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4834 Phase I/II Clinical Trial on CD19-Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cells Generated with an Automated Process, from Fresh Apheresis, and Reinfused As Fresh Drug Product for Pediatric/Young Adult Patients with Relapsed/Refractory (r/r) B-Cell Precursor Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (BCP-ALL)

Program: Oral and Poster Abstracts
Session: 704. Cellular Immunotherapies: Early Phase Clinical Trials and Toxicities: Poster III
Hematology Disease Topics & Pathways:
Research, Clinical trials, Clinical Research
Monday, December 9, 2024, 6:00 PM-8:00 PM

Francesca Del Bufalo, MD, PhD1*, Mattia Algeri, MD1,2*, Daria Pagliara, MD, PhD1*, Linda Hanssens3*, Valentina Bertaina, PhD1*, Monica Gunetti, PhD4*, Giuseppina Li Pira, PhD1*, Chiara Rosignoli, MD1*, Michele Massa1*, Matilde Sinibaldi, PhD1*, Giovanna Leone5*, Marco Becilli6*, Biagio De Angelis, PhD1*, Concetta Quintarelli, PhD7* and Franco Locatelli, MD1,8

1Department of Hematology-Oncology and Cell and Gene Therapy, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
2Department of Medical of Health Sciencies,, Magna Grecia University of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy, Catanzaro, Italy
3Miltenyi Biomedicine, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
4Officina Farmaceutica, IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
5IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children Hospital, Rome, ITA
6Department of Hematology-Oncology and Cell and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children' Hospital, Rome, Italy
7IRCCS Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, Rome, Italy
8Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy

CAR T cells have revolutionized the management of children and young adults with r/r BCP-ALL. However, the conventional, centralized manufacturing process of commercially available drug products (DP) is time-consuming and sometimes not suitable for the clinical need of patients (pts) with rapidly progressing disease. The point of care, automated manufacturing from a fresh apheresis and the infusion of a fresh DP can reduce the waiting window and increase the therapy accessibility.

We conducted a phase I/II trial on the use of T cells transduced with a 2nd generation (4.1BB), lentiviral vector, CD19-CAR construct (CD19-CAR_Lenti), provided by Miltenyi Biotec®, for the treatment of BCP-ALL pts with one of the following: i) 1st relapse with either very high risk (VHR) characteristics (unfavorable cytogenetic/molecular alterations, very early relapses) or refractoriness to the 2nd line therapy; ii) 2nd or subsequent relapse and rapidly progressing disease preventing access to the commercially available DP. CAR-T cells were manufactured with a 12-day process using CliniMACS Prodigy®, from a fresh apheresis, after the selection of CD4+/CD8+ cells, and infused as fresh DP. All pts received lymphodepletion based on fludarabine (30 mg/sqm, days -5, -4, -3) and cyclophosphamide (500 mg/sqm, days -4 and -3). Three dose levels were tested: 1.0 (DL1), 2.0 (DL2) and 3.0 (DL3) ×106 CAR+ T cells/kg (NCT04787263).

Nineteen pts were enrolled between 03/2021 and 04/2024, 10 males, median age 7 yrs (3-25); 13/19 (68%) were in first relapse (VHR: 11/13; refractory: 2/13). Four patients had constitutional trisomy 21, 1 pt each t(1;19), t(11;19) and t(9;22). Five patients had combined relapse (2 CNS, 3 other sites) and 12/19 (63%) had high disease burden (Schultz LM, JCO 2022).

The designed dose was successfully produced for all pts, obtaining a median of 4.2 x 109 (1.39– 5.48x109) total cells, with 42.9% (range: 17.5%-56.2%) transduction efficiency. Vector copy number was 0.7 (0.3-1.3).

No dose-limiting toxicities were observed in the phase I portion of the study; therefore, the RP2D was 3.0x106 CAR+ T cells/kg. The most common toxicity was hematological, with grade 4 neutropenia occurring in all pts. Cytokine release syndrome was observed in 13/19 (68%) pts, reaching a maximum of grade 3 (Hayden PJ, 2022) in 2 children; grade 1-2 immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) occurred in 2 patients and resolved spontaneously within 48h. One patient with constitutional trisomy 21 developed prolonged grade 3 capillary leak syndrome (CLS) late after infusion, requiring management with steroids, tocilizumab and anakinra.

CD19-CAR_Lenti cells expanded significantly in all pts, reaching a mean peak of 90.17 (+86.38 CAR+ cells/mcl). Gene-modified cells were detectable in the peripheral blood by flow cytometry >3 months after infusion in 87.5% of pts who did not receive subsequent hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), up to 12 months in one patient, with B-cell aplasia > 6 months in 6 of them, up to 24 and 36 months (last available follow-up) in 2 pts, respectively.

All pts achieved bone marrow complete remission (CR) with negative minimal residual disease (MRD); in the extramedullary compartment, only 1 pt, with t(1;19) ALL, achieved partial response of bone localization, which progressed early after HSCT. Eleven pts (58%) received consolidation with HSCT, 4/6 (67%) were children treated at the DL1 or DL2 and 7/13 (54%) at the DL3. Overall, with a median follow-up of 18 months (range: 3-39), CR was maintained in 14/19 patients (74%), 50% having received HSCT. Importantly, all patients treated with 3.0x106 CAR+ T cells/kg maintain CR. The 2y-EFS and OS were both 100% for patients treated DL3, even after censoring for HSCT, whereas in the whole cohort, the 2y-OS is 75% and the 2y-EFS 63% (40% with censoring for HSCT).

Our data suggest that the point-of-care, automated manufacturing of autologous, anti-CD19 CAR T cells can successfully treat patients with BCP-ALL in 1st relapse with VHR characteristics and/or refractory to 2nd line and patients with subsequent relapses who cannot access commercial DPs. The toxicity profile compares favorably to the common toxicities observed with commercial CAR T cells, also in a more vulnerable population of pts as those with constitutional trisomy 21. Our results underline the importance of the dose of engineered T cells administered for the long-term control of the disease.

Disclosures: Algeri: Vertex Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Steering Committee Membership. Hanssens: Miltenyi Biomedicine: Current Employment.

*signifies non-member of ASH