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Background: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cells are changing the therapeutic landscape of hematologic malignancies. Severe side effects include cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), but prolonged cytopenia has also been reported. The underlying mechanism for prolonged cytopenia is poorly understood so far. Cases: Severe pancytopenia with grade 2-3 anemia was marked 2–3 months after treatment. Laboratory evaluation revealed undetectable levels of haptoglobin with increased reticulocyte counts. Coomb's tests were negative, no schistocytes were detected on blood smear, and infectious causes were ruled out. Increased erythropoiesis without lymphoma infiltration was noted on bone marrow biopsy. A spontaneous increase in haptoglobin and hemoglobin levels was observed after several weeks. For one patient, peripheral CAR-T levels were monitored over time. We observed a decline at the same time as hemoglobin levels began to rise, implying a potential causality. Conclusion: To our knowledge, we describe the first two cases of Coombs-negative hemolytic anemia after CAR-T treatment for B-cell lymphoma. We encourage routine monitoring for hemolytic anemia after CAR-T treatment and also encourage further investigations on the underlying mechanism.
Axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) is an autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy approved for relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (R/R LBCL). To reduce axi-cel–related toxicity, several exploratory safety management cohorts were added to ZUMA-1 (NCT02348216), the pivotal phase 1/2 study of axi-cel in refractory LBCL. Cohort 4 evaluated the rates and severity of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurologic events (NEs) with earlier corticosteroid and tocilizumab use. Primary endpoints were incidence and severity of CRS and NEs. Patients received 2 × 106 anti-CD19 CAR T cells/kg after conditioning chemotherapy. Forty-one patients received axi-cel. Incidences of any-grade CRS and NEs were 93% and 61%, respectively (grade ≥ 3, 2% and 17%). There was no grade 4 or 5 CRS or NE. Despite earlier dosing, the cumulative cortisone-equivalent corticosteroid dose in patients requiring corticosteroid therapy was lower than that reported in the pivotal ZUMA-1 cohorts. With a median follow-up of 14·8 months, objective and complete response rates were 73% and 51%, respectively, and 51% of treated patients were in ongoing response. Earlier and measured use of corticosteroids and/or tocilizumab has the potential to reduce the incidence of grade ≥ 3 CRS and NEs in patients with R/R LBCL receiving axi-cel.
Aspergillus fumigatus causes life-threatening opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients. As therapeutic outcomes of invasive aspergillosis (IA) are often unsatisfactory, the development of targeted immunotherapy remains an important goal. Linking the innate and adaptive immune system, dendritic cells are pivotal in anti-Aspergillus defense and have generated interest as a potential immunotherapeutic approach in IA. While monocyte-derived dendritic cells (moDCs) require ex vivo differentiation, antigen-pulsed primary myeloid dendritic cells (mDCs) may present a more immediate platform for immunotherapy. To that end, we compared the response patterns and cellular interactions of human primary mDCs and moDCs pulsed with an A. fumigatus lysate and two A. fumigatus proteins (CcpA and Shm2) in a serum-free, GMP-compliant medium. CcpA and Shm2 triggered significant upregulation of maturation markers in mDCs and, to a lesser extent, moDCs. Furthermore, both A. fumigatus proteins elicited the release of an array of key pro-inflammatory cytokines including TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, and CCL3 from both DC populations. Compared to moDCs, CcpA- and Shm2-pulsed mDCs exhibited greater expression of MHC class II antigens and stimulated stronger proliferation and IFN-γ secretion from autologous CD4\(^+\) and CD8\(^+\) T-cells. Moreover, supernatants of CcpA- and Shm2-pulsed mDCs significantly enhanced the oxidative burst in allogeneic neutrophils co-cultured with A. fumigatus germ tubes. Taken together, our in vitro data suggest that ex vivo CcpA- and Shm2-pulsed primary mDCs have the potential to be developed into an immunotherapeutic approach to tackle IA.