Efficacy and safety of third-generation CD19-CAR T cells incorporating CD28 and TLR2 intracellular domains for B-cell malignancies with central nervous system involvement: results of a pivotal trial
Abstract Background Third‑generation CAR-T cells demonstrated promising efficacy and remarkably low toxicity in refractory or relapsed (R/R) B-cell malignancies. However, data on the patients with central nervous system (CNS) involvement are limited due to concerns regarding treatment-related neurot...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMC
2025-05-01
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| Series: | Journal of Translational Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12967-025-06608-x |
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| Summary: | Abstract Background Third‑generation CAR-T cells demonstrated promising efficacy and remarkably low toxicity in refractory or relapsed (R/R) B-cell malignancies. However, data on the patients with central nervous system (CNS) involvement are limited due to concerns regarding treatment-related neurotoxicity. This study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a novel third-generation anti-CD19 CAR T cells in patients with CNS involvement of B-cell malignancies. Methods A total of 21 patients with R/R B-cell malignancies with CNS involvement, including 11 with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and 10 with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL) were enrolled. Patients derived lymphocytes were collected through apheresis and lentivirally transduced with the third-generation CAR incorporating both CD28 co-stimulation and TLR2-derived stimulatory domains (1928zT2). Patients received a single-dose 1928zT2 CAR-T cell infusion following lymphodepleting regimen. Safety, efficacy and cellular pharmacokinetics were investigated. Results Of the 21 patients with CNS involvement, the overall response rate (ORR) was 71% (15/21), with 73% (8/11) in B-ALL and 70% (7/10) in B-NHL. At a median follow-up of 20.4 months, median duration of response (DOR) was 11.1 months (95% CI, 2.9–24.4). 12-months progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) estimates were 41.5% and 61.2%, respectively. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) of any grade occurred in 20 patients (95%; grade ≥ 3 in 3 patients). Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) occurred in 9 patients (42.8%; grade ≥ 3 in 6 patients). All CRS and ICANS events were manageable. The outcomes and adverse events are comparable between B-ALL and B-NHL patients. Notably, 1928zT2 CAR-T cells demonstrated blood–brain barrier penetrance, with subsequent detection in patient cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) correlating significantly with improved clinical outcomes. Conclusions Third-generation 1928zT2 CAR-T cells are associated with high response rates, manageable safety and durable remissions in R/R B-cell malignancies with CNS involvement. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04605666. Registered 1 May 2020. |
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| ISSN: | 1479-5876 |