Which one is better for refractory/relapsed acute B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia: Single-target (CD19) or dual-target (tandem or sequential CD19/CD22) CAR T-cell therapy?

Abstract

CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has shown great success against B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Tandem and sequential CD19/CD22 dual-target CAR T-cell therapies have been developed to reduce the possibility of CD19-negative relapse; however, the superior strategy is still uncertain. This study screened 219 patients with relapsed/refractory B-ALL who were enrolled in clinical trials of either CD19 (NCT03919240) or CD19/CD22 CAR T-cell therapy (NCT03614858). The complete remission (CR) rates in the single CD19, tandem CD19/CD22, and sequential CD19/CD22 groups were 83.0% (122/147), 98.0% (50/51), and 95.2% (20/21), respectively (single CD19 vs. tandem CD19/CD22, P = 0.006). Patients with high-risk factors achieved a higher rate of CR in the tandem CD19/CD22 group than in the single CD19 group (100.0% vs. 82.4%, P = 0.017). Tandem CD19/CD22 CAR T-cell therapy was one of the significant favorable factors in the multivariate analysis of the CR rate. The incidence of adverse events was similar among the three groups. Multivariable analysis in CR patients showed that a low frequency of relapse, a low tumor burden, minimal residual disease-negative CR and bridging to transplantation were independently associated with better leukemia-free survival. Our findings suggested that tandem CD19/CD22 CAR T-cell therapy obtains a better response than CD19 CAR T-cell therapy and a similar response to sequential CD19/CD22 CAR T-cell therapy.