On Sunday 2nd April, during the “CTSY02 - Immuno-oncology Biomarkers in Clinical Trials” session, Frederick L. Locke, MD, of the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, gave a talk titled “Immune signatures of cytokine release syndrome and neurologic events in a multicenter registrational trial (ZUMA-1) in subjects with refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel (KTE-C19).”
Dr. Locke began the talk by explaining what Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) and neurologic events are. They are two potentially serious AEs that are associated with treatment with Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cells. CRS is mediated by high levels of IL-6 and other inflammatory cytokines, and symptoms include hypoxia, hypotension, tachycardia, and fever. Neurologic events are linked to high levels of cytokines or CAR T-cells, and symptoms include seizures, aphasia, tremor, encephalopathy, and confusion. The anti-IL-6 receptor antagonist, tocilizumab, and/or corticosteroids to suppress the immune system are used to manage neurologic events and CRS.
Following this, a brief overview of the ZUMA-1 prospective biomarker analysis, based on 101 treated patients, was given:
The manufacturing success rate of axi-cel was 99%, despite heterogeneity in starting apheresis material (14% naïve, 15% effector, 27% central memory, and 38% effector memory).
Dr. Locke went on to state that levels of CAR T-cells were reported to peak within 7–14 days of treatment with Axi-cel. It was also reported that CAR T-cell expansion is associated with objective response (P = 0.0002) as well as ≥grade 3 neurologic events (P = 0.0028).
Distinct biomarkers also peaked within 7 days of treatment with Axi-cel. Analytes were elevated in ≥50% of patients with ≥2-fold induction above baseline out of a panel of 44 measured. Biomarkers found to associate with ≥grade 3 CRS and neurologic events included, but were not limited to, IL-15, IL-10, and granzyme B. However, IL-2, GM-CSF, and ferritin were found to only associate with neurologic events.
Dr. Locke concluded the talk with a concise summary slide:
