CART19 cells are emerging as an alternative therapy for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Here we report the outcome of nine consecutive patients with CLL treated with ARI-0001 CART19 cells, six of them with Richter's transformation (RT). One patient with RT never received therapy. The cytokine release syndrome rate was 87.5% (12.5% grade ≥3). Neurotoxicity was not observed in any patient. All patients experienced absolute B-cell aplasia, and seven (87.5%) responded to therapy. With a median follow-up of 5.6 months, two patients with RT experienced a CD19-negative relapse. In conclusion, ARI-0001 cell therapy was feasible, safe, and effective in patients with high-risk CLL or RT.
Keywords: CART; CD19; CLL; DLBCL; Richter disease.
Copyright © 2022 Ortiz-Maldonado, Frigola, Español-Rego, Balagué, Martínez-Cibrián, Magnano, Giné, Pascal, Correa, Martínez-Roca, Cid, Lozano, Villamor, Benítez-Ribas, Esteve, López-Guillermo, Campo, Urbano-Ispizua, Juan and Delgado.