Assessing Autologous CD7-targeted CAR T-cell Therapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia/Lymphoma

A study assessed autologous CD7 CAR-T therapy in refractory or relapsed r/r T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL/LBL), which may avoid graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). The results were presented at the 2022 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting.

This phase I study, conducted by Liping Zhao and colleagues, was comprised of five patients with CD7⁺ r/r T-ALL/LBL and no leukemia cells in peripheral blood, and followed a “3+3” dose escalation process. The endpoints of interest were adverse events and efficacy.

According to the results, all participants in the study experienced grade 3-4 hematological toxicity; however, these recurred to grade 2 within 30 days. One-month post-transfusion, the investigators observed that all but one patient achieved complete remission. The researchers noted that of the four patients who received target dose, the median peak CAR T cell count in peripheral blood was 4.27×10²/uL (range, 2.49-5.61) by flow cytometry, with the entire study population showing detectable CAR transgene by PCR.

“Autologous CD7 CAR T cell therapy was safe and effective in the induction of remission in r/r T-ALL/LBL patients, without signs of GVHD,” the researchers concluded. They added that “longer follow-up time of more cases will be used to further evaluate this therapy.”