Jeff Aycock

BACKGROUND: In a phase 1 trial, axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel), an autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, showed efficacy in patients with refractory large B-cell lymphoma after the failure of conventional therapy. METHODS: anti-CD19 CAR T cells per kilogram of body weight after receiving a conditioning regimen of low-dose cyclophosphamide and fludarabine. The primary end point was the rate of objective response (calculated as the combined rates of complete response and partial response). Secondary end points included overall survival, safety, and biomarker assessments. RESULTS: Among the 111 patients who were enrolled, axi-cel was successfully manufactured for 110 (99%) and administered to 101 (91%). The objective response rate was 82%, and the complete response rate was 54%.With a median follow-up of 15.4 months, 42% of the patients continued to have a response, with 40% continuing to have a complete response. The overall rate of survival at 18 months was 52%. The most common adverse events of grade 3 or higher during treatment were neutropenia (in 78% of the patients), anemia (in 43%), and thrombocytopenia (in 38%). Grade 3 or higher cytokine release syndrome and neurologic events occurred in 13% and 28% of the patients, respectively. Three of the patients died during treatment. Higher CAR T-cell levels in blood were associated with response. CONCLUSIONS: In this multicenter study, patients with refractory large B-cell lymphoma who received CAR T-cell therapy with axi-cel had high levels of durable response, with a safety profile that included myelosuppression, the cytokine release syndrome, and neurologic events. (Funded by Kite Pharma and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Therapy Acceleration Program; ZUMA-1 ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02348216 .).

Abstract Background: ZUMA-1 is a pivotal, multicenter trial of axi-cel, an autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, for the treatment of patients with refractory, aggressive NHL. The objective response rate (ORR) was 82% with a 54% rate of complete response and 44% of responses were ongoing at the time of the primary analysis (Locke et al. AACR 2017. #9986). Grade ≥ 3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurologic events (NE) occurred in 13% and 28% of patients, respectively. A safety expansion cohort was added to further characterize mechanisms underlying CRS and NE associated with CAR T cell therapy and to evaluate the impact of prophylactic use of tocilizumab and levetiracetam on the rates of these adverse events (AEs). Methods: Patients (≥ 18 years) must have had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-1 and refractory or relapsed transplant ineligible disease. Patients received low-dose conditioning of 500 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide and 30 mg/m2 fludarabine for 3 days followed by axi-cel at a target dose of 2 × 106 CAR T cells/kg. Patients also received prophylactic treatment with 750 mg of levetiracetam twice a day on day 0 and 8 mg/kg of tocilizumab on day 2 post axi-cel infusion. To evaluate the mechanisms of NE, paired serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were obtained for all patients prior to conditioning chemotherapy and after axi-cel infusion (day 5). Results: As of April 26, 2017, 31 patients received axi-cel. Median age was 51 years (range, 21-74), 52% were male, 65% had stage III-IV disease, 74% were refractory to ≥ second-line therapy, and 19% relapsed ≤ 12 months after autologous stem cell transplant. Most patients (97%) experienced at least 1 grade ≥ 3 AE. The most common grade ≥ 3 AEs were neutropenia/neutrophil count decreased (71%), anemia (55%), thrombocytopenia/platelet count decreased (52%), leukopenia/white blood cell count decreased (35%), febrile neutropenia (29%), encephalopathy (23%), and hypotension (23%). One patient (3%) experienced a grade ≥ 3 (grade 4) CRS. Grade 3 and 4 NE occurred in 29% and 6% of patients, respectively. One patient died of cerebral edema; there were no other deaths due to AE. Updated efficacy, safety, subgroups, and paired blood/serum/CSF biomarker associative analyses will be presented. Conclusions : Early use of tocilizumab may reduce the incidence of severe CRS but not NE in patients treated with CAR T cell therapy. These data provide evidence that the underlying pathophysiology of NE may differ from that of CRS. Understanding the mechanisms of NE may help to further improve the benefit:risk profile for CAR T cell therapy. Drs Locke and Neelapu contributed equally to this work. Disclosures Locke: Kite Pharma: Consultancy; Cellular Biomedicine Group Inc: Consultancy. Neelapu: Kite Pharma: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; Merck: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Poseida: Research Funding; Cellectis: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Jacobson: Pharmacyclics, LLC: Consultancy; Kite Pharma: Consultancy. Braunschweig: Kite Pharma: Equity Ownership. Oluwole: Kite Pharma: Consultancy. Siddiqi: Seattle Genetics: Speakers Bureau; Juno: Other: Steering committee for JCAR017; Pharmacyclics, an AbbVie Company: Other: Steering committee for ibrutinib, Speakers Bureau. Timmerman: Celgene: Consultancy; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy; Kite Pharma: Research Funding; ImmuneGene: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel expenses, Research Funding; Genmab: Consultancy, Equity Ownership. Reagan: Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Bot: Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Rossi: Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Sherman: Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Navale: Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Jiang: Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Aycock: Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Elias: Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Wiezorek: Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Go: Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Miklos: Pharmacyclics, LLC: Consultancy, Other: Travel expenses, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Consultancy, Other: Travel expenses, Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy, Other: Travel expenses; Roche: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel expenses; Sanofi: Honoraria.

Abstract Background: Patients (pts) with refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) have poor outcomes with currently available therapies, with a complete response (CR) rate of 8%, a partial response (PR) rate of 18%, and median overall survival (OS) of 6.6 months (mo) as demonstrated in the 635 pt SCHOLAR-1 meta-analysis (Crump, ASCO 2016; abstract 7516). ZUMA-1 is the first multicenter trial of anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells in refractory, aggressive NHL (NCT02348216). The phase 1 portion of ZUMA-1 showed ongoing CRs at 12+ mos in 43% of pts (Locke, ESMO 2016; abstract 1048O). The pivotal phase 2 portion of ZUMA-1 comprises 2 cohorts based on tumor type: DLBCL (cohort 1) and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma or transformed follicular lymphoma (cohort 2). Here, we present results of a prespecified interim analysis from cohort 1. Methods: Pts received a target dose of 2 × 106 anti-CD19 CAR T cells/kg after a low-dose conditioning regimen of cyclophosphamide (500 mg/m2) and fludarabine (30 mg/m2) daily for 3 days. The primary endpoint is objective response rate (ORR) per 2007 IWG criteria. Key secondary endpoints include duration of response, frequency of adverse events (AEs), and levels of CAR T cells and serum cytokines. Key inclusion criteria include age ≥18 years, ECOG performance status (PS) 0-1, and refractory disease defined as progressive disease or stable disease as best response to last line of therapy, or disease progression ≤12 mos after autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). Pts must have received a prior anti-CD20 antibody and an anthracycline-containing regimen. A prespecified interim analysis was to be conducted to determine early efficacy with a nominal alpha level of 0.017 in 50 treated pts in cohort 1 with a minimum follow-up of 3 mos. Results: In total, 111 pts from 22 institutions were enrolled and leukapheresed, and 101 pts received KTE-C19. As of August 24, 2016, 51 pts in cohort 1 were eligible for analysis. Median age was 58 years (range, 25-76), 73% were male, 71% had ECOG PS 1, 78% were refractory to ≥2 lines of therapy, 20% relapsed ≤12 mos of ASCT, and 61% were treated with ≥3 lines of prior therapy. KTE-C19 was successfully manufactured in 99% of pts enrolled. Average turnaround time from apheresis to receipt of KTE-C19 at the clinical site was 17.4 days. With an ORR of 76%, the study met the primary endpoint (P<0.0001; exact binomial test comparing observed ORR to a historical control assumption of 20%), with 47% CRs and 29% PRs. 92% of responses occurred within the 1st mo, and 39% of pts had ongoing responses (CR in 33%) at 3 mos. Responses were seen across key covariates, including refractory subgroup (refractory to chemotherapy=76%, relapse post ASCT=80%). Kaplan-Meier estimates of progression-free survival at 1 and 3 mos were 92% and 56%, respectively. The most common grade ≥3 treatment-emergent AEs were neutropenia (67%), anemia (39%), thrombocytopenia (29%), febrile neutropenia (27%), and encephalopathy (24%). Grade ≥3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurologic events occurred in 20% and 29% of pts, respectively. There was 1 grade 5 KTE-C19-related event of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis. CAR T cells expanded within 14 days of KTE-C19 infusion, and peak expansion was associated with ongoing response at mo 3 (P=0.008). Pts who developed grade ≥3 neurological events had increased serum levels of IL-15 (P=0.0002), IL-6 (P=0.003); IL-10 (P=0.009) and IP-10 (P=0.0003). Cytokines/chemokines returned to baseline levels in most pts by day 28. Data from 93 pts with at least 1 mo of follow-up at the data cutoff will be presented. Conclusions: ZUMA-1 is the first reported multicenter trial of CAR T cell therapy in pts with refractory aggressive NHL. KTE-C19 induced a nearly 6-fold higher CR rate compared to historical outcomes in SCHOLAR-1. Efficacy strongly associated with peak CAR T levels. Central manufacturing, logistics, and AE management were successfully implemented across 22 sites, most with no prior CAR T therapy experience. Results from cohort 2 of ZUMA-1 are also presented (Abstract #998). KTE-C19 demonstrated significant clinical benefit in pts with no curative treatment options. Supported in part by funding from The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Therapy Acceleration Program®. Drs Neelapu and Locke contributed equally to this study. Disclosures Neelapu: Kite Pharma: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding. Locke:Kite: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Miklos:pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding. Jacobson:Kite: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Siddiqi:Pharmacyclics: Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Speakers Bureau; Seattle Genetics: Speakers Bureau. Lin:Mayo Clinic: Employment; Janssen: Research Funding. Timmerman:Bristol-Myers Squibb, Kite Pharma, Valor Biopharmaceuticals, Janssen: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics, Genmab, Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria. Goy:COTA: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen/Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research funding for clinical trials through institution, Speakers Bureau; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Research funding for clinical trials through institution; Acerta: 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, Speakers Bureau; Genentech: Other: Research funding for clinical trials through institution. Smith:Abbvie: Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria; Spectrum: Honoraria; Genentech: Honoraria. Deol:Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy. Avivi:Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical center: Consultancy, Other: consultancy to :BMS Roche. Westin:Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Spectrum: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ProNAi: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Chavez:Janssen: Speakers Bureau. Levy:Kite Pharma: Consultancy; Five Prime Therapeutics: Consultancy; Innate Pharma: Consultancy; Beigene: Consultancy; Corvus: Consultancy; Dynavax: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding. Reagan:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Bot:Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Rossi:Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Navale:Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Jiang:Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Aycock:Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Elias:Kite: Employment, Equity Ownership. Wiezorek:Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Go:Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership.

Abstract Background: Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) exhibits a bimodal age distribution with 60% of cases occurring in children and adolescents (<20 y) and 25% in older adults (>45 y; Howlader SEER Cancer Statistics 2015). Most adults and 15-20% of children will relapse following initial therapy with subsequent poor outcomes. (Bassan, JCO 2012; Locatelli, Blood 2012). Promising results have been observed in studies of anti-CD19 CAR T cells in patients with B cell malignancies, including those treated with KTE-C19, a CD28/CD3ζ anti-CD19 CAR T cell studied in the multicenter ZUMA-1 trial (Neelapu ASCO 2016). However, studies of anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy in R/R ALL have also observed high incidences of severe CRS in patients with high leukemic burden (Lee, Lancet 2015; Maude NEJM 2014). We present a preliminary analysis of the phase 1 portions of ZUMA-3 and ZUMA-4 which to date have enrolled adult and pediatric patients, respectively with high leukemic burden (M3 marrow). Methods: The primary objective of phase 1 of these multicenter trials is to evaluate the safety of KTE-C19. Eligible patients with R/R ALL are aged ≥18 y (ZUMA-3) or 2-21 y (ZUMA-4) with ≥25% marrow blasts, and adequate renal, hepatic, and cardiac function. Patients are required to have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score 0-1 (ZUMA-3) or a Lansky or Karnofsky performance status of >80% (ZUMA-4). Patients with Ph+ ALL and low-burden central nervous system disease are eligible. Patients with Burkitt lymphoma or chronic myeloid leukemia in blast crisis, extramedullary disease only, active graft-versus-host disease, or clinically significant infection are not eligible. KTE-C19 is administered at a target dose of either 1 or 2 × 106 anti-CD19 CAR T cells/kg after low-dose conditioning with fludarabine (25 mg/m2/day for 3 days) and cyclophosphamide (900 mg/m2/day [CyFlu]; Wayne ASCO 2016; Shah ESMO 2016). Results: As of July 8, 2016, 6 patients have enrolled and 5 patients (3 adult and 2 pediatric) have been treated with KTE-C19. KTE-C19 was successfully manufactured in a centralized, streamlined 6-8-day process for 5 patients with approximately a 2-week turnaround time from the time of apheresis to delivery of KTE-C19 to site for patient infusion (Choi, ASGCT 2016). In one 2-year-old patient with peripheral white blood cells >150,000/μL and >99% leukemic blasts in the apheresis collection, KTE-C19 could not be manufactured. All 5 treated patients had high burden disease with a median 85% of marrow blasts (range, 48%-100%) at screening. All 5 patients received bridging chemotherapy prior to dosing with KTE-C19. No patient experienced a dose-limiting toxicity. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) was reported in all adult (grade 1, n=1; grade 2, n=2) and pediatric (grade 2, n=2) patients; neurotoxicity (NT) was reported in adults only (grade 3, n=2; grade 4, n=1). CRS and NT were successfully managed to resolution with either tocilizumab, corticosteroids, and/or siltuximab in addition to other supportive care for all 5 patients. MRD- remission has been observed in all 5 patients who received KTE-C19 by day 28, with some remissions occurring as early as day 7. Four of 5 patients have had a CR/CR with partial hematologic recovery to date, and 1 of 5 patients with MRD- remission was showing recovering counts. CAR T cells expanded in blood within 2 weeks after infusion and were also detected in bone marrow and/or cerebrospinal fluid. Additional patients and clinical and correlative biomarker data will be presented. Conclusions: The administered dose of KTE-C19 after low-dose CyFlu conditioning has been tolerable and to date appears safe for further analysis in adult and pediatric patients with high leukemic burden R/R ALL. Initial results demonstrate promising efficacy, and the central manufacturing process is deemed feasible. The phase 1 portions of ZUMA-3 and ZUMA-4 are ongoing with planned expansion to phase 2. Clinical trial information: NCT02614066 (ZUMA-3); NCT02625480 (ZUMA-4). Disclosures Shah: Pfizer: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Bayer: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Plexus Communications: Honoraria; Rosetta Genomics: Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Baxalta: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Lee:Juno: Honoraria. Wierda:Novartis: Research Funding; Abbvie: Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding. Schiller:Incyte Corporation: Research Funding. Gökbuget:Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria, Research Funding. Sabatino:Kite: Employment, Equity Ownership. Bot:Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Rossi:Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Jiang:Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Navale:Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Stout:Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Aycock:Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Wiezorek:Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Jain:Kite Pharma: Employment, Equity Ownership. Wayne:Spectrum Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Other: Travel Support, Research Funding; Kite Pharma: Honoraria, Other: Travel support, Research Funding; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel Support; Medimmune: Honoraria, Other: Travel Support, Research Funding; NIH: Patents & Royalties.