non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients Research Articles

Atrial arrhythmias following CAR-chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy: Incidence, risk factors and biomarker profile.

Recent reports have raised concerns about the association of chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) with non-negligible cardiotoxicity, particularly atrial arrhythmias. First, we conducted a pharmacovigilance study to assess the reporting of atrial arrhythmias following CD19-directed CAR-T. Subsequently, to determine the incidence, risk factors and outcomes of atrial arrhythmias post-CAR-T, we compiled a retrospective single-centre cohort of non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. Only commercial CAR-T products were considered. Atrial arrhythmias were nearly fourfold more likely to be reported after CAR-T therapy compared to all other cancer patients in the FAERS (adjusted ROR = 3.76 [95% CI 2.67-5.29]). Of the 236 patients in our institutional cohort, 23 (10%) developed atrial arrhythmias post-CAR-T, including 12 de novo arrhythmias, with most (83%) requiring medical intervention. Atrial arrhythmias frequently co-occurred with cytokine release syndrome and were associated with higher post-CAR-T infusion peak levels of IL-10, TNF-alpha and LDH, and lower trough levels of fibrinogen. In a multivariable analysis, risk factors for atrial arrhythmia were history of atrial arrhythmia (OR = 6.80 [2.39-19.6]) and using CAR-T product with a CD28-costimulatory domain (OR = 5.17 [1.72-18.6]). Atrial arrhythmias following CD19-CAR-T therapy are prevalent and associated with elevated inflammatory biomarkers, a history of atrial arrhythmia and the use of a CAR-T product with a CD28 costimulatory domain.

Evaluation of NFKB1 and MyD88 expression levels in a sample of non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients before and during chemotherapy

ABSTRACT Triggering of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), expressed mainly on innate immune cells, by their specific ligands (TLRLs) induces NF-κB and MyD88, resulting in stimulation of immune responses. In the tumor microenvironment, however, certain TLRs have been found to act either as pro-tumorigenic or anti-tumorigenic co-factors. This pilot prospective study aimed to explore the impact of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) on the expression levels of TLRs and if chemotherapy alters this expression. Blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from healthy subjects as well as from NHL patients before, during, and after chemotherapy. We used microarray to analyze the gene profiling of TLR signaling pathway and RTqPCR to confirm the gene expression of TLR9, NF-κB1, and MyD88. Regardless of chemotherapy, TLR9 gene expression was similar in NHL patients as compared to controls. The gene expression of MyD88 and NF-κB1 was higher in the patients as compared to the controls. Interestingly, there was a 11.1-fold decrease and a 3.4-fold increase, respectively, in the gene expression of NF-κB1 and Myd88 in patients after chemotherapy as compared to before chemotherapy. Our pilot study proof the concept that NHL itself induces expression of MyD88 and NF-κB1, while chemotherapy further alters this effect.

Cathepsin B in non-hodgkin lymphoma patients and its associations with HDL subclasses

Cathepsin B in non-hodgkin lymphoma patients and its associations with HDL subclasses

Allogeneic transplantation after immunotherapy for relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a comparison with a historical cohort

New immunotherapy drugs, such as bispecific T-cell engager antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors and antibody–drug conjugates, are commonly used as salvage therapy for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma relapsing after chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. Nevertheless, their potential long-term effects on the outcome of allogeneic stem cell transplantation (Allo-SCT) are not well known. We retrospectively analyzed the outcomes of 27 relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients receiving an Allo-SCT after immunotherapy in the pre-CAR-T era. We compared them with a historical cohort of 28 subjects undergoing Allo-SCT after conventional therapy. The two cohorts had similar outcomes in terms of graft-versus-host disease/relapse-free survival (4 years: 59% vs 46%), overall survival (4 years: 77% vs 44%), non-relapse mortality (4 years:19% vs 22%), acute (6 months: 15% vs 21%) and chronic (4 years: 18% vs 24%) graft-versus-host disease. Of note, the cumulative incidence of relapse was lower, although significance was not reached, after immunotherapy (4 years: 4% vs 14%). The cumulative incidence of cytomegalovirus and fungal infection did not differ among the two cohorts. In conclusion, consolidation with Allo-SCT is a safe and curative option for patients achieving disease response after new immunotherapy drugs that could represent a desirable salvage strategy for patients relapsing after CAR-T.

Inhibition of SRC-3 as a potential therapeutic strategy for aggressive mantle cell lymphoma.

Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) has a poor prognosis and high relapse rates despite current therapies, necessitating novel treatment regimens. Inhibition of SRC-3 show effectiveness in vivo and in vitro in other B cell lymphomas. Additionally, previous studies have shown that SRC-3 is highly expressed in the lymph nodes of B cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients, suggesting SRC-3 may play a role in the progression of B cell lymphoma. This study aimed to investigate novel SRC-3 inhibitors, SI-10 and SI-12, in mantle cell lymphoma. The cytotoxic effects of SI-10 and SI-12 were evaluated in vitro and demonstrated dose-dependent cytotoxicity in a panel of MCL cell lines. The in vivo efficacy of SI-10 was confirmed in two ibrutinib-resistant models: an immunocompetent disseminated A20 mouse model of B-cell lymphoma and a human PDX model of MCL. Notably, SI-10 treatment also resulted in a significant extension of survival in vivo with low toxicity in both ibrutinib-resistant murine models. We have investigated SI-10 as a novel anti-lymphoma compound via the inhibition of SRC-3 activity. These findings indicate that targeting SRC-3 should be investigated in combination with current clinical therapeutics as a novel strategy to expand the therapeutic index and to improve lymphoma outcomes.

A retrospective cohort study describing chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy in Non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients treated with EPOCH ± R: does HIV status matter?

The frontline immuno-chemotherapy regimen for HIV-associated non-Hodgkin Lymphoma is dose-adjusted EPOCH ± R (etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and rituximab). Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), caused by vincristine, is a common adverse effect of EPOCH ± R, negatively impacting long-term patient outcomes. The primary objective of this study was to determine the incidence of CIPN, stratified by HIV status, in patients treated with EPOCH ± R. A retrospective cohort study at a tertiary referral comprehensive cancer center evaluated patients treated with EPOCH ± R from 2011 to 2018. The final sample included 27 patients with HIV compared to 279 without HIV (total n = 306). Overall, the incidence of CIPN was 29.4% (n = 90), including 5 with HIV (18.5%) and 85 without HIV (30.5%). Propensity scores were used to match patients by HIV status. Although no relationship was found between HIV status and neuropathy, CIPN affects too many undergoing treatments for lymphoma, supporting future investigations to minimize toxicities.

Optimized BEAC conditioning regimen improves clinical outcomes of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

The conditioning regimen is an important part of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT). We explored the efficacy and safety of an optimized BEAC (adjusted-dose, intermediate-dose cytarabine and reduced-dose cyclophosphamide, AD-BEAC) conditioning regimen for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). A total of 141 NHL patients received AD-BEAC or a standard-dose BEAC (SD-BEAC) conditioning regimen from January 2007 to December 2017, and 104 patients were included in the study after 1:1 propensity matching. The 5-year overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) rates were significantly higher with AD-BEAC than with SD-BEAC (82.7% vs. 67.3%, P = 0.039; 76.9% vs. 57.7%, P = 0.039). Transplant-related mortality (TRM) was 3.8% in both the AD-BEAC and SD-BEAC groups. The AD-BEAC group had lower incidence of oral ulcers and cardiotoxicity than the SD-BEAC group. An optimized BEAC conditioning regimen is an effective conditioning regimen for ASCT in NHL with acceptable toxicity, that is more effective and safer than a standard BEAC conditioning regimen.

[Effect of L-Type Amino Acid Transporter 1 Expression on Clinicopathological Features and Prognosis of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma].

To detect the expression of L-type amino acid transporter 1 (LAT1) in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) tissues, and analyze its effect on clinicopathological characteristics and prognosis of patients. A total of 92 NHL patients who were treated in our hospital from January 2017 to April 2019 were collected. The expression of LAT1 in NHL tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry and compared between patients with different pathological features (including sex, Ann Arbor stage, extranodal infiltration, Ki-67). The risk factors affecting mortality were analyzed using univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to detect the predictive value of percentage of LAT1-positive cells in NHL tissue for patient mortality, and analyzing the effect of percentage of LAT1-positive cells on survival rate. LAT1 was positively expressed in NHL tissue. The high expression rate of LAT1 in Ann Arbor stage III and IV groups were higher than that in Ann Arbor stage I group, that in extranodal infiltration group was higher than non-extranodal infiltration group, and that in Ki-67 positive expression group was higher than Ki-67 negative expression group (all P < 0.05). The remission rate after 3 courses of treatment in high-LAT1 expression group was 70.7%, which was lower than 91.2% in low-LAT1 expression group (P < 0.05). Ann Arbor stage III and IV, extranodal invasion, Ki-67 positive expression and increased expression of LAT1 (LAT1-positive cell percentage score ≥2) were risk factors for mortality. The cut-off value of percentage of LAT1-positive cells for predicting NHL death was 45.6%, and the area under the ROC curve was 0.905 (95%CI: 0.897-0.924). The 3-year survival rate of high-LAT1 level group (the percentage of LAT1-positive cells≥45.6%) was 50.00%, which was lower than 78.26% of low-LAT1 level group (P < 0.05). The expression level of LAT1 in NHL tissue increases, which affects Ann Arbor stage and extranodal infiltration of patients. LAT1 is a risk factor for death.

Associations of \(\textit{OTUBAIN-1, STAT, SHP}\) and \(\textit{NF-KB2}\) expression with clinical features in Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma patients

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a group of lymphoproliferative disorders characterized by the abnormal proliferation and accumulation of lymphocytes in the lymphatic system. An ovarian tumor domain containing ubiquitin aldehyde binding protein 1 (Otubain-1) is a deubiquitinating enzyme that cleaves ubiquitin or ubiquitin-like molecules and is expressed in various human tissues. The pathogenesis of NHL is associated with activations of the nuclear transcription factor (NF-κB) and signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins (JAK/STAT) signaling pathways. In this study, all the expressions of Otubain-1, NF-κB2, SHPs and STATs genes, the concentrations of cytokines IL-1β, IL-6 and TNF-α and clinical features in NHL patients were examined. To the end, gene expression levels of 82 NHL patients and 56 healthy individuals were determined by quantitative real time RT-PCR and secretion of cytokines by ELISA. As a result, concentrations of IL-6 and TNF-α in the patient group were found higher than in the healthy individuals and patients with higher LDH concentrations in the clinical cutoff, 280 U/L showed increased concentrations of AST, ALT and GGT than those with normal LDH concentrations. Interestingly, NHL patients with high Otubain-1 expression had significant elevations of GGT and ferritin concentrations as well as STAT-5 expression compared to those with low Otubain-1 expression. In conclusion, the present study indicates that up-regulation of Otubain-1 led to activation of STAT5 in lymphoma cells and liver dysfunction and metabolic syndrome in NHL patients.

Management of vaccinations in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Vaccinations are fundamental tools in preventing infectious diseases, especially in immunocompromised patients like those affected by non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs). The COVID-19 pandemic made clinicians increasingly aware of the importance of vaccinations in preventing potential life-threatening SARS-CoV-2-related complications in NHL patients. However, several studies have confirmed a significant reduction in vaccine-induced immune responses after anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody treatment, thus underscoring the need for refined immunization strategies in NHL patients. In this review, we summarize the existing data about COVID-19 and other vaccine's efficacy in patients with NHL and propose multidisciplinary team-based recommendations for the management of vaccines in this specific group of patients.

A Deeper Depth of Response After Salvage Therapy Improves Outcomes of Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Relapsed Lymphoma and the Feasibility of Non-controlled Rate Freezing of Peripheral Blood Stem Cells.

Background High-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation is considered a standard treatment approach for patients with relapsed Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The goal of autologous stem cell transplant in relapsed lymphoma is to achieve long-term disease control, i.e., cure, in contrast to disorders like multiple myeloma, where it only prolongs the duration of remission, progression-free survival, and improves the quality of life. Published outcomes of high-dose therapy and ASCT and the impact of different factors affecting survival in low- to middle-income countries are very limited. Our study analyzed all the autologous stem cell transplants performed in our center over a six-year period to ascertain engraftment, responses, outcomes, and variables that may have impacted transplant outcomes. Methods We conducted a retrospective study including 76 patients from January 2015 to December 2020. Data were retrieved from electronic medical records at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, Lahore, Pakistan. Results Out of a total of 82 autologous transplant patients, 76 were eligible for the study, out of which 50 (66%) had HLand 26 (34%) had NHL. The median age was 29 years (range 18-53) and 29 years (range 20-45) for HL and NHL, respectively. The male-to-female ratio was 5:2 and 4:1 for HL and NHL, respectively. The majority had advanced-stage disease, 85% in HL and 75% in NHL. The minimum cell dose infused was 2.5 million CD34+ cells/kg. Median days to platelets and ANC engraftment were 14 and 11 days, respectively. The 30-day transplant-related mortality was 8.9% and 7.4% in HL and NHL, respectively. The 100-day mortality was 15.2% and 11% in HL and NHL, respectively. The two-year disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) were 83% and 83%, respectively, in HL patients. The two-year DFS and OS were 78% and 85%, respectively, in NHL patients. Conclusion High-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation in low- to middle-income countries are limited to relatively younger patients, potentially curative conditions such as lymphoma, and predominantly after achieving a complete response to salvage therapy due to limited resources. Due to these factors, our study shows excellent response rates and survival outcomes compared to internationally published data. Engraftment was also excellent and comparable to published data despite the non-controlled rate freezing of peripheral blood stem cells.

Abstract 6327: Impact of G-CSF on safety and efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy in non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract Introduction: Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy is an established treatment modality for the management of refractory and/or relapsed non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Despite restrictions on granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) use in registration clinical trials due to potential worsening of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), G-CSF is often prescribed for neutrophil recovery post-CAR-T in clinical practice. We conducted a retrospective study to assess the association between G-CSF use and the safety and efficacy of CAR-T. Methods: Following Institutional Review Board approval, we retrospectively analyzed NHL patients receiving commercial CD19-targeted CAR-T across Mayo Clinic sites (Arizona, Florida, and Minnesota) between October 2017 and May 2023. Demographics, labs, and post CAR-T events were collected. Electronic medical records were reviewed for G-CSF exposure within Day 1 - 100 post-CAR T. Differences by G-CSF status were examined using a Chi-square test and Kruskal Wallis tests. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for overall survival (OS) were calculated using Cox model. Results: Among 270 CAR-T patients; 106 received G-CSF within 30 days and 164 did not. Median age was 56.9 with G-CSF and 58.3 without G-CSF. Most were male (75.2% G-CSF, 62.6% no G-CSF). Diffuse large B cell lymphoma was the predominant NHL subtype (67.0% G-CSF, 65.2% no G-CSF). G-CSF within 30 days was not associated with reduced incidence of neutropenic fever (11.7% G-CSF vs 9.9% no G-CSF, p = 0.6593) or documented infection (22.1% vs 18.3%, p = 0.4439). G-CSF correlated with decreased profound neutropenia duration (ANC &amp;lt; 100 μL, 0 vs 2 days, p &amp;lt; 0.0001) and incidence within 30 days ( 31.7% vs 60.4%, p &amp;lt; 0.0001) as well as incidence of protracted profound neutropenia (&amp;gt; 7 days, 3.8% vs 22.8%, p &amp;lt; 0.0001). G-CSF was associated with a higher incidence of cytopenias between days 30 -100: severe neutropenia (ANC &amp;lt; 500/uL, 28.8% vs 15.2%, p = 0.0075), severe anemia (Hb &amp;lt; 8 g/dL, 21% vs 9.7%, p = 0.0114), and severe thrombocytopenia (Plt &amp;lt; 50 g/L, 35.2% vs 20.9%, p = 0.0099). Logistic regression analysis showed that none of the examined covariates, including prior autologous stem cell transplant, ECOG PS score, and receipt of bridging therapy, were associated with severe neutropenia likelihood. G-CSF was associated with a higher CRS incidence (89.6% vs 79.9%, p = 0.0343), but grade 3 CRS or higher (4.7% vs 3.7%, p = 0.6675) was no different. No difference in complete response rates (66% vs 61.1%, p = 0.4707) or 2-year OS (p = 0.523) was observed between the 2 groups. Conclusion: G-CSF within 30 days was associated with reduced duration and incidence of profound neutropenia without a significant impact on incidence of neutropenic fever or documented infections. There was a signal of association between G-CSF and increased incidence of low-grade CRS and delayed cytopenias (day 30-100) that warrants confirmation in larger studies. Citation Format: Lay She Ng, Claire I. Yee, Radhika Bansal, Mohamed A. Kharfan-Dabaja, Grzegorz S. Nowakowski, Allison C. Rosenthal, Javier Munoz, Januario Castro, Wern Lynn Ng, Hemant S. Murthy, Yi Lin, Matthew R. Buras, Madiha Iqbal, Yucai Wang, Talal Hilal. Impact of G-CSF on safety and efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy in non-Hodgkin lymphoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 6327.

Abstract 2356: NAV-006: A next-generation rituximab targeting CD20 for the treatment of B-cell lymphomas immunosuppressed by MUC16/CA125

Abstract Rituximab is a CD20-targeting antibody that is the standard-of-care for patients with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) cases. Rituximab’s mechanism of action includes complement-dependent cytotoxicity (CDC) and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC), herein referred to as Humoral Immuno-Oncology (HIO) mechanisms. Recent clinical evidence suggest that high serum levels of the MUC16 (CA125) protein inversely correlate with the effectiveness of rituximab clinical activity in 40-50% of follicular lymphoma (FL) as well as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients with newly diagnosed or relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease. In this study we demonstrated that CA125 binds to and suppresses the activity of rituximab, tafasitamab as well as the bispecific mosunetuzumab and glofitamab antibodies, which are approved for treating cases with indolent disease. These therapies have an overall response rate around 50-60%, suggesting the presence of a mechanism that allows lymphoma cells to escape these agents’ immune-mediated killing effects. CA125 may facilitate this immunosuppressive mechanism, and in fact, upon binding rituximab, CA125 reduces its affinity for the Fc receptor, CD16a, thus suppressing ADCC. Using a proprietary technology called Block-Removed Immunoglobulin Technology (BRITE) that employs randomized amino acid substitution and HIO effector function screening, we have identified a rituximab variant named NAV-006. NAV-006 is refractory to the immunosuppressive effects mediated by CA125 via its reduced CA125 interaction and increased HIO activity as compared to parent rituximab as well as the other antibodies used to treat R/R FL. In an in vivo model of human B-cell lymphoma, NAV-006 showed superior efficacy compared to parent rituximab. These data warrant further investigation of NAV-006 as a next generation anti-CD20 antibody that could improve upon the efficacy of antibody-mediated therapies used to treat NHL patients with high levels of CA125. Citation Format: Luigi Grasso, J. Bradford Kline, Nicholas C. Nicolaides. NAV-006: A next-generation rituximab targeting CD20 for the treatment of B-cell lymphomas immunosuppressed by MUC16/CA125 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 2356.

Abstract 1865: HDP-102 - a CD37-targeting Amanitin-based-ADC for the treatment of NHL - non-clinical data package

Abstract Background: Antibody-drug conjugates (ADC) are gaining importance as anti-cancer therapy. Most ADCs are based on cytotoxic warheads targeting only proliferating cells. In contrast, HDP´s proprietary ATAC platform utilizes amatoxins as payload. Amatoxins are specific inhibitors of eukaryotic RNA polymerase II, suppressing a key function in the protein metabolism not limiting their cytotoxicity to proliferating cells. Furthermore, there are no known resistance mechanisms against amatoxins in mammalian cells (i.e. multi drug resistance transporters), making ATACs a promising new class of anti-cancer ADCs. Here we present pre-clinical data on the anti-CD37 ATAC HDP-102. CD37 is a transmembrane protein expressed exclusively on immune cells, mainly mature B-cells, and in many B-cell malignancies, including Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL). Material and Methods: HDP-102: anti-CD37 ADC based on cysteine-reactive, site-specific amatoxin-linker constructs produced by HDP Cytotoxicity assays: CellTiter Glo 2.0 (Promega) assays on CD37pos cell lines MEC-2, Raji-luc, Ramos and CD37neg Nalm-6 cells Efficacy studies: Disseminated MEC-2 and Raji-Luc mouse xenograft tumor models in single dose experiments Tolerability study in Cynomolgus monkeys: i.v. HDP-102 treatment on days 1 and 22; blood sampling for PK analysis; necropsy and histopathology on days 28 and 64 Results: HDP-102 showed full-blown cytotoxicity with EC50 values in the low nanomolar range in all CD37pos cell lines in vitro but no cytotoxicity on CD37neg cells. In vivo, the anti-tumor efficacy of HDP-102 was evaluated in disseminated CDX models of NHL. A single dose of 0.5 mg/kg HDP-102 already led to complete tumor remission in all animals in a Raji-luc model and 60% survival on day 100 in a MEC-2 model, demonstrating the high potency of HDP-102 in NHL models. In a tolerability study in Cynomolgus monkeys, i.v. administration of HDP-102 was well tolerated up to 2.5 mg/kg without clinical signs of toxicity. Microscopically, decreased cellularity in lymphoid tissue was the main finding, caused by the targeted effect of HDP-102 on CD37pos cells. The HNSTD of 2.5 mg/kg together with the potent anti-tumor efficacy of HDP-102 leads to a therapeutic window of ~200 for HDP-102. Conclusion: CD37 is an ideal target for ADCs due to its high prevalence in B-cell malignancies and limited expression on healthy cells. We have demonstrated that the anti-CD37 ATAC HDP-102 is a promising drug candidate for the treatment of NHL. HDP-102 showed excellent anti-tumor efficacy in CDX models even after single doses. Pharmacological activity of HDP-102 was also seen in Cynomolgus monkeys as evidenced by depletion of B-cells in lymphoid organs. Furthermore, HDP-102 was well tolerated in monkeys. Taken together, based on pre-clinical data, HDP-102 is a promising new treatment option for NHL patients combining a good safety profile with strong anti-tumor efficacy. Citation Format: Sarah-Jane Neuberth, Kristin Decker, Christian Orlik, Irina Dranova, Anikó Pálfi, Torsten Hechler, Andreas Pahl, Michael Kulke. HDP-102 - a CD37-targeting Amanitin-based-ADC for the treatment of NHL - non-clinical data package [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1865.

Abstract 1344: Improvement of the anti-tumor activity of NK cells and the efficacy of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies in the therapy of B cell-derived malignancies

Abstract Resistance of tumor cells to immunotherapy with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) often relies on the reduced level of the antigen targeted by the particular mAb. We have therefore screened for the compounds able to upregulate selected antigens on the surface of lymphoma/leukemia cells, to minimize the possibility of resistance acquired by the tumor cells. We have found that members of a specific class of antibiotics, known as cation carriers, namely salinomycin (SAL), monensin (MON), narasin, and nigericin exhibit great CD20 antigen-upregulating abilities. A variety of Burkitt’s lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cell lines as well as patients-derived primary malignant cells, such as DLBCL and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells exhibited upregulation of surface CD20 upon the treatment with SAL and MON at concentrations as low as 250nM and 50 nM, respectively. As a consequence, these compounds appeared to be beneficial for the therapy of lymphoma/leukemia with anti-CD20 mAbs, both in vitro and in animal models.Moreover, the proteomics analysis revealed that besides CD20, cation carriers upregulated a number of different proteins on the surface of tumor cells, including proteins implicated in the interaction with immune cells. These included ICAM1, HLA-A/B/C, CD155, CD80, CD86 and ULBP2/5/6. Particularly important appears to be the upregulation of antigens interacting with the activating receptors on NK cells, helping them to overcome the inhibitory signals and stimulate the lysis of tumor cells. Thus, the results of proteomics analysis explained why SAL- or MON-pretreated tumor cells were efficiently eliminated by NK cells, even in the absence of therapeutic mAb. In light of our discoveries, it seems reasonable to consider the cation carriers as promising drug candidates for the improvement of NK cell anti-tumor activity and potential treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients, in combination with anti-CD20 mAbs.Funding: National Science Centre (NCN, Poland), grants 2019/35/B/NZ5/01445 and 2020/39/B/NZ6/03513. Citation Format: Abdessamad Zerrouqi, Aleksandra Zdanowicz, Anna Torun, Andrzej Ciechanowicz, Bhaskar Pradhan, Grzegorz Rymkiewicz, Dimitar Efremov, Beata Pyrzynska. Improvement of the anti-tumor activity of NK cells and the efficacy of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies in the therapy of B cell-derived malignancies [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 1344.

Primary vs. pre-emptive anti-seizure medication prophylaxis in anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy.

Seizures may occur in up to 30% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients who received anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy, yet the optimal anti-seizure medication (ASM) prevention strategy has not been thoroughly investigated. Consecutive patients affected by refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma who received anti-CD19 CAR T-cells were included. Patients were selected and assessed using similar internal protocols. ASM was started either as a primary prophylaxis (PP-group) before CAR T-cells infusion or as a pre-emptive therapy (PET-group) only upon the onset of neurotoxicity development. One hundred fifty-six patients were included (PP-group = 88, PET-group = 66). Overall, neurotoxicity and severe neurotoxicity occurred in 45 (29%) and 20 (13%) patients, respectively, equally distributed between the two groups. Five patients experienced epileptic events (PET-group = 3 [4%]; PP-group = 2 [2%]). For all the PET-group patients, seizure/status epilepticus occurred in the absence of overt CAR-T-related neurotoxicity, whereas patients in the PP-group experienced brief seizures only in the context of critical neurotoxicity with progressive severe encephalopathy. ASMs were well-tolerated by all patients, even without titration. No patients developed epilepsy or required long-term ASMs. Our data suggest that both primary and pre-emptive anti-seizure prophylaxis are safe and effective in anti-CD19 CAR T-cell recipients. Clinical rationale suggests a possible more favourable profile of primary prophylaxis, yet no definitive conclusion of superiority between the two ASM strategies can be drawn from our study.

Autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation conditioning regimens and chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy in various diseases.

Conditioning regimens employed in autologous stem cell transplantation have been proven useful in various hematological disorders and underlying malig nancies; however, despite being efficacious in various instances, negative consequences have also been recorded. Multiple conditioning regimens were extracted from various literature searches from databases like PubMed, Google scholar, EMBASE, and Cochrane. Conditioning regimens for each disease were compared by using various end points such as overall survival (OS), progression free survival (PFS), and leukemia free survival (LFS). Variables were presented on graphs and analyzed to conclude a more efficacious conditioning regimen. In multiple myeloma, the most effective regimen was high dose melphalan (MEL) given at a dose of 200/mg/m2. The comparative results of acute myeloid leukemia were presented and the regimens that proved to be at an admirable position were busulfan (BU) + MEL regarding OS and BU + VP16 regarding LFS. In case of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), BU, fludarabine, and etoposide (BuFluVP) conferred good disease control not only with a paramount improvement in survival rate but also low risk of recurrence. However, for ALL, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy was preferred in the context of better OS and LFS. With respect to Hodgkin's lymphoma, mitoxantrone (MITO)/MEL overtook carmustine, VP16, cytarabine, and MEL in view of PFS and vice versa regarding OS. Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients were administered MITO (60 mg/m2) and MEL (180 mg/m2) which showed promising results. Lastly, amyloidosis was considered, and the regimen that proved to be competent was MEL 200 (200 mg/m2). This review article demonstrates a comparison between various conditioning regimens employed in different diseases.

Expression of several deubiquitinase and tyrosine phosphatase genes involved in inflammatory response in lymphoma

Lymphoma represents a heterogeneous group of cancers affecting the lymphatic system, encompassing non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). The majority of NHL cases originate from B cells. HL is characterized by the presence of rare Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg cells. Within the context of the inflammatory response, two SH2 domain-containing protein tyrosine phosphatases (SHPs), namely SHP-1 and SHP-2, serve as negative regulators. Deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) play a crucial role in inhibiting NF-κB activation in response to various stimuli. This study focuses on the DUBs OTUB1, OTUB2, and Cezanne. Blood samples were collected from 50 NHL patients, 26 HL patients, and 50 healthy individuals. Quantitative RT-PCR was employed to assess the mRNA expression of OTUB1, OTUB2, Cezanne, SHP-1,and SHP-2, while ELISA was used to determine IL-6 and CA125 concentrations. The results revealed that the mRNA level of OTUB1 was significantly downregulated in NHL patients but not in HL patients. Notably, Cezanne expression was downregulated in lymphoma patients, with significantly lower levels observed in HL compared to NHL patients. Furthermore, SHP-1 mRNA expression was significantly lower in the NHL group compared to the HL group or healthy individuals. Conversely, SHP-2 gene expression was upregulated in NHL patients but remained unchanged in HL patients. In conclusion, these findings highlight significant differences in the expressions of DUB and SHP genes and the inflammatory response in lymphoma patients. This study provides a foundation for further investigation into the roles of DUBs and tyrosine phosphatases in regulating the functional activation of lymphoma cells.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T Cell Therapy for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma.

This review focuses on the use of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy to treat non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), a classification of heterogeneous malignant neoplasms of the lymphoid tissue. Despite various conventional and multidrug chemotherapies, the poor prognosis for NHL patients remains and has prompted the utilization of groundbreaking personalized therapies such as CAR-T cells. CAR-T cells are T cells engineered to express a CAR that enables T cells to specifically lyse tumor cells with extracellular expression of a tumor antigen of choice. A CAR is composed of an extracellular antibody fragment or target protein binding domain that is conjugated to activating intracellular signaling motifs common to T cells. In general, CAR-T cell therapies for NHL are designed to recognize cellular markers ubiquitously expressed on B cells such as CD19+, CD20+, and CD22+. Clinical trials using CAR-T cells such as ZUMA-7 and TRANSFORM demonstrated promising results compared to standard of care and ultimately led to FDA approval for the treatment of relapsed/refractory NHL. Despite the success of CAR-T therapy for NHL, challenges include adverse side effects as well as extrinsic and intrinsic mechanisms of tumor resistance that lead to suboptimal outcomes. Overall, CAR-T cell therapies have improved clinical outcomes in NHL patients and generated optimism around their future applications.

Infection risk and antimicrobial prophylaxis in bendamustine-treated patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma: An Australasian Lymphoma Alliance study.

Infection and lymphopenia are established bendamustine-related complications. The relationship between lymphopenia severity and infection risk, and the role of antimicrobial prophylaxis, is not well described. This multicentre retrospective study analysed infection characteristics and antimicrobial prophylaxis in 302 bendamustine-treated indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients. Lymphopenia (<1 × 109 /L) was near universal and time to lymphocyte recovery correlated with cumulative bendamustine dose. No association between lymphopenia severity and duration with infection was observed. Infections occurred in 44% of patients (50% bacterial) with 27% hospitalised; 32% of infections occurred ≥3 months post bendamustine completion. Infection was associated with obinutuzumab and/or maintenance anti-CD20 therapy, prior therapy and advanced stage. Twenty-four opportunistic infections occurred in 21 patients: ten varicella zoster virus (VZV), seven herpes simplex virus (HSV), one cytomegalovirus, one progressive multifocal leucoencephalopathy, one nocardiosis, one Pneumocystis jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) and three other fungal infections. VZV/HSV and PJP prophylaxis were prescribed to 42% and 54% respectively. Fewer VZV/HSV infections occurred in patients receiving prophylaxis (HR 0.14, p = 0.061) while PJP prophylaxis was associated with reduced risk of bacterial infection (HR 0.48, p = 0.004). Our study demonstrates a significant infection risk regardless of lymphopenia severity and supports prophylaxis to mitigate the risk of early and delayed infections.