Tisagenlecleucel in children and young adults with B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia

S. L. Maude, T. W. Laetsch, J. Buechner, S. Rives, M. Boyer, H. Bittencourt, P. Bader, M. R. Verneris, H. E. Stefanski, G. D. Myers, M. Qayed, B. De Moerloose, H. Hiramatsu, K. Schlis, K. L. Davis, P. L. Martin, E. R. Nemecek, G. A. Yanik, C. Peters, A. BaruchelN. Boissel, F. Mechinaud, A. Balduzzi, J. Krueger, C. H. June, B. L. Levine, P. Wood, T. Taran, M. Leung, K. T. Mueller, Y. Zhang, K. Sen, D. Lebwohl, M. A. Pulsipher, S. A. Grupp

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3302 Scopus citations

Abstract

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.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)439-448
Number of pages10
JournalNew England Journal of Medicine
Volume378
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 1 2018

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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