Effect of bispecific B7H3 x CD19 CAR T cells on host CD19 expression and CAR T cell engraftment.

Authors

Navin Pinto

Navin R. Pinto

University of Washington, Seattle, WA

Navin R. Pinto , Catherine Michelle Albert , Mallory Taylor , Ashley Wilson , Stephanie Rawlings-Rhea , Wenjun Huang , Kristy Seidel , Prabha Narayanaswany , Vicky Wu , Stephanie Mgebroff , Christopher Brown , Nicholas A. Vitanza , Rebecca Alice Gardner , Michael C. Jensen , Julie R. Park

Organizations

University of Washington, Seattle, WA, Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN

Research Funding

Institutional Funding
Seattle Children's Therapeutics

Background: Our experience of B7H3 chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T) revealed modest engraftment (max 4.9 cells/uL) and no objective responses on first infusion. Previous CD19 CAR T cell trials have revealed that host B Cell CD19 can drive robust engraftment and persistence even in the absence of malignant CD19 expression. We therefore developed a bispecific B7H3xCD19 CAR T cell with the intent of using host CD19 expression to drive better engraftment of the B7H3-targeting CAR. Methods: Young patients with relapsed/refractory solid tumors (R/RST) were enrolled onto a Phase 1 trial (NCT04483778) to examine the safety of autologous T cells lentivirally transduced to express either or both scFV-IgG4hinge-CD28tm-4-1BB-zeta B7H3-specific and CD19-specific CARs. The B7H3 CAR construct contained the methotrexate resistance/selection cassette DHFRdm and the tracking/suicide construct EGFRt and the CD19 CAR construct containing the tracking/suicide construct HER2tg, allowing for differential CAR tracking. CAR T cells were cultured in low-dose methotrexate to select for B7H3 containing CAR T cells and limit exposure to monospecific CD19 CAR T cells. All patients received lymphodepleting fludarabine and cyclophosphamide prior to infusion of cryopreserved CAR-T at the prescribed dose level. The maximal tolerated dose or biologically effective dose (BED) was determined based upon observed toxicity through day 28 from initial CAR-T infusion and using a 3+3 statistical design. Results: 11 subjects (age 5-23, median 18 years) enrolled and received dose level (DL) 0B (0.5 x 106 TOTAL CAR-T/kg, n = 7) or DL1B (1 x 106 TOTAL CAR-T cells/kg, n = 4). One subject experienced dose limiting toxicities at DL1 of transaminitis, hyponatremia, worsening of a pericardial effusion and hypoxia. Most common toxicities were cytokine release syndrome (CRS) (n = 4, maximum CTCAE grade 2).No occurrence of ICANS was noted. Maximum total circulating CAR-T expansion on first infusion was 796.3 cells/uL and max B7H3 expansion was 374.2 cells/uL with 7/11 continuing with ongoing detection of CAR T cells in the peripheral blood at time of last follow up (21 days to 8 months). CAR engraftment was predominated by the B7H3 CAR single expressing CAR T cells in all subjects. All subjects developed B cell aplasia which is ongoing in 10/11 subjects at time of last check (range of 21 days to 8 months). Best overall response of Stable Disease was observed in 2 of the 11 subjects infused. Conclusions: B7H3xCD19 CAR T cells robustly engraft and expand in patients with R/RST and are safe, but despite ongoing detection of the CAR T cells, no objective responses were observed. It is likely that additional measures will be required to enhance the activity of CAR-T cells to achieve objective responses. STRIvE-02 Arm C will explore the addition of pembrolizumab post bispecific CAR infusion to evaluate the effect of PD1 blockade on anti-tumor activity. Clinical trial information: NCT04483778.

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Abstract Details

Meeting

2023 ASCO Annual Meeting

Session Type

Poster Session

Session Title

Pediatric Oncology

Track

Pediatric Oncology

Sub Track

Pediatric Solid Tumors

Clinical Trial Registration Number

NCT04483778

Citation

J Clin Oncol 41, 2023 (suppl 16; abstr 10043)

DOI

10.1200/JCO.2023.41.16_suppl.10043

Abstract #

10043

Poster Bd #

349

Abstract Disclosures

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