Patient-reported outcomes and neurotoxicity markers in patients treated with bispecific LV20.19 CAR T cell therapy
Jennifer M. Knight, Anikó Szabó, Igli Arapi, Ruizhe Wu, Amanda Emmrich, Edward Hackett, Garrett Sauber, Sharon Yim, Bryon D. Johnson, Parameswaran Hari, Dina Schneider, Boro Dropulić, Rachel Cusatis, Steve W. Cole, Cecilia J. Hillard, Nirav N. Shah
Abstract
Abstract Background With the rising number of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell treated patients, it is increasingly important to understand the treatment’s impact on patient-reported outcomes (PROs) and, ideally, identify biomarkers of central nervous system (CNS) adverse effects. Methods The purpose of this exploratory study was to assess short-term PROs and serum kynurenine metabolites for associated neurotoxicity among patients treated in an anti-CD20, anti-CD19 (LV20.19) CAR T cell phase I clinical trial (NCT03019055). Fifteen CAR T treated patients from the parent trial provided serum samples and self-report surveys 15 days before and 14, 28, and 90 days after treatment. Results Blood kynurenine concentrations increased over time in patients with evidence of neurotoxicity ( p = 0.004) and were increased in self-reported depression ( r = 0.52, p = 0.002). Depression improved after CAR T infusion ( p = 0.035). Elevated 3-hydroxyanthranilic acid (3HAA) concentrations prior to cell infusion were also predictive of neurotoxicity onset ( p = 0.031), suggesting it is a biomarker of neurotoxicity following CAR T cell therapy. Conclusions Elevated levels of kynurenine pathway metabolites among CAR T cell recipients are associated with depressed mood and neurotoxicity. Findings from this exploratory study are preliminary and warrant validation in a larger cohort.