Tisagenlecleucel in Children and Young Adults with B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia.

Journal Article (Journal Article;Multicenter Study)

BACKGROUND: In a single-center phase 1-2a study, the anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy tisagenlecleucel produced high rates of complete remission and was associated with serious but mainly reversible toxic effects in children and young adults with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). METHODS: We conducted a phase 2, single-cohort, 25-center, global study of tisagenlecleucel in pediatric and young adult patients with CD19+ relapsed or refractory B-cell ALL. The primary end point was the overall remission rate (the rate of complete remission or complete remission with incomplete hematologic recovery) within 3 months. RESULTS: For this planned analysis, 75 patients received an infusion of tisagenlecleucel and could be evaluated for efficacy. The overall remission rate within 3 months was 81%, with all patients who had a response to treatment found to be negative for minimal residual disease, as assessed by means of flow cytometry. The rates of event-free survival and overall survival were 73% (95% confidence interval [CI], 60 to 82) and 90% (95% CI, 81 to 95), respectively, at 6 months and 50% (95% CI, 35 to 64) and 76% (95% CI, 63 to 86) at 12 months. The median duration of remission was not reached. Persistence of tisagenlecleucel in the blood was observed for as long as 20 months. Grade 3 or 4 adverse events that were suspected to be related to tisagenlecleucel occurred in 73% of patients. The cytokine release syndrome occurred in 77% of patients, 48% of whom received tocilizumab. Neurologic events occurred in 40% of patients and were managed with supportive care, and no cerebral edema was reported. CONCLUSIONS: In this global study of CAR T-cell therapy, a single infusion of tisagenlecleucel provided durable remission with long-term persistence in pediatric and young adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell ALL, with transient high-grade toxic effects. (Funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02435849 .).

Full Text

Duke Authors

Cited Authors

  • Maude, SL; Laetsch, TW; Buechner, J; Rives, S; Boyer, M; Bittencourt, H; Bader, P; Verneris, MR; Stefanski, HE; Myers, GD; Qayed, M; De Moerloose, B; Hiramatsu, H; Schlis, K; Davis, KL; Martin, PL; Nemecek, ER; Yanik, GA; Peters, C; Baruchel, A; Boissel, N; Mechinaud, F; Balduzzi, A; Krueger, J; June, CH; Levine, BL; Wood, P; Taran, T; Leung, M; Mueller, KT; Zhang, Y; Sen, K; Lebwohl, D; Pulsipher, MA; Grupp, SA

Published Date

  • February 1, 2018

Published In

Volume / Issue

  • 378 / 5

Start / End Page

  • 439 - 448

PubMed ID

  • 29385370

Pubmed Central ID

  • PMC5996391

Electronic International Standard Serial Number (EISSN)

  • 1533-4406

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1056/NEJMoa1709866

Language

  • eng

Conference Location

  • United States