Enhanced CAR T-Cell Therapy for Lymphoma after Previous Failure
Mené sur 21 patients atteints d'un lymphome réfractaire ou récidivant (durée médiane de suivi : 17,5 mois), cet essai évalue la faisabilité, la sécurité et l'efficacité, du point de vue du taux de réponse à 3 mois, de huCART19-IL18, une immunothérapie à base de lymphocytes CAR-T améliorés ciblant CD-19, après l'échec d'un traitement par lymphocytes CAR-T
Background: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells targeting CD19 have transformed the treatment of B-cell cancers, but many patients do not have long-term remission. We designed an anti-CD19 enhanced (armored) CAR T-cell product (huCART19-IL18) that secretes interleukin-18 to enhance antitumor activity.
Methods: In this study, we assessed the safety, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy of huCART19-IL18 in patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoma after previous anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy. Using a 3-day manufacturing process, we administered huCART19-IL18–positive cells in doses ranging from 3×106 to 3×108.
Results: A total of 21 patients received huCART19-IL18. Cytokine release syndrome occurred in 62% of the patients (47% with grade 1 or 2), and immune effector-cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome occurred in 14% (all grade 1 or 2). No unexpected adverse events were observed. Robust CAR T-cell expansion was detected across all dose levels. At 3 months after infusion, a complete or partial response was seen in 81% of the patients (90% confidence interval [CI], 62 to 93) and a complete response in 52% (90% CI, 33 to 71). With a median follow-up of 17.5 months (range, 3 to 34), the median duration of response was 9.6 months (90% CI, 5.5 to not reached).
Conclusions: In this small study, huCART19-IL18 had a safety profile consistent with other CAR T-cell treatments and showed promising efficacy at low cell doses in patients with lymphoma after the failure of previous anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04684563.)
New England Journal of Medicine , résumé 2025