Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy - assessment and management of toxicities

Nat Rev Clin Oncol. 2018 Jan;15(1):47-62. doi: 10.1038/nrclinonc.2017.148. Epub 2017 Sep 19.

Abstract

Immunotherapy using T cells genetically engineered to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) is rapidly emerging as a promising new treatment for haematological and non-haematological malignancies. CAR-T-cell therapy can induce rapid and durable clinical responses, but is associated with unique acute toxicities, which can be severe or even fatal. Cytokine-release syndrome (CRS), the most commonly observed toxicity, can range in severity from low-grade constitutional symptoms to a high-grade syndrome associated with life-threatening multiorgan dysfunction; rarely, severe CRS can evolve into fulminant haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Neurotoxicity, termed CAR-T-cell-related encephalopathy syndrome (CRES), is the second most-common adverse event, and can occur concurrently with or after CRS. Intensive monitoring and prompt management of toxicities is essential to minimize the morbidity and mortality associated with this potentially curative therapeutic approach; however, algorithms for accurate and consistent grading and management of the toxicities are lacking. To address this unmet need, we formed a CAR-T-cell-therapy-associated TOXicity (CARTOX) Working Group, comprising investigators from multiple institutions and medical disciplines who have experience in treating patients with various CAR-T-cell therapy products. Herein, we describe the multidisciplinary approach adopted at our institutions, and provide recommendations for monitoring, grading, and managing the acute toxicities that can occur in patients treated with CAR-T-cell therapy.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Brain Diseases / etiology
  • Brain Diseases / therapy
  • Cytokines / metabolism
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive / adverse effects*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / immunology*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell / therapeutic use
  • Syndrome

Substances

  • CD19-specific chimeric antigen receptor
  • Cytokines
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell