Long-term outcome after haploidentical stem cell transplant and infusion of T cells expressing the inducible caspase 9 safety transgene

Blood. 2014 Jun 19;123(25):3895-905. doi: 10.1182/blood-2014-01-551671. Epub 2014 Apr 21.

Abstract

Adoptive transfer of donor-derived T lymphocytes expressing a safety switch may promote immune reconstitution in patients undergoing haploidentical hematopoietic stem cell transplant (haplo-HSCT) without the risk for uncontrolled graft versus host disease (GvHD). Thus, patients who develop GvHD after infusion of allodepleted donor-derived T cells expressing an inducible human caspase 9 (iC9) had their disease effectively controlled by a single administration of a small-molecule drug (AP1903) that dimerizes and activates the iC9 transgene. We now report the long-term follow-up of 10 patients infused with such safety switch-modified T cells. We find long-term persistence of iC9-modified (iC9-T) T cells in vivo in the absence of emerging oligoclonality and a robust immunologic benefit, mediated initially by the infused cells themselves and subsequently by an apparently accelerated reconstitution of endogenous naive T lymphocytes. As a consequence, these patients have immediate and sustained protection from major pathogens, including cytomegalovirus, adenovirus, BK virus, and Epstein-Barr virus in the absence of acute or chronic GvHD, supporting the beneficial effects of this approach to immune reconstitution after haplo-HSCT. This study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00710892.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial, Phase I
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Aspergillosis / immunology
  • Aspergillosis / microbiology
  • Aspergillosis / prevention & control
  • Aspergillus fumigatus / immunology
  • Caspase 9 / biosynthesis
  • Caspase 9 / genetics*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Enzyme Induction / drug effects
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Graft vs Host Disease / immunology
  • Graft vs Host Disease / prevention & control
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive / methods
  • Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / immunology
  • Lymphoma, Large-Cell, Anaplastic / therapy
  • Male
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / immunology
  • Myelodysplastic Syndromes / therapy
  • Organic Chemicals / administration & dosage
  • Organic Chemicals / therapeutic use
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / immunology
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / immunology
  • Precursor T-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • T-Lymphocytes / transplantation*
  • Time Factors
  • Transgenes / genetics*
  • Transplantation, Homologous
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Virus Diseases / immunology
  • Virus Diseases / prevention & control
  • Virus Diseases / virology

Substances

  • Organic Chemicals
  • Caspase 9
  • AP 1903 reagent

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00710892