-specific CAR-T cell-based therapy appeared to be a promising therapeutic approach in secondary CNSL, based on its antitumor effects and an acceptable side effect profile, meanwhile more strategies are needed to maintain the response.

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