CD20-specific chimeric antigen receptor-expressing T cells as salvage therapy in rituximab-refractory/relapsed B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma

作者：Cheng, Qian; Tan, Jingwen; Liu, Rui; Kang, Liqing; Zhang, Yi; Wang, Erhua; Li, Ying; Zhang, Jian; Xiao, Han; Xu, Nan; Li, Minghao; Yu, Lei^*; Li, Xin^*

来源：CYTOTHERAPY, 2022, 24(10): 1026-1034.

DOI：10.1016/j.jcyt.2022.05.001

• CAR T-cell therapy
• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• CD20
• Rituximab
• Cytokine release syndrome (CRS)

Background aims: The infusion of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells that target specific tumor-associated antigens is a promising strategy that has exhibited encouraging results in clinical trials. However, few studies have focused on the effectiveness and safety of CD20 CAR T cells in rituximab-refractory/relapsed (R/R) B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) patients, particularly those treated with rituximab for a short time. This prospective study aimed to assess the effectiveness and toxicity of CD20 CAR T cells in R/R B-NHL patients previously treated with rituximab. @@@ Methods: The authors conducted a prospective, single-center phase I study on the effectiveness and toxicity of CD20 CAR T cells in rituximab-treated R/R B-NHL patients (no. ChiCTR2000036350). A total of 15 patients with R/R B-NHL were enrolled between November 21, 2017, and December 1, 2021. @@@ Results: An overall response rate of 100% was shown in enrolled patients, with 12 (80%) achieving complete remission and three (20%) achieving partial remission for the best response. The median follow-up time was 12.4 months. Progression-free survival and overall survival were not yet reached by the data cutoff day. No patient developed grade 4 cytokine release syndrome, and only one patient had immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome. @@@ Conclusions: All enrolled B-NHL patients who were previously R/R to rituximab achieved different degrees of clinical response with tolerable toxicities. Notably, patients who had received rituximab within 3 months had a poorer prognosis.