Adoptive Transfer of Treg-Depleted Donor Th1 and Th2 Cells Safely Accelerates Alloengraftment After Low-Intensity Chemotherapy
Authors: Fowler Daniel H. , Mossoba Miriam E. , Schuver Bazetta Blacklock , Layton Paula , Hakim Frances T , Kurlander Roger , Gea-Banacloche Juan , Sportes Claude , Hardy Nancy M. , Pavletic Steven Z. , Steinberg Seth M. , Khuu Hanh , Sabatino Marianna , Stroncek David , Leitman Susan , Rowley Scott D , Donato Michele L , Goy Andre , Friedman Thea , Korngold Robert , Pecora Andrew L , Levine Bruce L , June Carl H. , Gress Ronald E. , Bishop Michael R. 
Published: October 2019

Abstract 521

Ex-vivo culture of murine donor CD4+ T cells using rapamycin, co-stimulation, and IL-4 yielded a defined T cell population (T-rapa cells) that favorably modulated the balance between GVHD, graft rejection, and GVT effects. To translate these findings, we conducted a multi-center clinical trial (NCT0074490) to evaluate T-rapa cell therapy after allogeneic HCT. T-rapa cells were manufactured by ex vivo culture of donor CD4+ T cells using CD3/CD28 co-stimulation in media containing IL-4, IL-2, and rapamycin. T-rapa cells had a mixed Th2/Th1 phenotype with minimal Treg content (intra-cellular flow, n=48 products; median transcription factor expression: 11.5% [GATA-3], 5.1% [T-bet], and 0.1% [FoxP3]). Median T-rapa cell cytokine secretion (pg/ml; re-stimulation at harvest) was 1.3 [IL-4], 20.6 [IL-5], 9.7 [IL-10], 23.7 [IL-13], 34.7 [IFN-g], and 17.1 [IL-2]. Patients received an HLA-matched sibling, T cell-replete, G-CSF mobilized allograft, and GVHD prophylaxis of cyclosporine plus short-course sirolimus (to d14 post-HCT). Two protocol arms evaluated T-rapa cell therapy after induction chemotherapy and outpatient, low-intensity preparative chemotherapy (Table I). First, patients (n=25) were accrued to arm A to evaluate T-rapa infusion at d +14 post-HCT; subsequently, accrual was initiated to arm B (n=25) to evaluate T-rapa infusion on d0 of HCT. Arm A was then expanded to n=40 patients. Patients accrued to arms A and B were similar for recipient age, high-risk malignancy diagnosis, chemotherapy refractoriness, and prior regimen number (Table I). Most recipients were not in remission at the time of HCT. High-risk NHL was the most frequent diagnosis (25/65 patients), followed by non-high-risk NHL (11/65), AML/MDS (8/65), myeloma (7/65), CLL (6/65), Hodgkin's disease (5/65), and CML (3/65). Arm A and B recipients had similar mean donor myeloid cell chimerism at d +14, +28, and +100 (arm A, 43%, 74%, and 89%; arm B, 50%, 62%, and 84%). At d +14, arm A and B recipients also had mixed donor T cell chimerism (mean values, 60% in each arm; Table I). At d +28 and +100, T cell chimerism increased in arm A to 80% and 89%; in arm B, these values increased to only 67% and 69%. Four recipients on arm B had < 10% donor T cell chimerism at d +100; in contrast, the lowest donor T cell chimerism value observed at d +100 on arm A was 36%. T-rapa therapy on arm A was relatively safe as there was: no engraftment syndrome, a 10% rate of acute grade II to IV GVHD, a 67% incidence of chronic GVHD, and no transplant-related mortality (Table I). On arm A, 37.5% (15/40) of recipients are in sustained complete remission, with a median survival probability of 63.6% at 24 months post-HCT. Therefore, pre-emptive donor lymphocyte infusion with ex-vivo manufactured T-rapa cells that express a balanced Th2/Th1 effector phenotype represents a novel approach to safely accelerate alloengraftment and harness allogeneic GVT effects after low-intensity conditioning.Table IArm AArm BLow-Intensity Regimen    Induction Chemotherapy1EPOCH-FREPOCH-FR    2Terminal Chemotherapy3Flu (120 mg/m2)EPOCH-FRCy (1200 mg/m2)T-Rapa Cell TimingD +14 post-HCTD 0 of HCTPatient Characteristics    & of Patients Accrued4025    Age (median, range)55 (25–67)51 (32–66)    & of Prior Regimens3 (1–6)3 (1–8)    High-Risk Malignancy65% (26/40)52% (13/25)    Chemotherapy Refractory50% (20/40)48% (12/25)    CR (at time of HCT)25% (10/40)8% (2/25)% Donor T Cell ChimerismMean Median (Range)Mean Median (Range)Day 14 post-HCT6061(8–97)6060(4–100)Day 28 post-HCT8089(27–100)6773(10–100)Day 100 post-HCT8993(36–100)6982(0–100)Clinical Results    Engraftment Syndrome0% (0/40)0% (0/25)    Acute GVHD10% (4/40)23% (5/22)    Chronic GVHD67% (22/33)75% (15/20)    Complete Remission38% (15/40)28% (7/25)    Transplant-related Mortality0% (0/40)0% (0/25)    Percent Survival65% (26/40)40% (10/25)    Median Survival27.5 mo11.2 mo    Survival Prob. at 24 mo63.6%44.0%1EPOCH-FR, EPOCH with fludarabine (Flu) and rituximab.2Terminal (preparative) chemotherapy administered one week prior to HCT.3Flu/Cy [cyclophosphamide] doses are total doses, given over 4 days (Cy dose is 75% lower than 4800 mg/m2 “reduced-intensity” Cy dose).

Disclosures:

No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.