ALBERT

Description: The lung is a prototypic organ that was evolved to reduce immunopathology during the immune response to potentially hazardous endogenous and exogenous antigens. In this study, we show that donor CD4+ T cells transiently induced expression of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) in lung parenchyma in an IFN-γ–dependent manner early after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Abrogation of host IDO expression by deletion of the IDO gene or the IFN-γ gene in donor T cells or by FK506 treatment resulted in acute lethal pulmonary inflammation known as idiopathic pneumonia syndrome (IPS). Interestingly, IL-6 strongly induced IDO expression in an IFN-γ–independent manner when deacetylation of STAT3 was inhibited. Accordingly, a histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACi) could reduce IPS in the state where IFN-γ expression was suppressed by FK506. Finally, l-kynurenine produced by lung epithelial cells and alveolar macrophages during IPS progression suppresses the inflammatory activities of lung epithelial cells and CD4+ T cells through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor pathway. Taken together, our results reveal that IDO is a critical regulator of acute pulmonary inflammation and that regulation of IDO expression by HDACi may be a therapeutic approach for IPS after HSCT.

Description: Introduction. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) represents the largest entity of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. In spite of a remarkable improvement in the treatment of DLBCL patients, considerable proportion of the patients fail to cure. 18F-FDG PET/CT is routinely performed for staging and monitoring of DLBCL. Metabolic heterogeneity (MH) calculated using the PET images potentially reflects heterogeneities of glucose metabolism, blood flow, fibrosis, and hypoxia. While high MH at diagnosis predicts poor prognosis of primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) and other malignancies (Ceriani L, Blood. 2018), the prognostic significance of MH in newly diagnosed DLBCL remains to be clarified. Recently, we reported that high total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) 150cm3 or more predicts poor prognosis of newly diagnosed DLBCL after R-CHOP-like treatment (Senjo H, Cancer Med. 2019). In the current study, we explored the impact of MH in baseline PET-CT on prognosis of newly diagnosed DLBCL and also tested if MH could be correlated with TMTV in baseline PET-CT. Methods. We retrospectively evaluated the impacts of MH at diagnosis on overall survival (OS) and event free survival (EFS) in 86 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL treated with R-CHOP-like regimens at Sapporo Hokuyu Hospital (training cohort). MH was determined using the area under curve of cumulative standardized uptake value-volume histogram (AUC-CSH) method, as previously described (Ceriani L, Blood. 2018). In patients with multiple lesions of lymphoma, the lesion with the highest TMTV was selected for MH evaluation. The results were verified in the independent validation cohort of 64 patients treated at Aiiku Hospital. The study procedures were in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration and institutional ethical guidelines, and were approved by the institutional review boards. Results. ROC curve analysis determined the optimal cutoff value of AUC-CSH as 0.481 for separating patients with EFS failure at 24 months, and therefore we defined AUC-CSH 〈 0.481 and ≥ 0.481 as MH high and MH low, respectively. In the training cohort (n=86), there was no significant difference in the patient characteristics between the MH low and high groups except the significantly higher incidence of bone marrow involvement in the MH low group compared to the MH high group (23.3% vs 0%, P=0.00108). Importantly, both OS and EFS were significantly lower in patients with high MH than in those with low MH [5-year OS (5-yr OS); 89.5% vs 61.2%, P=0.0122, 5-year EFS (5-yr EFS); 73.1% vs 51.1%, P=0.0327] (Figure A). In a univariate analysis, TMTV ≥150cm3 and high MH were associated with poor 5-yr OS and EFS. Pearson's correlation tests demonstrated no correlation between MH and TMTV [R2=0.137 P=0.208] (Figure B). A multivariate analysis that included MH and all factors in NCCN-IPI; age, LDH, clinical stage, ECOG PS and major organ involvement, demonstrated that age 〉 70 and high MH were independently associated with poor 5-yr OS (age; HR, 6.03; 95% CI, 1.63 to 22.3, P=0.00699, MH; HR, 5.68; 95% CI, 1.46 to 22.1, P=0.0121). We performed an additional multivariate analysis including both MH and TMTV. We found that both MH and TMTV persisted as independent prognostic factors in this multivariate analysis (MH; HR, 7.20; 95% CI, 1.49 to 34.7, P=0.014, TMTV; HR, 29.60; 95% CI, 2.93 to 300.0, P=0.00411; log-rank, Table). Combined with TMTV, MH stratified patients into three distinguishable prognostic groups; MH low/TMTV low with 5-yr OS 94.7% and 5-yr EFS 87.9%, MH low/TMTV high or MH high/TMTV low with 5-yr OS 77.7% and 5-yr EFS 61.0%, and MH high/TMTV high with 5-yr OS 45.7% and 5-yr EFS 31.5% (Figure C). In the validation cohort (n=64), we confirmed high MH predicted worse prognosis [5-yr OS; 68.6% vs 37.1%, P = 0.0254, 5-yr EFS; 57.3% vs 32.6%, P=0.0375] (Figure D). MH was not correlated with TMTV in the validation cohort either, and a combination of MH and TMTV again stratified the patients into three distinctive prognostic groups (Figures E and F). In the univariate analysis, MH was again associated with poor 5-yr OS and EFS. In the multivariate analysis, MH was associated with poor 5-yr OS. Altogether, we validated that prognostic values of MH in the patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL. Conclusion. High MH predicts worse prognosis in the patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL independently of NCCN-IPI and was not correlated with TMTV. Baseline MH is a novel prognostic biomarker in DLBCL. Figure Disclosures Teshima: Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Description: Introduction. Elderly patients aged 65 or older with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are often ineligible for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and generally have a poor prognosis. The prognostic risk classification based on NCCN Guidelines Version3. 2017; NCCN 2017 (O'Donnell MR, JNCCN. 2017) is widely performed; however, the impact of this classification on the prognosis of such elderly AML patients is unclear. While nutritional status assessment using controlling nutritional status (CONUT score) based on serum level of albumin (Alb), total-cholesterol (T-chol) and total lymphocyte count (TLC) predicts prognosis of elderly patients with solid tumor (Liu X, BMC Cancer. 2018), the prognostic significance of nutritional status in elderly patients with AML remains to be clarified. Methods. Hokkaido Leukemia Net (HLN) is prospective cohort study collecting AML samples from hospitals of North Japan Hematology Study Group (NJHSG). In this study, we focused on newly diagnosed AML patients aged 65 or older treated without HSCT, and investigated cytogenetic and molecular abnormality of leukemic cells including FLT3-ITD, NPM1, CEBPA, and KIT. We stratified the patients into favorable, intermediate, and adverse risk group based on NCCN 2017. In order to adjust the assessment of nutritional status for hematopoietic malignancy, we modified the CONUT score eliminating TLC from evaluation criteria (modified-CONUT score, Table) and defined patients with score 3 or more at diagnosis as high group. We evaluated the impacts of NCCN 2017 and modified-CONUT scores on overall survival (OS) in these patients. The study procedures were in accordance with the Helsinki Declaration and institutional ethical guidelines, conducted under the auspices of the institutional ethics committee, and approved by the institutional review boards. Results. Overall, 181 patients with newly diagnosed AML patients aged 65 or older enrolled in HLN between April 2010 and March 2018. Seven patients undergone HSCT were excluded and 174 patients were reviewed (Age 65-93, median 71; male 104, female 70). In this cohort, classification based on NCCN 2017 successfully divided the prognosis of the patients for 2-year and 5-year OS [2-year OS; favorable group, 59.9%; intermediate group, 43.8%; adverse group, 8.1%, 5-year OS; favorable group, 41.5%, intermediate group, 19.7%; adverse group, 4.1%, P=0.00258, Figure A]. On 112 patients who had available records of serum Alb levels and T-chol levels at diagnosis, OS in patients with high modified-CONUT score was significantly lower than the low score group [2-year OS; low score group, 50.3%; high score group, 18.5%; 5-year OS; low score group, 23.5%; high score group, 9.24%, P=0.00203, Figure B]. In a univariate analysis, adverse group in NCCN 2017 and high modified-CONUT score were associated with poor 2-year OS. A multivariate analysis demonstrated that　adverse group in NCCN 2017 and high modified-CONUT score were independently associated with poor 2-year OS (adverse group in NCCN 2017; HR, 2.464 ; 95% CI, 1.514 to 4.012, P=0.0002854, high modified-CONUT score; HR, 1.664 ; 95% CI, 1.051 to 2.635, P=0.02976; log-rank). Altogether, we demonstrated that risk stratification based on NCCN 2017 and modified-CONUT score are both effective for predicting prognosis in elderly patients with newly diagnosed AML. Conclusion. The prognostic risk classification based on AML disease status using NCCN Guidelines 2017 effectively stratify prognosis of elderly patients with AML. Moreover, new assessment scoring of patients' nutrition status based on modified-CONUT score can easily stratify elderly patients with newly diagnosed AML. Figure Disclosures Teshima: Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Description: Introduction: Increasing evidence suggests that the intestinal microbiota is involved in the development of acute graft-vs.-host disease (GVHD) after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). We previously reported in single center studies that Enterococcus a) is associated with GVHD (Holler et al., BBMT 2014) and b) can dominate the post-transplant gut microbiota in up to 50% of allo-HCT patients resulting in a 9-fold increased risk of bacteremia (Taur et al, CID 2012). To further investigate the hypothesis that Enterococcus can trigger the development of GVHD, we studied both allo-HCT patients and pre-clinical mouse transplant models. Methods and Results: Stool samples from 1240 allo-HCT patients at 4 different transplant centers in the U.S., Germany and Japan were collected approximately weekly during inpatient hospitalization. The V4-V5 region of the bacterial 16S rRNA genes from 6718 samples was sequenced at one central site on the Illumina platform. We observed Enterococcus mono-domination (relative abundance 〉 30%) in post-transplant samples ranging from 20 to 60% of patients at different centers (Fig. A, left). This mono-domination was primarily attributable to E. faecium, and was associated with a significantly increased risk for grade 2-4 acute GVHD (Fig. A, right). In three different mouse models we found a transient bloom of E. faecalis around 7 days after transplant in allo-HCT recipients with GVHD (Fig. B; C57BL/6 -〉 129SV model). This bloom did not occur in allo-HCT recipients of a T cell depleted allograft without GVHD. To further investigate this Enterococcus bloom, we treated mice with an experimental E. faecalis-strain on days 4 to 6 after transplant and found significantly increased lethal GVHD. Colonizing germ-free mice with a minimal gut flora also lead to increased lethal GVHD when enterococci were added to the gnotobiotic flora (Fig. C). The allo-HCT recipients with Enterococcus-containing flora had also increased serum IFNg levels. Short chain fatty acids (SCFA) can be protective against GVHD and gut inflammation through maintenance of epithelial homeostasis and increases in anti-inflammatory regulatory T cells in the gut. In BMT mouse models, we found that Enterococcus-dominated allo-HCT recipients with GVHD have significantly less cecal butyrate, a major SCFA. Similarly, Enterococcus domination after allo-HCT also leads to a decrease in fecal SCFAs in patients (Fig. D). Next, we hypothesized that intestinal IgA might have a protective role against this pathogen in mice. 16S sequencing of flow sorted IgA-coated vs. non-coated bacteria from fecal samples of allo-HCT patients and transplanted mice revealed no specific IgA-coating pattern of enterococci both before or after transplant rather excluding the hypothesis that IgA might have a protective role against Enterococci. E. faecalis and E. faecium use the disaccharide lactose as a major carbohydrate source for growth and expansion as observed by analyses of the Enterococcus genome and in vitro growth experiments. In mice, we observed that a lactose-free diet significantly decreases the Enterococcus bloom after transplant in allo-T cell recipients and in first survival experiments attenuates lethal GVHD (Fig. E). Conclusion: Our studies in mouse and man demonstrate that the abundance of Enterococcus in the intestinal flora plays a role in the development of GVHD and the prevention of Enterococcus growth with a lactose-free diet can ameliorate GVHD. Disclosures Peled: Seres Therapeutics: Research Funding.

Description: Background: Tisagenlecleucel is an autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy that is approved for adult patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (r/r DLBCL). In the phase 2 JULIET trial, pts could receive bridging therapy (BT), when needed, to permit flexibility in scheduling and maintain disease control. Lymphodepleting chemotherapy (LDC) was started 5-14 days prior to CAR-T cell infusion. Here we present baseline characteristics, efficacy/safety outcomes, and cellular kinetics by BT and type of LDC used in the JULIET trial. Methods: Pts were categorized based on BT or no BT, as well as LDC (cyclophosphamide/fludarabine [Cy/Flu; 250 and 25 mg/m2 IV daily for 3 doses, respectively] or bendamustine [90 mg/m2 IV daily for 2 days]) or no LDC, received prior to tisagenlecleucel infusion. Cy/Flu was the proposed regimen for LDC, followed by bendamustine (if the pt experienced previous grade [G] 4 hemorrhagic cystitis with Cy or demonstrated resistance to a previous Cy-containing regimen). LDC was not required if white blood cell count was 8 weeks to ≤1 year post-infusion, 〉1 year post-infusion, and any time after infusion were generally consistent across BT and LDC groups for prolonged cytopenias, neurological events (NE), cytokine release syndrome (CRS), and infection (Table). Of note, among pts who did not receive BT, only 1 G3 CRS and 1 G3 NE were reported, and no G4 CRS or NE were reported. Additionally, the rate of cytopenias not resolved by day 28 post-infusion was lowest among pts who did not receive BT (1/11 pts). However, cytopenias resolved to ≤G2 by month 3 or month 6 in the majority of pts. Cmax, Tmax, and exposure (AUC0-28d) were similar between LDC groups (Table). Cmax and AUC0-28d were also similar between pts who received BT and those who did not. Additional analyses of subgroups will be presented at the congress. Conclusions: The majority of pts enrolled in the JULIET trial received BT and LDC, indicating high tumor burden and aggressive disease in this pt population with r/r DLBCL. Although the sample size is small (n=11), pts not requiring BT appeared to have less aggressive disease, achieved high response rates, and had no G4 CRS or NE. Pts who did not receive LDC (n=8) seemed to have low response rates, suggesting either the impact of prior therapy, the importance of LDC, or both. Further evaluation of the impact of BT and LDC on clinical outcomes on larger patient population will be possible with the availability of registry data. Clinical trial information: NCT02445248 Table Disclosures Andreadis: Genentech: Consultancy, Employment; Merck: Research Funding; Roche: Equity Ownership; Novartis: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Juno: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy; Kite: Consultancy; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Tam:BeiGene: Honoraria; Roche: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie company: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding. Borchmann:Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding. Jaeger:Novartis, Roche, Sandoz: Consultancy; AbbVie, Celgene, Gilead, Novartis, Roche, Takeda Millennium: Research Funding; Amgen, AbbVie, Celgene, Eisai, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Roche, Takeda Millennium, MSD, BMS, Sanofi: Honoraria; Celgene, Roche, Janssen, Gilead, Novartis, MSD, AbbVie, Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. McGuirk:Astellas: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Fresenius Biotech: Research Funding; Gamida Cell: Research Funding; Pluristem Ltd: Research Funding; ArticulateScience LLC: Other: Assistance with manuscript preparation; Juno Therapeutics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Kite Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Bellicum Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Holte:Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Advisory board. Waller:Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Other: Travel expenses, Research Funding; Cerus Corporation: Other: Stock, Patents & Royalties; Chimerix: Other: Stock; Cambium Oncology: Patents & Royalties: Patents, royalties or other intellectual property ; Amgen: Consultancy; Kalytera: Consultancy. Jaglowski:Unum Therapeutics Inc.: Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Other: advisory board, Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy, Other: advisory board; Kite: Consultancy, Other: advisory board, Research Funding. Bishop:Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Juno: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; CRISPR Therapeutics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Kite: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Foley:Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau. Westin:Curis: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; Janssen: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; Juno: Other: Advisory Board; Celgene: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; 47 Inc: Research Funding; Genentech: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; Novartis: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; MorphoSys: Other: Advisory Board; Unum: Research Funding; Kite: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding. Fleury:Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Consultancy. Ho:Novartis: Other: Trial Investigator meeting travel costs; La Jolla: Other: Trial Investigator meeting travel costs; Janssen: Other: Trial Investigator meeting travel costs; Celgene: Other: Trial Investigator meeting travel costs. Mielke:DGHO: Other: Travel support; IACH: Other: Travel support; EBMT/EHA: Other: Travel support; Miltenyi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel and speakers fee (via institution), Speakers Bureau; GILEAD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel (via institution), Speakers Bureau; Jazz Pharma: Honoraria, Other: Travel support, Speakers Bureau; Kiadis Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support (via institution), Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Travel support (via institution), Speakers Bureau; ISCT: Other: Travel support; Bellicum: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel (via institution). Teshima:Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding. Salles:Epizyme: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Educational events; Autolus: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche, Janssen, Gilead, Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Educational events; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Educational events; BMS: Honoraria; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis, Servier, AbbVie, Karyopharm, Kite, MorphoSys: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Educational events. Schuster:Novartis: Patents & Royalties: Combination Therapies of CAR and PD-1 Inhibitors (royalties to Novartis); i3Health, Dava Oncology, Novartis, OncLive, PER Oncology: Speakers Bureau; AbbVie, Acerta, Celgene, DTRM Bio, Genentech, Incyte, Merck, Novartis, Portola, TG therapeutics: Research Funding; AbbVie, Celgene, Novartis, Nordic Nanovector, Pfizer: Other: steering committee; Acerta, AstraZeneca, Celgene, Juno, LoxoOncology, Novartis: Other: advisory board; i3Health, Acerta, AstraZeneca, Celgene, Dava Oncology, Juno, LoxoOncology, Novartis, Nordic Nanovector, OncLive, PER Oncology, Pfizer: Honoraria. Bachanova:Kite: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Research Funding; Gamida Cell: Research Funding; GT Biopharma: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Maziarz:Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene/Juno: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Kite: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Van Besien:Miltenyi Biotec: Research Funding. Izutsu:Eisai, Chugai, Zenyaku: Honoraria; Kyowa Kirin, Eisai, Takeda, MSD, Chugai, Nihon Medi-physics, Janssen, Ono, Abbvie, Dainihon Sumitomo, Bayer, Astra Zeneca, HUYA Japan, Novartis, Bristol-Byers Squibb, Mundi, Otsuka, Daiichi Sankyo, Astellas, Asahi Kasei: Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy; Eisai, Symbio, Chugai, Zenyaku: Research Funding; Chugai, Celgene, Daiichi Sankyo, Astra Zeneca, Eisai, Symbio, Ono, Bayer, Solasia, Zenyaku, Incyte, Novartis, Sanofi, HUYA Bioscience, MSD, Astellas Amgen, Abbvie, ARIAD, Takeda, Pfizer: Research Funding. Wagner-Johnston:Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jannsen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ADC Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Corradini:Amgen: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria; Gilead: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; Jazz Pharmaceutics: Honoraria; KiowaKirin: Honoraria; Kite: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; Roche: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; Servier: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; BMS: Other: Travel Costs. Tiwari:Novartis: Employment. Awasthi:Novartis: Employment. Lawniczek:Novartis: Employment. Eldjerou:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Employment. Kersten:MSD: Other: Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards; Janssen/Cilag: Other: Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards; Kite: Consultancy, Other: Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards; Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding, Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards; Bristol Myers Squibb: Other: Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Other: Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards; Celgene: Other: Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards; Gilead: Other: Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards; Amgen: Other: Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards; Roche: Other: Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding.

Description: BACKGROUND JULIET (NCT02445248) is a single-arm, open-label, multicenter, global, pivotal phase 2 trial of tisagenlecleucel, a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy targeting CD19, that has shown a high rate of durable complete responses (CR) and a manageable safety profile in adult patients with clinically active relapsed/refractory (r/r) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The primary objective was met at the interim analysis, with an overall response rate (ORR) of 59% (CR, 43%; partial response [PR], 16%). Here, we present an updated analysis of the JULIET trial, with a median of 19 months of follow-up, an additional 5 months since the previous report (Schuster et al. EHA 2018), demonstrating sustained activity in this patient population. METHODS Eligible patients were ≥18 years with r/r DLBCL, had received ≥2 lines of therapy, including rituximab and an anthracycline, and were ineligible for or had failed autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). Tisagenlecleucel was centrally manufactured at 2 facilities (Morris Plains, NJ, USA [main cohort] and Leipzig, Germany [cohort A]) using cryopreserved apheresis material and provided to patients at 27 treatment sites across 10 countries on 4 continents using a global supply chain. The primary endpoint was ORR (CR + PR) per independent review committee. Efficacy results are reported for patients in the main cohort with ≥3 months of follow-up or earlier discontinuation; safety is reported for all infused patients. RESULTS At data cutoff (May 21, 2018), 167 patients were enrolled and 115 were infused (99 in the main cohort and 16 in cohort A) with a single dose of tisagenlecleucel (median, 3.0×108 [range, 0.1-6.0×108] CAR-positive viable T cells). 90% of infused patients received bridging therapy and 93% received lymphodepleting chemotherapy. Median time from infusion to data cutoff was 19.3 months. Median age was 56 years (range, 22-76 years); 23% were aged ≥65 years. At study entry, 77% of infused patients had stage III/IV disease and 17% had double/triple hit disease. 55% and 43% had germinal center and activated B-cell molecular subtypes, respectively. 51% of patients had received ≥3 prior lines of antineoplastic therapy (range, 1-6); 49% had undergone a prior ASCT. All 99 patients in the main cohort had ≥3 months of follow-up or discontinued earlier and were evaluable for efficacy. ORR was 54% (95% CI, 43%-64%), with 40% CR and 13% PR. ORR was consistent across prognostic subgroups (including prior ASCT and double/triple-hit lymphoma). Median duration of response (DOR) was not reached; the probability of being relapse free was 66% (95% CI, 51%-78%) at 6 months and 64% (95% CI, 48%-76%) at 12 and 18 months. DOR was similar by age group (≥ vs 〈 65 years) and by relapsed or refractory status (Figure). No relapses were observed beyond 11 months after infusion. Median OS for all infused patients was 11.1 months (95% CI, 6.6 months-NE) and not reached (95% CI, 21 months-NE) for patients in CR. OS probability was 48% (95% CI, 38%-57%) at 12 months and 43% (95%CI, 33%-53%) at 18 months (max follow-up, 29 months). No patients proceeded to allogeneic SCT or ASCT while in remission. Grade 3 or 4 adverse events (AEs) of special interest within 8 weeks of infusion included cytopenias lasting 〉28 days (34%), cytokine release syndrome (CRS; 23%, by the Penn scale), infections (19%), febrile neutropenia (15%), neurological events (11%; 1 case of grade 2 cerebral edema), and tumor lysis syndrome (2%). 16% of patients received tocilizumab for CRS management. 3 patients died within 30 days of infusion (all due to disease progression). No treatment-related mortality was reported. Since the previous report, no new deaths occurred due to causes other than disease progression. CONCLUSION Results from this longer-term follow-up show that tisagenlecleucel produced high response rates and durable responses in a cohort of heavily pretreated adult patients with r/r DLBCL. Efficacy was consistent in all predefined subgroups, including elderly patients, patients with r/r disease, and other clinical or biological subgroups expected to have a worse prognosis with available treatments, as demonstrated by similar and sustained DOR and OS following tisagenlecleucel treatment. Figure. Figure. Disclosures Schuster: Genentech: Honoraria, Research Funding; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Nordic Nanovector: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Dava Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria. Bishop:Juneau Therapeutics: Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; United Healthcare: Employment; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Speakers Bureau. Tam:AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Beigene: Honoraria. Borchmann:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria. Jaeger:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda-Millenium: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Infinity: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Mundipharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda-Millenium: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MSD: Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Bioverativ: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria; AOP Orphan: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Waller:Pharmacyclics: Other: Travel Expenses, EHA, Research Funding; Celldex: Research Funding; Kalytera: Consultancy; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Cambium Medical Technologies: Consultancy, Equity Ownership. Holte:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche, Norway: Research Funding. McGuirk:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Honoraria, Other: speaker, Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Honoraria, Other: travel accommodations, expenses, speaker ; Fresenius Biotech: Research Funding; Pluristem Ltd: Research Funding; Gamida Cell: Research Funding; Bellicum Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Astellas Pharma: Research Funding. Jaglowski:Kite Pharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy, Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy. Tobinai:Abbvie: Research Funding; SERVIER: Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Mundipharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; Eisai: Honoraria, Research Funding; GlaxoSmithKline: Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Ono Pharmaceutical: Honoraria, Research Funding; Kyowa Hakko Kirin: Honoraria, Research Funding; Chugai Pharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; HUYA Bioscience International: Consultancy, Honoraria; Zenyaku Kogyo: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Andreadis:Cellerant Therapeutics: Research Funding; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding; Genentech Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria; Gilead Sciences: Honoraria; Astellas: Honoraria. Fleury:F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy; Lundbeck: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy. Mielke:Celgene: Speakers Bureau; KIADIS Pharma: Speakers Bureau; Miltenyi Biotec: Speakers Bureau; DGHO: Speakers Bureau; EHA: Speakers Bureau. Westin:Apotex: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Kite Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Bachanova:Kite Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gamida Cell: Research Funding; GT Biopharma: Research Funding. Foley:Celgene: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel expenses ; Amgen: Honoraria; Janssen: Speakers Bureau; Jazz Pharma: Other: Travel expenses . Ho:Amgen: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: travel to meeting; Celgene: Other: travel to meeting. Wagner-Johnston:JUNO: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Merck: Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ASTEX: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding. Kersten:Millennium/Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding; Kite/Gilead: Honoraria; Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Honoraria. Chu:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Employment. Jary:Novartis Pharma AG: Employment. Anak:Novartis Pharma AG: Employment. Salles:Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Pfizer: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Servier: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Merck: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Gilead: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Acerta: Honoraria; Morphosys: Honoraria; Servier: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board; Epizyme: Honoraria; Abbvie: Honoraria. Maziarz:Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria; Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Kite Therapeutics: Honoraria; Athersys, Inc.: Patents & Royalties.

Description: Background: In the phase 2 JULIET trial, tisagenlecleucel, an anti-CD19 CAR-T cell therapy, demonstrated durable responses and manageable safety in adult patients (pts) with r/r DLBCL. Here, we examine the impact of key product cellular attributes of tisagenlecleucel on clinical outcomes. Methods: JULIET is a single-arm, global, phase 2 trial of tisagenlecleucel in adult pts with r/r DLBCL. Samples from 115 tisagenlecleucel individual products were examined at the end of manufacturing at the batch release testing for various product attributes (Table). Additional detailed immunophenotyping for 66 attributes was conducted on previously frozen product samples via flow cytometry (FC). For each cell population of CAR+ T cells, the percentage and absolute number of the subpopulation were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate effects of product attributes and CAR+ T-cell phenotypes on efficacy (Month 3 response [M3R], duration of response [DOR], progression-free survival [PFS], overall survival [OS]) and safety (cytokine release syndrome [CRS] and neurological events [NE], grade 0-2 [low] vs 3-4 [severe]). Several exploratory approaches, including machine learning methods (eg, elastic net and random forest), were pursued in conjunction with logistic regression to identify a set of variables associated with clinical outcomes. We included clinically relevant characteristics evaluated at baseline per protocol (LDH, CRP, and tumor volume) with the product attributes in multivariate modeling. Logistic regression was used to model M3R, CRS, and NE. Cox regression was used to model DOR, PFS, and OS. Results: As of December 11, 2018, 115 pts were infused and evaluable. The median T-cell transduction efficiency by FC was 28% (range, 5.3-63.2%); no relationship of these attributes with efficacy (M3R, DOR, PFS, or OS) or safety (severe CRS or NE) was observed. The percentage of viable cells had no impact on efficacy or safety outcomes; this was anticipated since tisagenlecleucel dose is formulated based on the number of viable CAR+ T cells. Tisagenlecleucel demonstrated in vitro functional activity upon CD19-specific stimulation, as evidenced by IFNγ release, with a wide range among different batches (range, 23.7-938 fg/CAR+ cell). Durable responses were observed across the entire range of IFNγ release; high IFNγ release was not associated with severe CRS or NE. The median ratio of CAR+ CD4+ to CD8+ cells was 3.70 (range, 0.26-65.3); no relationship with clinical outcomes was observed (Figure). CAR+ T cells showed variability in T-cell phenotypes, with central memory (CM) cells as the predominant subpopulation of both CD4+ and CD8+ CAR+ T cells (Figure). The majority of CAR+ T cells were highly activated (co-expressing HLA-DR and CD38), as measured by FC. Relative and absolute number of less mature T cells (naive and CM T cells) in the product did not correlate with efficacy. There was no significant correlation between cell populations and efficacy on multivariate analyses. For CRS, the total number of certain CD4+ T cells expressing activation markers (HLA-DR+, CD25+, or HLA-DR+CD38+) and CM cells showed trends of correlation with more severe CRS, but none of these were significant after p-value adjustment; in a multivariate regression model adjusted for LDH and other clinically relevant factors, HLA-DR+ CD38+CD4+ T cells showed a correlation with severe CRS. Correlation analyses did not reveal product attributes significantly related to severe NE. Conclusions: In JULIET, tisagenlecleucel CAR-T cell product attributes had no significant impact on efficacy or NE; the total number of activated CD4+ cells infused positively correlated with higher-grade CRS. There is great variability in the product attributes, especially with respect to T-cell phenotypes, though this variability appears to play a minor role on efficacy. Additional analyses with larger data sets are required to confirm these findings. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02445248. Disclosures Bachanova: Novartis: Research Funding; Gamida Cell: Research Funding; GT Biopharma: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Kite: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding. Tam:BeiGene: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria, Research Funding. Jaeger:Novartis, Roche, Sandoz: Consultancy; AbbVie, Celgene, Gilead, Novartis, Roche, Takeda Millennium: Research Funding; Amgen, AbbVie, Celgene, Eisai, Gilead, Janssen, Novartis, Roche, Takeda Millennium, MSD, BMS, Sanofi: Honoraria; Celgene, Roche, Janssen, Gilead, Novartis, MSD, AbbVie, Sanofi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. McGuirk:Novartis: Research Funding; Fresenius Biotech: Research Funding; Astellas: Research Funding; Bellicum Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Kite Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Gamida Cell: Research Funding; Pluristem Ltd: Research Funding; ArticulateScience LLC: Other: Assistance with manuscript preparation; Juno Therapeutics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Holte:Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Advisory board. Waller:Amgen: Consultancy; Kalytera: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Other: Travel expenses, Research Funding; Cerus Corporation: Other: Stock, Patents & Royalties; Chimerix: Other: Stock; Cambium Oncology: Patents & Royalties: Patents, royalties or other intellectual property . Jaglowski:Juno: Consultancy, Other: advisory board; Kite: Consultancy, Other: advisory board, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Other: advisory board, Research Funding; Unum Therapeutics Inc.: Research Funding. Bishop:CRISPR Therapeutics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Kite: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau. Andreadis:Celgene: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Roche: Equity Ownership; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy; Kite: Consultancy; Genentech: Consultancy, Employment; Juno: Research Funding. Foley:Celgene: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau. Westin:Unum: Research Funding; Genentech: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; Novartis: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; Janssen: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; Juno: Other: Advisory Board; Kite: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; 47 Inc: Research Funding; Curis: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding; MorphoSys: Other: Advisory Board; Celgene: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding. Fleury:Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Consultancy. Ho:Janssen: Other: Trial Investigator meeting travel costs; Celgene: Other: Trial Investigator meeting travel costs; La Jolla: Other: Trial Investigator meeting travel costs; Novartis: Other: Trial Investigator meeting travel costs. Mielke:Miltenyi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel and speakers fee (via institution), Speakers Bureau; DGHO: Other: Travel support; Jazz Pharma: Honoraria, Other: Travel support, Speakers Bureau; EBMT/EHA: Other: Travel support; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Travel support (via institution), Speakers Bureau; ISCT: Other: Travel support; Bellicum: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel (via institution); GILEAD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel (via institution), Speakers Bureau; Kiadis Pharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel support (via institution), Speakers Bureau; IACH: Other: Travel support. Teshima:Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding. Salles:Roche, Janssen, Gilead, Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Educational events; Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Educational events; BMS: Honoraria; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis, Servier, AbbVie, Karyopharm, Kite, MorphoSys: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Educational events; Autolus: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Educational events; Epizyme: Consultancy, Honoraria. Schuster:Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Acerta: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Loxo Oncology: Consultancy, Honoraria; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Nordic Nanovector: Consultancy, Honoraria; Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Patents & Royalties: Combination CAR-T and PD-1 Inhibitors, Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Maziarz:Kite: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Consultancy, Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene/Juno: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Van Besien:Miltenyi Biotec: Research Funding. Izutsu:Eisai, Chugai, Zenyaku: Honoraria; Chugai, Celgene, Daiichi Sankyo, Astra Zeneca, Eisai, Symbio, Ono, Bayer, Solasia, Zenyaku, Incyte, Novartis, Sanofi, HUYA Bioscience, MSD, Astellas Amgen, Abbvie, ARIAD, Takeda, Pfizer: Research Funding; Eisai, Symbio, Chugai, Zenyaku: Research Funding; Kyowa Kirin, Eisai, Takeda, MSD, Chugai, Nihon Medi-physics, Janssen, Ono, Abbvie, Dainihon Sumitomo, Bayer, Astra Zeneca, HUYA Japan, Novartis, Bristol-Byers Squibb, Mundi, Otsuka, Daiichi Sankyo, Astellas, Asahi Kasei: Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy. Kersten:Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite: Consultancy, Other: Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards; Janssen/Cilag: Other: Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Other: Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards; Gilead: Other: Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards; Amgen: Other: Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards; Roche: Other: Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards; Celgene: Other: Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards; Roche: Consultancy, Research Funding, Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards; MSD: Other: Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards; Bristol Myers Squibb: Other: Travel grants, honorarium, or advisory boards. Wagner-Johnston:ADC Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bayer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jannsen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Corradini:Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; Jazz Pharmaceutics: Honoraria; KiowaKirin: Honoraria; Kite: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; Roche: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; Servier: Honoraria; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; BMS: Other: Travel Costs; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; Amgen: Honoraria; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; Gilead: Honoraria, Other: Travel Costs; Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria. Chu:Novartis: Employment. Gershgorin:Novartis: Employment. Choquette:Novartis: Employment. Bubuteishvili Pacaud:Novartis: Employment. Jeschke:Novartis: Employment.