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Endothelial activation and stress index (EASIX) predicts nonrelapse mortality (NRM) when assessed before hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). We sought to determine whether changes in EASIX after HCT may be an informative marker of NRM. We evaluated 509 adults who underwent reduced intensity, unmodified (N = 149, 29%), or myeloablative ex vivo CD34+-selected allogeneic HCT (allo-HCT) (N = 306, 71%) between 2008 and 2016. Patients who underwent unmodified allo-HCT received tacrolimus-based graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis, whereas CD34+-selected patients received no planned immunosuppression. EASIX (lactate dehydrogenase × creatinine/platelet count) was calculated continuously until 1-year after HCT. Log transformation using base 2 (log2) was applied to all EASIX variables to reduce skew. In total, 360 patients (71%) received CD34+-selected and 149 (29%) unmodified allo-HCT. Among all patients, EASIX scores increased rapidly, peaked at day +8, then declined rapidly until day +33. Thereafter, scores declined gradually but remained above the pre-HCT baseline. In unmodified HCT, scores appeared higher over time than in CD34+-selected patients. EASIX discrimination of NRM was highest around day +180 (concordance index = 0.85) in both platforms, but the prognostic impact of EASIX across time points differed between the 2 platforms. Mean EASIX scores were higher in men (mean log2 +0.52) and in patients who developed grade 2 to 4 GVHD (+0.81) and lower in patients who received matched vs mismatched donors (−0.81, all P < .01). EASIX scores are dynamic and variably concordant with NRM when analyzed longitudinally, and patterns differ between HCT platforms. Compared to pre-HCT evaluation, post-HCT EASIX scores may better predict risk of NRM as patients acquire additional endothelial injury and toxicities.

The post-transplant scoring system (PTSS), developed by the Francophone Society of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, is based on three independent post-transplant risk factors: grade of acute graft-versus-host disease, lack of platelet recovery before day 100, and relapse before day 100; discriminating low- (0), intermediate- (1–3), and high-risk (4–8) patients. We investigated the prognostic value of the PTSS in a cohort of patients with MDS who underwent myeloablative CD34-selected TCD transplants. From 2008 to 2018, 109 patients underwent a first TCD-HCT for MDS at our center. We used Cox proportional hazards models and different landmark analyses to evaluate the association of categorized PTSS score risk groups with overall survival (OS). Patients with an intermediate/ high risk PTSS score had decreased OS at day 180 (univariate HR 3.25 [95% CI 1.60, 6.60], p = 0.001) and at day 365 (univariate HR 5.42 [95% CI 2.21, 13.3], p

Individual comorbidities have distinct contributions to nonrelapse mortality (NRM) following allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). We studied the impact of comorbidities individually and in combination in a single-center cohort of 573 adult patients who underwent CD34-selected allo-HCT following myeloablative conditioning. Pulmonary disease, moderate to severe hepatic comorbidity, cardiac disease of any type, and renal dysfunction were associated with increased NRM in multivariable Cox regression models. A Simplified Comorbidity Index (SCI) composed of the 4 comorbidities predictive of NRM, as well as age >60 years, stratified patients into 5 groups with a stepwise increase in NRM. NRM rates ranged from 11.4% to 49.9% by stratum, with adjusted hazard ratios of 1.84, 2.59, 3.57, and 5.38. The SCI was also applicable in an external cohort of 230 patients who underwent allo-HCT with unmanipulated grafts following intermediate-intensity conditioning. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the SCI for 1-year NRM was 70.3 and 72.0 over the development and external-validation cohorts, respectively; corresponding AUCs of the Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation–specific Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI) were 61.7 and 65.7. In summary, a small set of comorbidities, aggregated into the SCI, is highly predictive of NRM. The new index stratifies patients into distinct risk groups, was validated in an external cohort, and provides higher discrimination than does the HCT-CI.

Patients who develop chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell–related severe cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) exhibit hemodynamic instability and endothelial activation. The EASIX (Endothelial Activation and Stress Index) score (lactate dehydrogenase [LDH; U/L] × creatinine [mg/dL]/platelets [PLTs; 109 cells/L]) is a marker of endothelial damage that correlates with outcomes in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Elevated LDH and low PLTs have been associated with severe CRS and ICANS, as has C-reactive protein (CRP), while increased creatinine is seen only in a minority of advanced severe CRS cases. We hypothesized that EASIX and 2 new modified EASIX formulas (simplified EASIX, which excludes creatinine, and modified EASIX [m-EASIX], which replaces creatinine with CRP [mg/dL]), calculated peri-CAR T-cell infusion, would be associated with development of severe (grade ≥ 3) CRS and ICANS. We included 118 adults, 53 with B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia treated with 1928z CAR T cells ({"type":"clinical-trial","attrs":{"text":"NCT01044069","term_id":"NCT01044069"}}NCT01044069) and 65 with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel or tisagenlecleucel. The 3 formulas showed similar predictive power for severe CRS and ICANS. However, low PLTs and high CRP values were the only variables individually correlated with these toxicities. Moreover, only m-EASIX was a significant predictor of disease response. m-EASIX could discriminate patients who subsequently developed severe CRS preceding the onset of severe symptoms (area under the curve [AUC] at lymphodepletion, 80.4%; at day −1, 73.0%; and at day +1, 75.4%). At day +3, it also had high discriminatory ability for severe ICANS (AUC, 73%). We propose m-EASIX as a clinical tool to potentially guide individualized management of patients at higher risk for severe CAR T-cell–related toxicities.

Research on CAR T cells has achieved enormous progress in recent years. After the impressive results obtained in relapsed and refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and aggressive B-cell lymphomas, two constructs, tisagenlecleucel and axicabtagene ciloleucel, were approved by FDA. The role of CAR T cells in the treatment of B-cell disorders, however, is rapidly evolving. Ongoing clinical trials aim at comparing CAR T cells with standard treatment options and at evaluating their efficacy earlier in the disease course. The use of CAR T cells is still limited by the risk of relevant toxicities, most commonly cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity, whose management has nonetheless significantly improved. Some patients do not respond or relapse after treatment, either because of poor CAR T-cell expansion, lack of anti-tumor effects or after the loss of the target antigen on tumor cells. Investigators are trying to overcome these hurdles in many ways: by testing constructs which target different and/or multiple antigens or by improving CAR T-cell structure with additional functions and synergistic molecules. Alternative cell sources including allogeneic products (off-the-shelf CAR T cells), NK cells, and T cells obtained from induced pluripotent stem cells are also considered. Several trials are exploring the curative potential of CAR T cells in other malignancies, and recent data on multiple myeloma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia are encouraging. Given the likely expansion of CAR T-cell indications and their wider availability over time, more and more highly specialized clinical centers, with dedicated clinical units, will be required. Overall, the costs of these cell therapies will also play a role in the sustainability of many health care systems. This review will focus on the major clinical trials of CAR T cells in B-cell malignancies, including those leading to the first FDA approvals, and on the new settings in which these constructs are being tested. Besides, the most promising approaches to improve CAR T-cell efficacy and early data on alternative cell sources will be reviewed. Finally, we will discuss the challenges and the opportunities that are emerging with the advent of CAR T cells into clinical routine.

Older patients with advanced hematologic malignancies are increasingly considered for allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) yet their survival outcomes remain suboptimal. We and others have previously shown that pre-HCT multi-morbidity and functional limitation and post-HCT geriatric syndromes significantly impact outcomes. Sarcopenia, an accelerated loss of muscle mass and function, has been increasingly recognized in older cancer patients. We identified 146 lymphoma patients 50 years or older who were allografted from 2008 to 2018 at our institution and found that before allo-HCT, 80 (55%) patients were sarcopenic. Pre-HCT sarcopenia was significantly associated with overall survival, progression-free survival, and non-relapse mortality independent of multi-morbidity and functional limitation. In 6-month landmark analysis, post-HCT sarcopenia remained significantly associated with survival. Our findings illustrate the high prevalence and profound impact of sarcopenia on survival. While requiring prospective confirmation, preemptive, longitudinal, and multidisciplinary interventions for sarcopenia are warranted to improve HCT outcomes for older patients.

Context and Objectives: The myriad of benefits of early palliative care (PC) integration in oncology are well established, and emerging evidence suggests that PC improves symptom burden, mood, and quality of life for hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) recipients. Specific impact of PC consultation on outcomes of older allogeneic HCT (allo-HCT) recipients, a historically high-risk population vulnerable to transplant-related complications and mortality, has not been explored. Design and Methods: In this single institution, retrospective analysis of 527 first allo-HCT recipients aged ≥60 years, we characterized 75 patients who had received post-HCT PC consultation and its association with geriatric vulnerabilities identified by pre-HCT geriatric assessment. We also examined end-of-life care outcomes among patients who died within one-year of allo-hematopoietic cell transplantation. Results: In multivariate analysis, higher disease risk, female gender, and, importantly, pre-HCT functional limitation (hazard ratio 2.35, 95% confidence interval, 1.35–4.09, p = 0.003) were associated with post-HCT PC utilization. Within one-year of hematopoietic cell transplantation, 127 patients died; among those, recipients of early PC consultation had significantly higher rates of hospice enrollment (25% vs. 9%, p = 0.019) and lower rates of hospital death (71% vs. 90%, p = 0.013), intensive care unit admission (44% vs. 75%, p = 0.001), and high-intensity medical care in last 30 days of life (46% vs. 77%, p = 0.001). Conclusions: Our results highlight important pre-HCT risk factors associated with increased PC needs posthematopoietic cell transplantation and benefits of PC involvement for older allo-HCT recipients at the end of life. Prospective studies should examine the optimal timing of PC consultation and its multidimensional benefits for older allo-HCT patients.

BACKGROUND: Relationships between microbiota composition and clinical outcomes after allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplantation have been described in single-center studies. Geographic variations in the composition of human microbial communities and differences in clinical practices across institutions raise the question of whether these associations are generalizable. METHODS: The microbiota composition of fecal samples obtained from patients who were undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplantation at four centers was profiled by means of 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequencing. In an observational study, we examined associations between microbiota diversity and mortality using Cox proportional-hazards analysis. For stratification of the cohorts into higher- and lower-diversity groups, the median diversity value that was observed at the study center in New York was used. In the analysis of independent cohorts, the New York center was cohort 1, and three centers in Germany, Japan, and North Carolina composed cohort 2. Cohort 1 and subgroups within it were analyzed for additional outcomes, including transplantation-related death. RESULTS: We profiled 8767 fecal samples obtained from 1362 patients undergoing allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplantation at the four centers. We observed patterns of microbiota disruption characterized by loss of diversity and domination by single taxa. Higher diversity of intestinal microbiota was associated with a lower risk of death in independent cohorts (cohort 1: 104 deaths among 354 patients in the higher-diversity group vs. 136 deaths among 350 patients in the lower-diversity group; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55 to 0.92; cohort 2: 18 deaths among 87 patients in the higher-diversity group vs. 35 deaths among 92 patients in the lower-diversity group; adjusted hazard ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.27 to 0.90). Subgroup analyses identified an association between lower intestinal diversity and higher risks of transplantation-related death and death attributable to graft-versus-host disease. Baseline samples obtained before transplantation already showed evidence of microbiome disruption, and lower diversity before transplantation was associated with poor survival. CONCLUSIONS: Patterns of microbiota disruption during allogeneic hematopoietic-cell transplantation were similar across transplantation centers and geographic locations; patterns were characterized by loss of diversity and domination by single taxa. Higher diversity of intestinal microbiota at the time of neutrophil engraftment was associated with lower mortality. (Funded by the National Cancer Institute and others.)

BACKGROUND: Patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) generally have poor overall survival (OS). Interventions that result in improved OS after relapse are not well established. The efficacy of second cellular therapy and specific indications are debated. OBJECTIVES: To study factors associated with post-relapse survival and efficacy of a second course of cellular therapy. STUDY DESIGN: We retrospectively analyzed consecutive AML and MDS patients who received a first alloHCT between 2010 and 2017 at our center but subsequently relapsed. One-hundred-and-four patients with AML and 44 with MDS were included (total n=148). Bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) grafts were either unmodified or T-cell depleted (TCD) by CD34+ selection ex-vivo. Forty-five patients (30.4%) received second cellular therapy after relapse, either a second alloHCT (n=28, 18.9%) or donor leukocyte infusion (n=17, 11.5%). RESULTS: The median age at transplant was 60 years (range: 24–78). The median time to relapse (TTR) after transplant was 6.5 months (range: 1–60.9) and the ensuing median OS was 6 months (95% CI: 4.8–8.9). In univariable analysis, longer TTR, relapse type (MRD vs. morphologic), relapse occurring in the most recent years, and receipt of cellular therapy after relapse were associated with better outcomes, whereas adverse cytogenetics and/or abnormality of TP53, as well as NPM1 mutation in patients with AML, were associated with adverse outcomes. Relapse type, year of relapse, and a variable resulting from the combination of TTR and receipt of second cellular therapy remained significantly associated with post-relapse survival in multivariable analysis. In a separate multivariable model, only adjusted for TTR, relapse type, and receipt of second cellular therapy, an adverse effect of NPM1 mutation on survival was confirmed. We could not show an effect of post-transplant maintenance on survival after relapse. In both univariable and multivariable analysis, we found a positive association for second cellular therapy with survival after relapse in patients who relapsed early (< 6 months) after alloHCT and a similar trend in patients who relapsed late (> 12 months) after transplant. Two-year OS after second cellular therapy was 44.9% (95% CI: 28.5–61.4), and it was significantly better in patients with less than 5% BM blasts before cell infusion. We could not show a different effect on survival after second cellular therapy for DLI vs. second alloHCT in univariable analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Survival after relapse is improving over time, but this remains a challenging event, especially for patients relapsing early after transplant. We showed that second cellular therapy could offer a benefit even in these cases. Still, more research is needed to clarify which are the most appropriate treatment choices after relapse. These are probably driven by underlying genetic and immunologic conditions, which should be the focus of future studies.

Introduction/Methods The trajectory of functional decline and the prevalence of geriatric syndromes have not been examined among long-term survivors of older allo-HCT recipients. We previously described significant burden and adverse impact of post-transplant geriatric syndromes, delirium and fall, among older allogeneic recipients. We report here theprevalence and impact of geriatric syndromes in 2-year, progression-free survivors among this cohort of patients using our institutional database. Baseline characteristics, transplant outcomes, geriatric assessment domains, and geriatric syndromes were obtained and analyzed as previously described. Results We identified 199 2-year, progression-free survivors of patients allografted at age ≥60 years from 2001 to 2016, including 111 out of 241 patients on the CD34+ selection platform (46%), and 88 out of 231 T-cell replete patients (38%). The median age at allo-HCT was 65.4 years (range 60 – 78.7); 73% had myeloid malignancies; 69% had high/very high risk HCT-CI/age; 14% had a mismatched donor; and 56% had a CD34+ selected graft. With a median follow-up of 5.7 years for survivors, the 3-yr OS and RFS from the 2-year landmark was 86% (95% CI, 80 – 91) and 83% (95% CI, 78 – 89). Thirty-three patients died, including 8 from relapse/disease progression, and 25 from non-relapse mortality (6 each from secondary neoplasm, organ failure, and infections). The 3-year cumulative incidence of new functional impairment (FI), defined as new admission to skilled nursing facility, fall, or assisted walking device from the 2-year landmark, was 20% (95% CI, 15 – 27). In addition, the 3-year cumulative incidence of new psychiatric illness and cognitive decline was 6% (95% CI, 3 – 11) and 5% (95% CI, 3 – 10), respectively (Figure 1). We examined factors associated with new FI and found that, among others, patients who were transplanted with a CD34+ selected graft had lower incidence of new FI in univariate (hazard ratio [HR]=0.49, 95% CI 0.28 – 0.86, P=0.014) and multivariate analysis with borderline significance (HR=0.53, 95% CI 0.27 – 1.02, P=0.056). In 2-year landmark analyses, both high/very high HCT-CI/age index and mismatched donor were significantly associated with inferior OS and RFS (Table 1). Conclusion While limited by the single institution, retrospective design, heterogenous transplant approach, and likely under-reporting, our findings nevertheless illustrate the high prevalence of FI among older allo-HCT survivors, which maybe attenuated by the CD34+ selection platform. In addition, the impact of graft-versus-host disease on the development of geriatric syndromes merits closer examination. While requiring prospective confirmation, long-term functional impairment should be considered as an important secondary outcome when comparing curative strategies to other less intense approaches in older patients with hematologic malignancies.

Introduction The BMT CTN 0901 phase 3 trial showed improved relapse-free survival (RFS) in patients with AML or MDS with myeloablative-conditioning (MAC) vs. Reduced intensity conditioning (RIC) allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT). However, overall survival (OS) increase was not statistically significant because of higher non-relapse mortality (NRM) compared to RIC allo-HCT. HCT-CI ≥ 3 also predicts for poor OS related to high NRM in patients undergoing MAC CD34+ selected allo-HCT. Objectives We aimed to evaluate impact on OS, NRM and RFS of MAC CD34+ selected vs. RIC allo-HCT in patients with high comorbidity burden. Methods We retrospectively compared the outcomes of 221 patients with AML or MDS with HCT-CI ≥ 3 who underwent MAC CD34+ selected (n=157) vs. RIC allo-HCT (n=64) at our institution from 2009 to 2017. The indication for MAC CD34+ vs. RIC allo-HCT was based on multidisciplinary consensus and primary physician's choice. Results Patients in the RIC group were older, had a higher proportion of high disease risk index (DRI), and higher use of matched unrelated donors compared to the MAC CD34+ group. HCTCI grades were balanced between the two cohorts, but the RIC group had a higher though non-significant proportion of patients with HCTCI > 5 (Figure 1). When comparing the MAC CD34+ vs. unmodified RIC cohorts, respectively, no difference was seen in OS [43% (95% CI 32-59) vs. 53% (95% CI 46-52), p=0.37], NRM [31% (95% CI 19-44) vs. 30% (95% CI 23-38), p=0.74], and relapse-free survival (RFS) [34% (95% CI 23-49) vs. 48% (95% CI 41-57) p=0.1], even when adjusting for age, DRI, and donor differences (Figure 2). However, incidence of acute and chronic graft versus host disease (GVHD) was lower for MAC CD34+ allo-HCT. When evaluating outcomes by HCT-CI subgroups (3, 4-5 and >5), MAC CD34+ allo-HCT resulted in higher 3-year estimated RFS [54% (95% CI 44-68) vs. 28% (95% CI 14-58), p=0.03] in patients with HCT-CI = 3, though this did not translate into an OS advantage [44% (95% CI 27-73) vs 59% (95% CI 48-72), p=0.26], possibly related to higher though non-significant NRM [16% (95% CI 4-35) vs. 28% (95% CI 18-39), p=0.26] (figure 3). When adjusting for differences in age, DRI, and donor, the difference in RFS was no longer statistically significant (p=0.13). Conclusions Though limited by their retrospective nature, our data suggest that CD34+ selected allografts after myeloablative conditioning can be feasible in selected patients with comorbidity scores over 3 with low rates of acute and chronic GVHD. However, further prospective studies are needed to reduce NRM and optimize this treatment platform in older patients with comorbidities.

Introduction Patients (pts) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) who relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT) have historically shown very poor post-relapse overall survival (prOS). Objective To study the factors and treatment strategies associated with the best prOS. Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of all pts at our institution who received a first allo-HCT between 2010 and 2017 for AML or MDS but relapsed post-transplant. Bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) grafts were included, either T-cell depleted (TCD) by ex-vivo CD34+ selection (Miltenyi CliniMACS) or unmodified. Univariate (UVA) Cox proportional hazards regression was used to examine the association between prOS and patient-, disease-, and transplant-related variables. Receipt of second cell therapy (sCT) after relapse was a time-dependent covariate. Results Key characteristics of the study population are listed in Table 1. Median time to relapse (TTR) was 6 months (range: 1-61) and median prOS was also 6 months (95%CI: 4.8-8.8) in the whole population. AML pts showed shorter median prOS compared with MDS pts (5.3 [95%CI: 3.9-8] vs. 9.4 [95%CI: 5.7-24] months, p=0.026). No statistically significant associations were observed between prOS and conditioning intensity (reduced vs. ablative) or graft manipulation (TCD vs. unmodified). There was a significant association between TTR and prOS (Fig. 1). Forty-five pts received sCT after relapse, either a second allo-HCT (28) or donor lymphocyte infusions (17). The hazard of death after relapse for these patients was lower (HR 0.53, 95%CI: 0.32-0.87, p=0.01) and 2-year survival after sCT was 44.9% (95%CI: 31.1-64.8, Fig. 2). We used a 4-level categorization of TTR ( Conclusion Although limited by the retrospective nature and potential selection bias, we show in a large, contemporary cohort that pts who relapse after ≥ 12 months from a first allo-HCT and receive sCT have the best prOS.

Introduction Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cells associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) are common CAR T cells toxicities. Various grading systems that attribute different grades of severity to symptoms are currently used, preventing comparisons of different products and possibly leading to management implications. Methods We included 53 patients (pts) with B acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) treated with 1928z CAR T cells (NCT01044069) and 49 pts with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who received axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel, n=36) or tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel, n=13) after FDA approval. CRS and ICANS were retrospectively graded according to the new ASTCT consensus grading system, for comparison with other available systems: Lee, Penn, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, CARTOX and CTCAEv5.0 for CRS; CTCAEv4.03 and CARTOX for ICANS. We then used ASTCT grades to predict management according to current guidelines for DLBCL pts (axi-cel and tisa-cel insert packages, CARTOX and NCCN guidelines) and compare it to the actual treatment received at our center. Results According to the ASTCT grading, B-ALL pts had 87% CRS (28% grade ≥3), while DLBCL pts had 86% CRS (14% grade ≥3) with axi-cel, and 54% (no grade ≥3) with tisa-cel. B-ALL pts had 55% ICANS (45% grade ≥3), while DLBCL pts had 55% ICANS (33% grade ≥3) with axi-cel, and 15% with tisa-cel (no grade ≥3) (fig. 1). When comparing grading systems, agreement on CRS and ICANS diagnosis was found in 99% and 91% cases, respectively. However, when evaluating toxicities grade by grade, only 27% pts had the same grade in each system for CRS, and 55% for ICANS (fig. 2). When predicting management for DLBCL pts, we found some relevant differences across current guidelines (fig. 3). At our center 58% and 13% of patients with CRS received tocilizumab (toci) and steroids, respectively, similarly to what predicted according to axi-cel's, CARTOX and NCCN guidelines, but differently from tisa-cel's label (10% and 5%). For ICANS, while tisa-cel's label does not provide any recommendations, other guidelines-based predictions were mostly overlapping. Indications for treatment vary across current guidelines, which were developed on single products and different grading systems, thus, should not be universally applied. This discrepancy becomes particularly relevant for cases with discordant CRS/ICANS grades. As such, we gave toci to 66% pts upgraded to grade 3 by Penn (grade 2 by ASTCT), while they would receive both toci and steroids according to axi-cel/CARTOX/NCCN guidelines, but would not be treated according to tisa-cel's. Conclusions Different grading systems provide inconsistent CRS/ICANS scores. To avoid discrepancies in assessing and managing toxicities of different products, a unified grading should be used and paired management guidelines with product-specific indications should be developed.

Chimeric antigenreceptor (CAR) T cell therapy has demonstrated efficacy in B cell malignancies, particularly for acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) and non‑Hodgkin lymphomas. However, this regimen is not harmless and, in some patients, can lead to a multi organ failure. For this reason, the knowledge and the early recognition and management of the side effects related to CAR-T cell therapy for the staff is mandatory. In this review, we have summarised the current recommendations for the identification, gradation and management of the cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, as well as infections, and related to CAR-T cell therapy.

By late 2018, 2 chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T) cell products have been approved by US and European regulatory authorities. Tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah, Novartis) is indicated in the treatment of patients up to 25 years of age with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) that is refractory or in second or later relapse, or adult patients with large B-cell lymphoma relapsed or refractory (r/r) after 2 or more lines of systemic therapy, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) not otherwise specified, high grade B-cell lymphoma and DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma. Axicabtagene ciloleucel (Yescarta, Kite) is indicated for the treatment of adult patients with large B-cell lymphoma relapsed or refractory after 2 or more lines of systemic therapy, including DLBCL not otherwise specified, primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, high grade B-cell lymphoma, and DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma (ZUMA-1 trial). This review will offer a practical guide for the recognition and management of the most important toxicities related to the use of the current commercial CAR T cells, and also highlight strategies to diminish these side effects in the future.

Background Fecal microbiota composition is associated with important outcomes after allo-HCT including survival, relapse, GVHD, and infections. We previously demonstrated in a multicenter observational study that HCT patients present with fecal microbiota configurations that have lower diversity and are distinct from those of healthy individuals, and that pre-HCT microbiota injury predicts poor overall survival. Here, we hypothesized that pre-HCT fecal microbiota features predict development of critical illness post-HCT. Methods We analyzed 828 adults who received a first allo-HCT from 2009 to 2017 at a single institution who had an evaluable fecal sample in our biobank collected within the 10 days prior to cell infusion. The patients were heterogeneous with respect to transplant indication, conditioning intensity, graft source (cord blood, peripheral blood, marrow) and graft manipulation (CD34-selection). The V4-V5 regions of 16S rRNA genes of DNA extracted from fecal samples were amplified and annotated taxonomically. The outcome of interest was time to ICU admission, which was assessed using survival-analysis methods. The reason for admission to the ICU was evaluated for each subject. Results Seventy-five (9%) patients were admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) between the day of cell infusion and day +50; the peak incidence of ICU admission occurred on day +10. The most common indications for ICU admission were respiratory failure (65%) and infection (27%). Patients were stratified based on fecal microbiota diversity, as assessed by 16S sequencing of stool samples collected prior to transplantation, into high (inverse Simpson index ≥4) and low ( Conclusion Pre-transplant fecal microbial diversity is an independent predictor of intensive-care-requiring critical illness in the post-HCT period. These observations highlight the pre-HCT period as a window of opportunity to (a) assess microbiota injury in conjunction with comorbidity evaluation, (b) inform selection of antibiotic prophylaxis, gut-decontamination, GVHD-prophylaxis, or conditioning regimens, and (c) intervene with microbiota injury-remediation or prevention strategies. Figure Disclosures Brereton: Seres Therapeutics: Other: Salary Support. Clurman:Seres Therapeutics: Research Funding. Slingerland:Seres Therapeutics: Other: Salary supported by Seres funding. Shah:Janssen Pharmaceutica: Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding. Scordo:McKinsey & Company: Consultancy; Angiocrine Bioscience, Inc.: Consultancy. Politikos:Angiocrine Bioscience Inc: Research Funding. Gyurkocza:Actinium Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding. Barker:Angiocrine Bioscience Inc: Research Funding; Gamida Cell: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding. Perales:Kyte/Gilead: Research Funding; Miltenyi: Research Funding; MolMed: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; NexImmune: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bellicum: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Meyers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Nektar Therapeutics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Omeros: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria; Medigene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Giralt:Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Actinium: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite: Consultancy; Johnson & Johnson: Consultancy, Research Funding; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Miltenyi: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy. van den Brink:Merck & Co, Inc.: Consultancy, Honoraria; Acute Leukemia Forum (ALF): Consultancy, Honoraria; Magenta and DKMS Medical Council: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Juno Therapeutics: Other: Licensing; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Therakos: Consultancy, Honoraria; Seres Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Flagship Ventures: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria; Evelo: Consultancy, Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Honoraria. Pamer:Bristol Myers Squibb: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Seres Therapeutics: Honoraria, Patents & Royalties; MedImmune: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Ferring Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria. Peled:Seres Therapeutics: Research Funding.

Introduction Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cells are associated with unique toxicities, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cells-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS). Patients (pts) with severe CRS and ICANS exhibit hemodynamic instability and coagulopathy with evidence of endothelial activation and increased blood brain barrier permeability. Increases in inflammatory cytokines and biomarkers of endothelial activation in serum and CSF have been associated with severe CRS and ICANS. The EASIX (Endothelial Activation and Stress Index) score [lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (U/L) × creatinine (mg/dl) / platelets (PLT) (109 cells/L)] correlates with severe fluid overload and survival in allogeneic transplant pts. Elevated LDH and low PLT levels have been associated with severe ICANS development, and high IL-6 levels are seen in severe CRS and ICANS. We hypothesized that the EASIX and a newly proposed version of it, the modified-EASIX (mEASIX), in which creatinine is replaced by CRP (mg/dL) as an easily available surrogate for IL6, would be associated with CRS and ICANS in CAR T cells pts. Methods We analyzed 2 different populations of adult CAR T cells pts treated at our institution: 1) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) pts treated with CD1928z CAR T cells from 2010 to 2016 (NCT01044069), and 2) aggressive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) pts treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) or tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) after FDA approval starting from 2018. EASIX and mEASIX scores were calculated for each patient daily from start of lymphodepletion conditioning to day +14. A log transformation using base 2 (log2) was applied to all EASIX/mEASIX variables to reduce skew. CRS and ICANS were graded according to the ASTCT grading system. Results 87 pts, B-ALL (n=53) and DLBCL (n=34), were analyzed. According to ASTCT grading, 83% (72/87) experienced CRS and 54% (47/87) developed ICANS, grade ≥3 in 23% (20/87) and 40% (35/87) of pts, respectively. When analyzed by disease, CRS and ICANS rates were 87% (46/53) and 55% (29/53) for B-ALL and 76% (26/34) and 53% (18/34) for DLBCL, respectively. CRS and ICANS were grade ≥3 in 28% (15/53) and 45% (24/53) of B-ALL pts and in 15% (5/34) and 32% (11/34) of DLBCL pts, respectively. Median time of onset of CRS after CAR T cell infusion was day +2 and median onset of ICANS was day +6 for the overall population and the subgroups. High EASIX and mEASIX scores at start of conditioning were both associated with development of any grade CRS [OR=1.81 (95% CI 1.09-3.36) p=0.038 and OR=1.94 (95% CI 1.32-3.38) p=0.005] and grade ≥3 CRS [OR=1.47 (95% CI 1.05-2.29) p=0.049 and OR=1.34 (95% CI 1.07-1.80) p=0.024], respectively (Table). Following CAR T cell infusion, high scores of both EASIX [OR=1.60 (95% CI 1.12-2.43) p=0.017] and mEASIX [OR=1.32 (95% CI 1.07-1.69) p=0.014] on day +1 were associated with development of grade ≥3 CRS. Moreover, both high EASIX [OR=1.43 (95% CI 1.08-1.96) p=0.018] and mEASIX [OR=1.29 (95% CI 1.07-1.60) p=0.010] scores on day +3 were associated with grade ≥3 ICANS. When analyzed by disease, results were confirmed for severe CRS and ICANS in B-ALL patients, while in the DLBCL group only mEASIX at start of conditioning and at day +1 was associated with development of any grade CRS. EASIX and mEASIX scores were not associated with response rates to CAR T cells therapy. Conclusions EASIX and mEASIX scores calculated at baseline (before lymphodepletion) are associated with development of CRS and severe CRS. Moreover, both high EASIX and mEASIX scores on day +1 and day +3 are associated with occurrence of grade ≥3 CRS and grade ≥3 ICANS, respectively. We conclude that EASIX and mEASIX, as markers of endothelial damage and inflammation, could be useful as early predictors in guiding treatment decisions before the onset of severe symptoms. Table Disclosures Batlevi: Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Brentjens:JUNO Therapeutics: Consultancy, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy. Giralt:Miltenyi: Research Funding; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Johnson & Johnson: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Actinium: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite: Consultancy. Palomba:Pharmacyclics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Noble Insights: Consultancy; Seres Therapeutics: Equity Ownership, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; STRAXIMM: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Kite Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Evelo: Equity Ownership; MSK (IP for Juno and Seres): Patents & Royalties; Hemedicus: Speakers Bureau; Merck & Co Inc.: Consultancy. Santomasso:Kite/Gilead: Consultancy; Juno/Celgene: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy. Sauter:GSK: Consultancy; Kite/Gilead: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy; Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sanofi-Genzyme: Consultancy, Research Funding; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Genmab: Consultancy; Precision Biosciences: Consultancy. Scordo:Angiocrine Bioscience, Inc.: Consultancy; McKinsey & Company: Consultancy. Shah:Amgen: Research Funding; Janssen Pharmaceutica: Research Funding. Park:Allogene: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; AstraZeneca: Consultancy; Autolus: Consultancy; GSK: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; Kite Pharma: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy. Perales:Takeda: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bellicum: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol-Meyers Squibb: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Servier: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Kyte/Gilead: Research Funding; Miltenyi: Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Omeros: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Nektar Therapeutics: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria; Medigene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; NexImmune: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MolMed: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

Background The EASIX (Endothelial Activation and Stress Index) score has been shown to be associated with NRM and overall survival (OS) after reduced intensity alloHCT. We aimed to validate EASIX in patients who underwent a calcineurin-inhibitor (CNI)-free alloHCT using ex-vivo CD34-selection. Design We included 364 adult patients who underwent first CD34-selected alloHCT between July 2006-December 2016 using the CliniMACS CD34 Reagent System (Miltenyi Biotech) as GVHD prophylaxis. The EASIX score (LDH*Creatinine/platelet counts) was calculated at several timepoints (pre-HCT [day -30 to day -10], day 30, day 100 and onset of acute GVHD). For EASIX scores post-HCT, a landmark analysis was conducted at the given timepoint. A log transformation using base 2 (log2) was applied to all EASIX variables to reduce skew. The Kaplan-Meier and cumulative incidence methods were used to estimate OS and NRM/acute GVHD, respectively. Cox models (cause-specific for NRM and acute GVHD) were used to evaluate differences in outcomes. Relapse and death or relapse, were considered competing risks for NRM and acute GVHD, respectively. Results Median age was 55 years (range 19-73). Most patients had myeloid diseases (47% AML, 28% MDS and 4% CML) and all patients received myeloablative conditioning (MAC). With a median follow-up among survivors of 4.7 years (range, 0.7-11.8), 1 and 3-year OS was 78.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 74.0-82.4) and 61.8% (95% CI, 56.5-66.7), respectively. The cumulative incidence of NRM at 1 and 3 years was 15.1% (95% CI, 11.7-19.0) and 24.2% (95% CI, 19.9-28.8), respectively. The 1-year cumulative incidences of grades 1-4, 2-4, and 3-4 acute GVHD were 40.1% (95% CI, 35.1-45.1), 29.4% (95% CI, 24.8-34.1) and 11.0% (95% CI, 8.0-14.5), respectively. Pre-HCT EASIX was not significantly associated with OS, NRM, or acute GVHD. A higher day 30 EASIX score was significantly associated with increased risk of death (HR=1.35 [95% CI, 1.19-1.52], p Conclusions EASIX score at day 30 and at day 100 post-ex-vivo CD34-selected alloHCT is associated with higher NRM and inferior OS. Despite a CNI-free platform, endothelial injury is an important contributor to poorer outcomes after MAC. EASIX provides a simple, complimentary tool to predict allo-HCT outcomes in these patients.

Keywords Allogeneic transplantation; endothelial damage; biomarkers. Background Endothelial damage is associated with severe complications and increased risk of death after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (AlloHCT). The recently developed Endothelial Activation and Stress Index (EASIX) is a prognostic tool that uses clinical lab values and has been shown to predict non-relapse mortality (NRM) and overall survival (OS) at onset of acute graft versus host disease (aGVHD) in reduced intensity (RIC) alloHCT (Luft, Lancet Haematol 2017). We hypothesized that EASIX may be valuable for more broadly predicting aGVHD, NRM and OS after AlloHCT, beyond time of onset of aGVHD. Design We evaluated 152 adult patients who received an unmodified RIC AlloHCT from a related or unrelated donor with uniform GVHD prophylaxis of sirolimus/tacrolimus and low-dose MTX for treatment of lymphoid malignancies, between April 2008 and May 2017. The EASIX formula (LDH*Creatinine/platelet counts) was calculated at multiple timepoints (pre-HCT, day 30, day 100, onset TMA and aGVHD). For all EASIX assessments post-HCT, a landmark analysis was conducted at the given timepoint A log transformation using base 2 (log2) was applied to all EASIX variables to reduce skew. A one-unit increase in log2 EASIX is associated with a doubling (one-fold increase) of EASIX on the original scale. Kaplan-Meier, cumulative incidence, and cox modeling (cause specific for NRM and aGVHD) were used to evaluate EASIX as it relates to outcomes of interest. Relapse and death or relapse were considered competing risks for NRM and aGVHD respectively. Results The median age at transplant was 54 years (range 23-78), 70% were males, a majority had non-Hodgkin lymphoma (68%), and most had sensitive disease at time of HCT (CR=56%; PR=33%). All patients, except two, received peripheral blood stem cells. Sixty-three patients had an HLA-identical related donor, while the remaining 89 had an unrelated donor transplant (HLA-matched in 75 patients, and HLA-mismatched in 14 patients). HCT-CI was 0 in 49 patients, 1-2 in 41 and ≥ 3 in 62 patients. With a median follow-up in surviving patients of 5.4 years (range, 0.8-10), the 1 and 3 years OS rate was 84.2% (95% CI, 77.3-89.1) and 67.9% (95% CI, 59.6-74.8), respectively. The NRM rate at 1 and 3 years was 7.9% (95% CI, 4.3-12.9) and 16.4% (95% CI, 10.9-22.8), respectively. The 1-year cumulative incidences of grades 1-4, 2-4 and 3-4 aGVHD were 56.6% (95% CI, 48.3-64.1), 42.1% (95% CI, 34.2-49.8) and 7.9% (95% CI, 4.3-12.9), respectively. Post-HCT thrombotic microangiopathy was only observed in 13 patients, representing too few events for EASIX analysis. As expected, HCT-CI was significantly associated with both OS and NRM. Pre-HCT EASIX was significantly associated with increased NRM (HR=1.60 [95% CI, 1.15-2.23], p=0.005) and aGVHD grade 1-4 and 2-4 (HR=1.33 [95% CI, 1.08-1.64], p=0.006 and HR=1.39 [95% CI, 1.10-1.75], p=0.005; respectively), but not OS or grade 3-4 aGVHD (Table 1). EASIX at day 30 and day 100 was significantly associated with both OS and NRM (Figures 1-4). Furthermore, confirming the results of Luft, EASIX calculated at onset of any grade aGVHD was significantly associated with OS (HR=1.34 [1.10-1.63], p=0.004) and NRM (HR=1.47 1.11-1.94], p=0.007). Finally, there was no correlation between HCT-CI and EASIX score. Conclusions We conclude that the EASIX formula, calculated at various timepoints pre and post AlloHCT, is significantly associated with NRM and OS. Pre-HCT EASIX also predicts risk of aGVHD, confirming prior results, EASIX at onset of acute GVHD is a predictor of NRM and OS in adult recipients RIC AlloHCT. EASIX provides an independent and easily accessible tool to predict important AlloHCT outcomes that can be used in addition to HCT-CI to better risk stratify patients. Disclosures Sauter: Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sanofi-Genzyme: Consultancy, Research Funding; Spectrum Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Precision Biosciences: Consultancy; Kite: Consultancy. Perales:Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Personal fees and Clinical trial support; Merck: Other: Personal fees; Takeda: Other: Personal fees; Abbvie: Other: Personal fees; Novartis: Other: Personal fees.