Efficacy and Safety of the Second CAR-T Therapy in Patients with Refractory/Relapsed Acute B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ASH 2023)
A total of 5 patients with severe cytokine release syndrome (Grade ≥ 3) were observed, including 2 patients in the single CD19 CAR-T group, 2 patients in the tandem CD19/CD22 CAR-T group, and 1 patient in the sequential CD19 and CD22 CAR-T group. Of the 23 patients who achieved CR, 4 patients bridged to allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) and 3 patients received decitabine (DAC) consolidation.With the median follow-up of 25.5 months (range, 1.1 to 33.5), the 2-year overall survival, leukemia-free survival (LFS) and cumulative incidence of relapse rates were 23.7%, 30.5% and 69.5%, respectively. Multivariate Cox regression analyses showed that a better LFS related to the absence of high-risk cytogenetics and genetic characteristics, DAC combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide lymphodepletion regimen, and bridging allo-HSCT or DAC consolidation. Our study showed that the second infusion of tandem CD19/CD22 CAR-T therapy obtains a better response than other infusion strategies. Bridging allo-HSCT or DAC consolidation had a significant survival benefit in patients with CR after the second CAR-T therapy.