Matched donor allogeneic CAR-T for adult B-ALL: toxicity, efficacy, repeat dosing, and the importance of lymphodepletion

C Claire Roddie (1University College London Cancer Institute, Research Department of Haematology, London, United Kingdom) J Juliana Dias M Maeve A. O’Reilly (2Department of Haematology, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom) M Mahnaz Abbasian (1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom) A Amaia Cadinanos-Garai (1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom) K Ketki Vispute (1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom) L Leticia Bosshard-Carter (1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom) M Marina Mitsikakou (1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom) E Eftychia Charalambous (1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom) V Vedika Mehra (1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom) H Harriet Roddy (1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom) G Gordon Weng-Kit Cheung (1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom) J John A. Hartley N Nasir Mahmoud (1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom) L Leah Ensell Y Yashma Patel (1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom) M Maria A. V. Marzolini (2Department of Haematology, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom) F Farzin Farzaneh (5Gene Vector Laboratory, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom) L Lauren Nickolay (6University College London Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom) N Nourredine Himoudi (6University College London Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom) F Farhatullah Syed (1King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia) B Bilyana Popova (5University College London Cancer Institute, CRUK Cancer Trials Centre, London, United Kingdom) S Sevasti Galani (7Cancer Research UK and University College London Cancer Trial Centre, University College London Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom) A Alexander Day M Mark W. Lowdell (1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom) K Karl S. Peggs

Abstract

Abstract We developed an allogeneic matched donor CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) product (CAR–donor lymphocyte infusion [DLI]) for adult patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) after failure of allogeneic stem-cell transplantation (allo-SCT). We evaluate the risks and benefits of pre–CAR-DLI lymphodepleting chemotherapy (LD) and the efficacy of repeat CAR-DLI dosing per conventional DLI protocols. Primary outcomes were toxicity and feasibility of CAR-DLI manufacture; secondary outcomes included CAR-DLI engraftment, expansion, and persistence. A total of 17 allo-SCT donors received leukapheresis and 14 patients with B-ALL (median age, 43 years) received infusion. Median disease burden at registration was 50.5% bone marrow blasts (range, measurable residual disease [MRD] to 100%). Patients 1 to 7 received CAR-DLI alone (CAR-DLI-alone); patients 8 through 14 received CAR-DLI and LD with fludarabine/cyclophosphamide (CAR-DLI+LD). CAR-DLI+LD vs CAR-DLI-alone was associated with superior peak CAR-DLI engraftment (93 134 vs 8010 copies per μg genomic DNA [gDNA]), expansion (858 101 vs 39 038 copies per μg gDNA per 28 days) and persistence (median, 197 vs 32 days). CAR-DLI+LD was not associated with more immunotoxicity than CAR-DLI-alone, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD; grade 1, skin) affected only 2 of 14 patients (14%). CAR-DLI+LD vs CAR-DLI-alone conferred superior event-free-survival and overall survival at 12 months (57% vs 29%; 83% vs 29%). Repeat CAR-DLI dosing was administered to 8 of 14 (57%) patients with morphological/MRD+ relapse, but with minimal engraftment/expansion or toxicity/efficacy. CAR-DLI+LD has a tolerable safety profile without significant GVHD and is associated with significantly better outcomes than CAR-DLI-alone. Repeat CAR-DLI dosing beyond dose 1 was not found to be effective in this analysis. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02893189.

Article Details

Journal Blood
Volume / Issue Vol. 146, Issue 14
Published October 02, 2025
Pages 1664-1676
ISSN 0006-4971
Publisher Elsevier BV

Journal Info

Blood

Elsevier BV

ISSN: 0006-4971 Health Sciences

Authors (26)

C

Claire Roddie

1University College London Cancer Institute, Research Department of Haematology, London, United Kingdom

J

Juliana Dias

M

Maeve A. O’Reilly

2Department of Haematology, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom

M

Mahnaz Abbasian

1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom

A

Amaia Cadinanos-Garai

1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom

K

Ketki Vispute

1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom

L

Leticia Bosshard-Carter

1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom

M

Marina Mitsikakou

1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom

E

Eftychia Charalambous

1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom

V

Vedika Mehra

1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom

H

Harriet Roddy

1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom

G

Gordon Weng-Kit Cheung

1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom

J

John A. Hartley

N

Nasir Mahmoud

1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom

L

Leah Ensell

Y

Yashma Patel

1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom

M

Maria A. V. Marzolini

2Department of Haematology, University College London Hospitals, London, United Kingdom

F

Farzin Farzaneh

5Gene Vector Laboratory, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom

L

Lauren Nickolay

6University College London Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom

N

Nourredine Himoudi

6University College London Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom

F

Farhatullah Syed

1King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

B

Bilyana Popova

5University College London Cancer Institute, CRUK Cancer Trials Centre, London, United Kingdom

S

Sevasti Galani

7Cancer Research UK and University College London Cancer Trial Centre, University College London Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom

A

Alexander Day

M

Mark W. Lowdell

1Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom

K

Karl S. Peggs