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Review
. 2019 Mar:34:45-55.
doi: 10.1016/j.blre.2018.11.002. Epub 2018 Nov 14.

Recent advances in CAR T-cell toxicity: Mechanisms, manifestations and management

Affiliations
Review

Recent advances in CAR T-cell toxicity: Mechanisms, manifestations and management

Jennifer N Brudno et al. Blood Rev. 2019 Mar.

Abstract

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is an effective new treatment for hematologic malignancies. Two CAR T-cell products are now approved for clinical use by the U.S. FDA: tisagenlecleucel for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and adult diffuse large B-cell lymphoma subtypes (DLBCL), and axicabtagene ciloleucel for DLBCL. CAR T-cell therapies are being developed for multiple myeloma, and clear evidence of clinical activity has been generated. A barrier to widespread use of CAR T-cell therapy is toxicity, primarily cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurologic toxicity. Manifestations of CRS include fevers, hypotension, hypoxia, end organ dysfunction, cytopenias, coagulopathy, and hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. Neurologic toxicities are diverse and include encephalopathy, cognitive defects, dysphasias, seizures, and cerebral edema. Our understanding of the pathophysiology of CRS and neurotoxicity is continually improving. Early and peak levels of certain cytokines, peak blood CAR T-cell levels, patient disease burden, conditioning chemotherapy, CAR T-cell dose, endothelial activation, and CAR design are all factors that may influence toxicity. Multiple grading systems for CAR T-cell toxicity are in use; a universal grading system is needed so that CAR T-cell products can be compared across studies. Guidelines for toxicity management vary among centers, but typically include supportive care, plus immunosuppression with tocilizumab or corticosteroids administered for severe toxicity. Gaining a better understanding of CAR T-cell toxicities and developing new therapies for these toxicities are active areas of laboratory research. Further clinical investigation of CAR T-cell toxicity is also needed. In this review, we present guidelines for management of CRS and CAR neurotoxicity.

Keywords: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells; Hematologic malignancies; Toxicity.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interest statement

Jennifer Brudno: no conflicts to disclose.

James Kochenderfer: research funding from Kite, a Gilead Company and Celgene, Inc. Multiple patents and royalties related to CAR T-cell therapy.

Figures

None
. Management of severe CRS and neurologic toxicity in adults following CAR T-cell infusion. The approach to CAR T-cell toxicity management currently used in adult patients at the National Cancer Institute is shown. We administer a single dose of tocilizumab at the 8 mg/kg dose. We do not re-dose for persistent toxicity but instead move to corticosteroids in cases of persistent toxicity following tocilizumab. It is important to note that management of CRS varies among clinical trials, and some centers give tocilizumab and/or low-dose corticosteroids earlier in the course of CRS than outlined here. If the toxicities of concern do not significantly improve within hours after administration of tocilizumab, intermediate-dose corticosteroid therapy is administered. For certain severe hemodynamic toxicities, high-dose methylprednisolone is emergently administered concurrently with tocilizumab. Patients experiencing severe neurologic toxicity following CAR T-cell infusion should receive corticosteroids for immunosuppressive therapy. Imaging of the brain should not delay the administration of the first dose of corticosteroid therapy for clinically severe neurologic toxicity. These regimens have been effective to alleviate toxicities in our experience, but we do not have formal clinical trial evidence to support these regimens. In general, corticosteroids should be discontinued as soon as toxicity returns to a tolerable level. Please note that thresholds for vasopressor requirements and corticosteroid doses are based on our institutional experience and not on validated published data. ADLs: activities of daily living. CPK: creatine phosphokinase. CRS: cytokine release syndrome. FiO2: fraction of inspired oxygen. INR: International Normalized Ratio. MRI: magnetic resonance imaging. PTT: partial thromboplastin time. SBP: systolic blood pressure.

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