1
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Ramamurthy A, Tommasi A, Saha K. Advances in manufacturing chimeric antigen receptor immune cell therapies. Semin Immunopathol 2024; 46:12. [PMID: 39150566 DOI: 10.1007/s00281-024-01019-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Biomedical research has witnessed significant strides in manufacturing chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) therapies, marking a transformative era in cellular immunotherapy. Nevertheless, existing manufacturing methods for autologous cell therapies still pose several challenges related to cost, immune cell source, safety risks, and scalability. These challenges have motivated recent efforts to optimize process development and manufacturing for cell therapies using automated closed-system bioreactors and models created using artificial intelligence. Simultaneously, non-viral gene transfer methods like mRNA, CRISPR genome editing, and transposons are being applied to engineer T cells and other immune cells like macrophages and natural killer cells. Alternative sources of primary immune cells and stem cells are being developed to generate universal, allogeneic therapies, signaling a shift away from the current autologous paradigm. These multifaceted innovations in manufacturing underscore a collective effort to propel this therapeutic approach toward broader clinical adoption and improved patient outcomes in the evolving landscape of cancer treatment. Here, we review current CAR immune cell manufacturing strategies and highlight recent advancements in cell therapy scale-up, automation, process development, and engineering.
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Affiliation(s)
- Apoorva Ramamurthy
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Anna Tommasi
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Krishanu Saha
- Wisconsin Institute for Discovery, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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2
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Holland SM, Sohal A, Nand AA, Hutmacher DW. A quest for stakeholder synchronization in the CAR T-cell therapy supply chain. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2024; 12:1413688. [PMID: 39175619 PMCID: PMC11338886 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2024.1413688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2024] [Accepted: 07/22/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Advancements in cell therapy have the potential to improve healthcare accessibility for eligible patients. However, there are still challenges in scaling production and reducing costs. These challenges involve various stakeholders such as the manufacturing facility, third-party logistics (3PL) company, and medical center. Proposed solutions tend to focus on individual companies rather than addressing the interconnectedness of the supply chain's challenges. The challenges can be categorized as barriers from product characteristics, regulatory requirements, or lagging infrastructure. Each barrier affects multiple stakeholders, especially during a boundary event like product handover. Therefore, solutions that only consider the objectives of one stakeholder fail to address underlying problems. This review examines the interconnecting cell therapy supply chain challenges and how they affect the multiple stakeholders involved. The authors consider whether proposed solutions impact individual stakeholders or the entire supply chain and discuss the benefits of stakeholder coordination-focused solutions such as integrated technologies and information tracking. The review highlights how coordination efforts allow for the implementation of widely-supported cell therapy supply solutions such as decentralized manufacturing through stakeholder collaboration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shelby M. Holland
- Department of Management, Monash Business School, Monash University Caufield Campus, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Australian Research Council Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies, Monash University Clayton Campus, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Amrik Sohal
- Department of Management, Monash Business School, Monash University Caufield Campus, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Australian Research Council Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies, Monash University Clayton Campus, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Alka Ashwini Nand
- Department of Management, Monash Business School, Monash University Caufield Campus, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Australian Research Council Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies, Monash University Clayton Campus, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Dietmar W. Hutmacher
- Australian Research Council Training Centre for Cell and Tissue Engineering Technologies, Monash University Clayton Campus, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
- Faculty of Engineering, School of Mechanical Medical and Process Engineering, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
- Australian Research Council Training Centre for Multiscale 3D Imaging, Modelling and Manufacturing (M3D Innovation), Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, QLD, Australia
- Max Planck Queensland Centre, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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3
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Wei J, Chaney K, Shim WJ, Chen H, Leonard G, O'Brien S, Liu Z, Jiang J, Ulrey R. Cryopreserved leukapheresis material can be transferred from controlled rate freezers to ultracold storage at warmer temperatures without affecting downstream CAR-T cell culture performance and in-vitro functionality. Cryobiology 2024; 115:104889. [PMID: 38513998 DOI: 10.1016/j.cryobiol.2024.104889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies are increasingly adopted as a commercially available treatment for hematologic and solid tumor cancers. As CAR-T therapies reach more patients globally, the cryopreservation and banking of patients' leukapheresis materials is becoming imperative to accommodate intra/inter-national shipping logistical delays and provide greater manufacturing flexibility. This study aims to determine the optimal temperature range for transferring cryopreserved leukapheresis materials from two distinct types of controlled rate freezing systems, Liquid Nitrogen (LN2)-based and LN2-free Conduction Cooling-based, to the ultracold LN2 storage freezer (≤-135 °C), and its impact on CAR T-cell production and functionality. Presented findings demonstrate that there is no significant influence on CAR T-cell expansion, differentiation, or downstream in-vitro function when employing a transfer temperature range spanning from -30 °C to -80 °C for the LN2-based controlled rate freezers as well as for conduction cooling controlled rate freezers. Notably, CAR T-cells generated from cryopreserved leukapheresis materials using the conduction cooling controlled rate freezer exhibited suboptimal performance in certain donors at transfer temperatures lower than -60 °C, possibly due to the reduced cooling rate of lower than 1 °C/min and extended dwelling time needed to reach the final temperatures within these systems. This cohort of data suggests that there is a low risk to transfer cryopreserved leukapheresis materials at higher temperatures (between -30 °C and -60 °C) with good functional recovery using either controlled cooling system, and the cryopreserved materials are suitable to use as the starting material for autologous CAR T-cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaming Wei
- Cell Therapy Technical Operations, R&D Oncology, AstraZeneca, One MedImmune Way, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Katherine Chaney
- Cell Therapy Technical Operations, R&D Oncology, AstraZeneca, One MedImmune Way, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Woo Jin Shim
- Cell Therapy Technical Operations, R&D Oncology, AstraZeneca, One MedImmune Way, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Heyu Chen
- Cell Therapy Technical Operations, R&D Oncology, AstraZeneca, One MedImmune Way, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Grace Leonard
- Cell Therapy Technical Operations, R&D Oncology, AstraZeneca, One MedImmune Way, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Sean O'Brien
- Cell Therapy Technical Operations, R&D Oncology, AstraZeneca, One MedImmune Way, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Ziyan Liu
- Cell Therapy Technical Operations, R&D Oncology, AstraZeneca, One MedImmune Way, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Jinlin Jiang
- Cell Therapy Technical Operations, R&D Oncology, AstraZeneca, One MedImmune Way, Gaithersburg, MD, USA
| | - Robert Ulrey
- Cell Therapy Technical Operations, R&D Oncology, AstraZeneca, One MedImmune Way, Gaithersburg, MD, USA.
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4
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Dingfelder J, Aigner M, Taubmann J, Minopoulou I, Park S, Kaplan CD, Cheng JK, Van Blarcom T, Schett G, Mackensen A, Lutzny-Geier G. Fully Human Anti-CD19 CAR T Cells Derived from Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Patients Exhibit Cytotoxicity with Reduced Inflammatory Cytokine Production. Transplant Cell Ther 2024; 30:582.e1-582.e10. [PMID: 38548226 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2024.03.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/10/2024]
Abstract
KYV-101 is an autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy under investigation for patients with B-cell driven autoimmune diseases. Hu19-CD828Z is a fully human anti-CD19 CAR designed and demonstrated to have a favorable clinical safety profile. Since anti-CD19 CAR T cells target and kill B cells in both circulation and tissues, the treatment with Hu19-CD828Z CAR T cells offers great potential in depleting autoreactive B cells. Demonstrate that Hu19-CD828Z CAR T cells manufactured from cryopreserved leukaphereses from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) exhibit CAR-mediated and CD19-dependent cytokine release, proliferation and cytotoxicity when co-cultured with autologous primary B cells. T cells were enriched from cryopreserved leukaphereses from SLE patients or healthy donors (HD). CAR T cells were generated by transducing these cells with a lentiviral vector encoding Hu19-CD828Z. CAR-mediated and CD19-dependent activity was monitored in vitro in a set of cytotoxicity, cytokine release, and proliferation studies, in response to autologous primary CD19+ B cells, a CD19+ cell line (NALM-6), or a CD19- cell line (U937). Hu19-CD828Z CAR T cells produced from SLE patients or HD induced greater proliferation and dose-dependent cytotoxicity against both autologous primary B cells and the CD19+ NALM-6 cells than nontransduced control T cells or co-cultures with a CD19- cell line. Interestingly, there was lower inflammatory cytokine production from SLE patient-derived CAR T cells compared to HD donor-derived CAR T cells with either CD19+ cells or primary B cells. Hu19-CD828Z CAR T cells generated from SLE patient lymphocytes demonstrate CAR-mediated and CD19-dependent activity against autologous primary B cells with reduced inflammatory cytokine production supporting KYV-101 as a novel potential therapy for the depletion of pathogenic B cells in SLE patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janin Dingfelder
- Department of Internal Medicine 5, Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Germany
| | - Michael Aigner
- Department of Internal Medicine 5, Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Germany
| | - Jule Taubmann
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ioanna Minopoulou
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Soo Park
- Kyverna Therapeutics, Emeryville, California
| | | | | | | | - Georg Schett
- Department of Internal Medicine 3 - Rheumatology and Immunology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Andreas Mackensen
- Department of Internal Medicine 5, Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Germany
| | - Gloria Lutzny-Geier
- Department of Internal Medicine 5, Hematology and Oncology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Deutsches Zentrum Immuntherapie (DZI), Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and Universitätsklinikum Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany; Bavarian Cancer Research Center (BZKF), Germany.
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5
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Gahvari Z, Brunner M, Schmidt T, Callander NS. Update on the current and future use of CAR-T to treat multiple myeloma. Eur J Haematol 2024; 112:493-503. [PMID: 38099401 DOI: 10.1111/ejh.14145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2024]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has become an important intervention in the management of relapsed and relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma (MM). Currently, B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) is the most targeted surface protein due to its ubiquitous expression on plasma cells, with increasing expression of this essential transmembrane protein on malignant plasma cells as patients develop more advanced disease. This review will explore the earliest CAR-T trials in myeloma, discuss important issues involved in CAR-T manufacturing and processing, as well as review current clinical trials that led to the approval of the two commercially available CAR-T products, Idecabtagene vicleucel and ciltacabtagene autoleucel. The most recent data from trials investigating the use of CAR-T as an earlier line of therapy will be presented. Finally, the problem of relapses after CAR-T will be presented, including several theories as to why CAR-T therapies fail and possible clinical caveats. The next generation of MM-specific CAR-T will likely include new targets such as G-protein-coupled receptor class C, Group 5, member D (GPRC5D) and signaling lymphocyte activation molecular Family 7 (SLAMF7). The role of CAR-T in the treatment of MM will undoubtedly increase exponentially in the next decade.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhubin Gahvari
- Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology, and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Matthew Brunner
- Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology, and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Timothy Schmidt
- Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology, and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Natalie S Callander
- Division of Hematology, Medical Oncology, and Palliative Care, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine and Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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6
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Pessach I, Nagler A. Leukapheresis for CAR-T cell production and therapy. Transfus Apher Sci 2023; 62:103828. [PMID: 37838564 DOI: 10.1016/j.transci.2023.103828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is an effective, individualized immunotherapy, and novel treatment for hematologic malignancies. Six commercial CAR-T cell products are currently approved for lymphatic malignancies and multiple myeloma. In addition, an increasing number of clinical centres produce CAR-T cells on-site, which enable the administration of CAR-T cells on site. The CAR-T cell products are either fresh or cryopreserved. Manufacturing CAR-T cells is a complicated process that begins with leukapheresis to obtain T cells from the patient's peripheral blood. An optimal leukapheresis product is crucial step for a successful CAR-T cell therapy; therefore, it is imperative to understand the factors that may affect the quality or T cells. The leukapheresis for CAR-T cell production is well tolerated and safe for both paediatric and adult patients and CAR-Τ cell therapy presents high clinical response rate in many studies. CAR-T cell therapy is under continuous improvement, and it has transformed into an almost standard procedure in clinical haematology and stem cell transplantation facilities that provide both autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantations. In patients suffering from advanced haematological malignancies, CAR-T cell therapy shows incredible antitumor efficacy. Even after a single infusion of autologous CD19-targeting CAR-T cells in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), long lasting remission is observed, and a fraction of the patients are being cured. Future novel constructs are being developed with better T cell persistence and better expansion. New next-generation CAR-T cells are currently designed to avoid toxicities such as cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilias Pessach
- Hematology Department, Athens Medical Center, Athens, Greece
| | - Arnon Nagler
- Hematology Division, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Israel.
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7
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Cryopreserved anti-CD22 and bispecific anti-CD19/22 CAR T cells are as effective as freshly infused cells. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2022; 28:51-61. [PMID: 36620075 PMCID: PMC9798176 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2022.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cryopreservation of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells facilitates shipment, timing of infusions, and storage of subsequent doses. However, reports on the impact of cryopreservation on CAR T cell efficacy have been mixed. We retrospectively compared clinical outcomes between patients who received cryopreserved versus fresh CAR T cells for treatment of B cell leukemia across two cohorts of pediatric and young adult patients: those who received anti-CD22 CAR T cells and those who received bispecific anti-CD19/22 CAR T cells. Manufacturing methods were consistent within each trial but differed between the two trials, allowing for exploration of cryopreservation within different manufacturing platforms. Among 40 patients who received anti-CD22 CAR T cells (21 cryopreserved cells and 19 fresh), there were no differences in in vivo expansion, persistence, incidence of toxicities, or disease response between groups with cryopreserved and fresh CAR T cells. Among 19 patients who received anti-CD19/22 CAR T cells (11 cryopreserved and 8 fresh), patients with cryopreserved cells had similar expansion, toxicity incidence, and disease response, with decreased CAR T cell persistence. Overall, our data demonstrate efficacy of cryopreserved CAR T cells as comparable to fresh infusions, supporting cryopreservation, which will be crucial for advancing the field of cell therapy.
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8
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Triantafyllou N, Bernardi A, Lakelin M, Shah N, Papathanasiou MM. A digital platform for the design of patient-centric supply chains. Sci Rep 2022; 12:17365. [PMID: 36253394 PMCID: PMC9576774 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-21290-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T cell therapies have received increasing attention, showing promising results in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia and aggressive B cell lymphoma. Unlike typical cancer treatments, autologous CAR T cell therapies are patient-specific; this makes them a unique therapeutic to manufacture and distribute. In this work, we focus on the development of a computer modelling tool to assist the design and assessment of supply chain structures that can reliably and cost-efficiently deliver autologous CAR T cell therapies. We focus on four demand scales (200, 500, 1000 and 2000 patients annually) and we assess the tool's capabilities with respect to the design of responsive supply chain candidate solutions while minimising cost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niki Triantafyllou
- grid.7445.20000 0001 2113 8111Sargent Centre for Process System Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ UK ,grid.7445.20000 0001 2113 8111 Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ UK
| | - Andrea Bernardi
- grid.7445.20000 0001 2113 8111Sargent Centre for Process System Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ UK ,grid.7445.20000 0001 2113 8111 Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ UK
| | | | - Nilay Shah
- grid.7445.20000 0001 2113 8111Sargent Centre for Process System Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ UK ,grid.7445.20000 0001 2113 8111 Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ UK
| | - Maria M. Papathanasiou
- grid.7445.20000 0001 2113 8111Sargent Centre for Process System Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ UK ,grid.7445.20000 0001 2113 8111 Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, London, SW7 2AZ UK
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9
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Abraham-Miranda J, Menges M, Atkins R, Mattie M, Kanska J, Turner J, Hidalgo-Vargas MJ, Locke FL. CAR-T manufactured from frozen PBMC yield efficient function with prolonged in vitro production. Front Immunol 2022; 13:1007042. [PMID: 36225930 PMCID: PMC9549966 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.1007042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells are engineered to identify and eliminate cells expressing a target antigen. Current manufacturing protocols vary between commercial CAR-T cell products warranting an assessment of these methods to determine which approach optimally balances successful manufacturing capacity and product efficacy. One difference between commercial product manufacturing methods is whether T cell engineering begins with fresh (unfrozen) patient cells or cells that have been cryopreserved prior to manufacture. Starting with frozen PBMC material allows for greater manufacturing flexibility, and the possibility of collecting and storing blood from patients prior to multiple lines of therapy. We prospectively analyzed if second generation anti-CD19 CAR-T cells with either CD28 or 4-1BB co-stimulatory domains have different phenotype or function when prepared side-by-side using fresh or cryopreserved PBMCs. We found that cryopreserved PBMC starting material is associated with slower CAR-T cell expansion during manufacture but does not affect phenotype. We also demonstrate that CAR-T cell activation, cytokine production and in vitro anti-tumor cytotoxicity were not different when CAR-T cells were manufactured from fresh or cryopreserved PBMC. As CAR-T cell therapy expands globally, the need for greater flexibility around the timing of manufacture will continue to grow. This study helps support the concept that cryopreservation of PBMCs could be the solution to these issues without compromising the quality of the final CAR-T product.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julieta Abraham-Miranda
- Department of Clinical Science, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Meghan Menges
- Department of Clinical Science, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Reginald Atkins
- Department of Clinical Science, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Mike Mattie
- Kite Pharma, A Gilead Company, Santa Monica, CA, United States
| | - Justyna Kanska
- Kite Pharma, A Gilead Company, Santa Monica, CA, United States
| | - Joel Turner
- Department of Clinical Science, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Melanie J. Hidalgo-Vargas
- Department of Clinical Science, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
| | - Frederick L. Locke
- Department of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Immunotherapy, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center and Research Institute, Tampa, FL, United States
- *Correspondence: Frederick L. Locke,
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10
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Qayed M, McGuirk JP, Myers GD, Parameswaran V, Waller EK, Holman P, Rodrigues M, Clough LF, Willert J. Leukapheresis guidance and best practices for optimal chimeric antigen receptor T-cell manufacturing. Cytotherapy 2022; 24:869-878. [PMID: 35718701 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2022.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is an individualized immunotherapy that genetically reprograms a patient's T cells to target and eliminate cancer cells. Tisagenlecleucel is a US Food and Drug Administration-approved CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy for patients with relapsed/refractory (r/r) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia and r/r diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Manufacturing CAR T cells is an intricate process that begins with leukapheresis to obtain T cells from the patient's peripheral blood. An optimal leukapheresis product is essential to the success of CAR T-cell therapy; therefore, understanding factors that may affect the quality or T-cell content is imperative. CAR T-cell therapy requires detailed organization throughout the entire multistep process, including appropriate training of a multidisciplinary team in leukapheresis collection, cell processing, timing and coordination with manufacturing and administration to achieve suitable patient care. Consideration of logistical parameters, including leukapheresis timing, location and patient availability, when clinically evaluating the patient and the trajectory of their disease progression must be reflected in the overall collection strategy. Challenges of obtaining optimal leukapheresis product for CAR T-cell manufacturing include vascular access for smaller patients, achieving sufficient T-cell yield, eliminating contaminating cell types in the leukapheresis product, determining appropriate washout periods for medication and managing adverse events at collection. In this review, the authors provide recommendations on navigating CAR T-cell therapy and leukapheresis based on experience and data from tisagenlecleucel manufacturing in clinical trials and the real-world setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muna Qayed
- Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
| | - Joseph P McGuirk
- Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapeutics, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, Kansas, USA
| | - G Doug Myers
- Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| | - Vinod Parameswaran
- Avera Medical Group Hematology, Transplant & Cellular Therapy, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA
| | - Edmund K Waller
- Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Center, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Peter Holman
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
| | | | - Lee F Clough
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
| | - Jennifer Willert
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
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11
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Bastin DJ, Quizi J, Kennedy MA, Kekre N, Auer RC. Current challenges in the manufacture of clinical-grade autologous whole cell vaccines for hematological malignancies. Cytotherapy 2022; 24:979-989. [PMID: 35562303 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2022.03.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Autologous whole cell vaccines use a patient's own tumor cells as a source of antigen to elicit an anti-tumor immune response in vivo. Recently, the authors conducted a systematic review of clinical trials employing these products in hematological cancers that showed a favorable safety profile and trend toward efficacy. However, it was noted that manufacturing challenges limit both the efficacy and clinical implementation of these vaccine products. In the current literature review, the authors sought to define the issues surrounding the manufacture of autologous whole cell products for hematological cancers. The authors describe key factors, including the acquisition, culture, cryopreservation and transduction of malignant cells, that require optimization for further advancement of the field. Furthermore, the authors provide a summary of pre-clinical work that informs how the identified challenges may be overcome. The authors also highlight areas in which future basic research would be of benefit to the field. The goal of this review is to provide a roadmap for investigators seeking to advance the field of autologous cell vaccines as it applies to hematological malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald J Bastin
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada; Schulich School of Medicine, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Jennifer Quizi
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Michael A Kennedy
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Natasha Kekre
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Rebecca C Auer
- Cancer Therapeutics Program, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Canada; Faculty of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada; Department of Surgery, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.
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12
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Compliance and cost control for cryopreservation of cellular starting materials: An industry perspective. Cytotherapy 2022; 24:750-753. [PMID: 35304076 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2022.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2021] [Revised: 01/15/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Over the last decade, cancer immunotherapy has progressed from an academically interesting field to one of the most promising forms of new treatments in which not the cancer but the immune system is treated. In particular, genetic modification for purposeful redirection of autologous T cells is providing hope to many treatment-resistant patients. This personalized form of medicine is radically different from more traditional oncologic drugs. With these evolving medical advancements and more cellular therapies becoming available, some regulatory agencies have created new regulatory requirements to manage the production of these types of products. The regulations are specifically suited for the manufacture of gene and cell therapy products, as they use a risk-based approach towards product development and manufacturing, when there is limited characterization available. The correct interpretation of how and when requirements apply is crucial, since theoretical approaches to implementing GMP can easily lead to disproportionate and unwarranted restrictions that may not address the specific risks that regulators were intending to control. This is especially relevant for cell collection and biopreservation preceding the manufacturing process for products manufactured from autologous T cells. Both the fresh and cryopreserved apheresis materials can be filed as minimally manipulated starting materials to the authorities. The preservation of such cellular material can then routinely be managed using the available regulations for tissues and cells, allowing for a more fit-for-purpose approach to the control measures implemented.
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Fujiwara Y, Kato T, Hasegawa F, Sunahara M, Tsurumaki Y. The Past, Present, and Future of Clinically Applied Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T-Cell Therapy. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2022; 15:207. [PMID: 35215319 PMCID: PMC8876595 DOI: 10.3390/ph15020207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapy represents the fourth pillar of cancer therapy after surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy is an artificial immune cell therapy applied in clinical practice and is currently indicated for hematological malignancies, with cluster of differentiation 19 (CD19) as its target molecule. In this review, we discuss the past, present, and future of CAR-T-cell therapy. First, we summarize the various clinical trials that were conducted before the clinical application of CD19-targeted CAR-T-cell therapies began. Second, we discuss the accumulated real-world evidence and the barriers associated with applying clinical trials to clinical practices from the perspective of the quality and technical aspects. After providing an overview of all the moving parts involved in the production of CAR-T-cell products, we discuss the characteristics of immune cells (given that T cells are the raw materials for CAR-T-cell therapy) and elucidate the relationship between lifestyle, including diet and exercise, and immune cells. Finally, we briefly highlight future trends in the development of immune cell therapy. These advancements may help position CAR-T-cell therapy as a standard of care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Fujiwara
- Cell & Gene Therapy, Oncology, Novartis Pharma K.K., 1-23-1, Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6333, Japan;
| | - Toshiki Kato
- Oncology Medical Affairs Dept, Novartis Pharma K.K., 1-23-1, Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6333, Japan; (T.K.); (F.H.); (M.S.)
| | - Futoshi Hasegawa
- Oncology Medical Affairs Dept, Novartis Pharma K.K., 1-23-1, Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6333, Japan; (T.K.); (F.H.); (M.S.)
| | - Muha Sunahara
- Oncology Medical Affairs Dept, Novartis Pharma K.K., 1-23-1, Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6333, Japan; (T.K.); (F.H.); (M.S.)
| | - Yoshie Tsurumaki
- Cell & Gene Therapy, Oncology, Novartis Pharma K.K., 1-23-1, Toranomon, Minato-ku, Tokyo 105-6333, Japan;
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Lautraite R, Bernard L, Halle P, Chennell P, Le Basle Y, Kanold J, Sautou V. Ex Vivo Model to Assess the Exposure of Patients to Plasticizers from Medical Devices during Pre-CAR-T Cells’ Apheresis. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10020079. [PMID: 35202265 PMCID: PMC8875078 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10020079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Background: The treatment of relapsed or refractory leukemia remains a major problem. Among the new therapeutic approaches, the use of modified T lymphocytes, called chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T cells), seems promising. The first step of their preparation is leukapheresis, which involves the collection of mononuclear cells from the patient. This medical procedure requires numerous medical devices (MDs) made of plasticized polyvinylchloride (PVC). These compounds can leach out of the devices during contact with the patient’s blood. The aim of our study was to evaluate the migration of the plasticizers contained in the MD during a simulated pre-CAR-T cell leukapheresis procedure, and to measure the patient’s and their lymphocytes’ exposure to them. Methods: The qualitative and quantitative composition of the MD used for pre-CAR-T cell apheresis was determined by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Then, an ex vivo leukapheresis model using an ethanol/water simulant was performed to evaluate the plasticizers’ migration under simulated clinical conditions of pre-CAR-T cells’ cytapheresis. The plasticizers released into the simulant were quantified by GC–MS. Results: Diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) was found in the apheresis kit, with amounts ranging from 25% to 59% (g/100 g of PVC). Bis(2-ethylhexyl) adipate was detected at trace levels. A total of 98.90 ± 11.42 mg of DEHP was released into the simulant, corresponding to an exposure dose of 1.4 mg/kg for a 70 kg patient. Conclusions: Patients undergoing a pre-CAR-T cell apheresis are mainly exposed to DEHP, which can impact their health because of its endocrine disruption effect, but could also lead to a decrease in CAR-T cells’ efficiency/quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raphaëlle Lautraite
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CHU Clermont Ferrand, Clermont Auvergne INP, CNRS, ICCF, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; (R.L.); (P.C.); (Y.L.B.); (V.S.)
| | - Lise Bernard
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CHU Clermont Ferrand, Clermont Auvergne INP, CNRS, ICCF, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; (R.L.); (P.C.); (Y.L.B.); (V.S.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +33473751769
| | - Pascale Halle
- CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Centre de Biothérapie d’Auvergne, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; (P.H.); (J.K.)
| | - Philip Chennell
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CHU Clermont Ferrand, Clermont Auvergne INP, CNRS, ICCF, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; (R.L.); (P.C.); (Y.L.B.); (V.S.)
| | - Yoann Le Basle
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CHU Clermont Ferrand, Clermont Auvergne INP, CNRS, ICCF, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; (R.L.); (P.C.); (Y.L.B.); (V.S.)
| | - Justyna Kanold
- CHU Clermont-Ferrand, Centre de Biothérapie d’Auvergne, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; (P.H.); (J.K.)
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CHU Clermont-Ferrand, INSERM CIC 1405 Unité CRECHE, F-63000 Clermont–Ferrand, France
| | - Valérie Sautou
- Université Clermont Auvergne, CHU Clermont Ferrand, Clermont Auvergne INP, CNRS, ICCF, F-63000 Clermont-Ferrand, France; (R.L.); (P.C.); (Y.L.B.); (V.S.)
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15
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De Santis GC, Langhi Junior DM, Feitoza A, Mendrone Junior A, Kutner JM, Covas DT, Couto SCF, Guerino-Cunha RL, Orellana MD, Rizzo SRCP. Associação Brasileira de Hematologia, Hemoterapia e Terapia Celular Consensus on genetically modified cells. V: Manufacture and quality control. Hematol Transfus Cell Ther 2021; 43 Suppl 2:S35-S41. [PMID: 34794795 PMCID: PMC8606711 DOI: 10.1016/j.htct.2021.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR-T), especially against CD19 marker, present in lymphomas and acute B leukemia, enabled a revolution in the treatment of hematologic neoplastic diseases. The manufacture of CAR-T cells requires the adoption of GMP-compatible methods and it demands the collection of mononuclear cells from the patient (or from the donor), generally through the apheresis procedure, T cell selection, activation, transduction and expansion ex vivo, and finally storage, usually cryopreserved, until the moment of their use. An important aspect is the quality control testing of the final product, for example, the characterization of its identity and purity, tests to detect any contamination by microorganisms (bacteria, fungi, and mycoplasma) and its potency. The product thawing and intravenous infusion do not differ much from what is established for the hematopoietic progenitor cell product. After infusion, it is important to check for the presence and concentration of CAR-T cells in the patient's peripheral blood, as well as to monitor their clinical impact, for instance, the occurrence of short-term, such as cytokine release syndrome and neurological complications, and long-term complications, which require patient follow-up for many years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gil Cunha De Santis
- Hemocentro de Ribeirão Preto, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
| | | | | | | | | | - Dimas Tadeu Covas
- Hemocentro de Ribeirão Preto, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMRP-USP), Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil; Instituto Butantan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Renato L Guerino-Cunha
- Departamento de Imagens Médicas, Hematologia e Oncologia Clínica, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
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16
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Westin JR, Kersten MJ, Salles G, Abramson JS, Schuster SJ, Locke FL, Andreadis C. Efficacy and safety of CD19-directed CAR-T cell therapies in patients with relapsed/refractory aggressive B-cell lymphomas: Observations from the JULIET, ZUMA-1, and TRANSCEND trials. Am J Hematol 2021; 96:1295-1312. [PMID: 34310745 PMCID: PMC9290945 DOI: 10.1002/ajh.26301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 110] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)‐T cell therapies have improved the outcome for many patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive B‐cell lymphomas. In 2017, axicabtagene ciloleucel and soon after tisagenlecleucel became the first approved CAR‐T cell products for patients with high‐grade B‐cell lymphomas or diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are relapsed or refractory to ≥ 2 prior lines of therapy; lisocabtagene maraleucel was approved in 2021. Safety and efficacy outcomes from the pivotal trials of each CAR‐T cell therapy have been reported. Despite addressing a common unmet need in the large B‐cell lymphoma population and utilizing similar CAR technologies, there are differences between CAR‐T cell products in manufacturing, pivotal clinical trial designs, and data reporting. Early reports of commercial use of axicabtagene ciloleucel and tisagenlecleucel provide the first opportunities to validate the impact of patient characteristics on the efficacy and safety of these CAR‐T cell therapies in the real world. Going forward, caring for patients after CAR‐T cell therapy will require strategies to monitor patients for sustained responses and potential long‐term side effects. In this review, product attributes, protocol designs, and clinical outcomes of the key clinical trials are presented. We discuss recent data on patient characteristics, efficacy, and safety of patients treated with axicabtagene ciloleucel or tisagenlecleucel in the real world. Finally, we discuss postinfusion management and preview upcoming clinical trials of CAR‐T cell therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason R. Westin
- Department of Lymphoma and Myeloma The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center Houston Texas USA
| | - Marie José Kersten
- Department of Hematology Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, LYMMCARE (Lymphoma and Myeloma Center Amsterdam) Amsterdam The Netherlands
| | - Gilles Salles
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center New York New York USA
| | - Jeremy S. Abramson
- Center for Lymphoma Massachusetts General Hospital Cancer Center Boston Massachusetts USA
| | - Stephen J. Schuster
- Lymphoma Program Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia Pennsylvania USA
| | - Frederick L. Locke
- Department of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Immunotherapy Moffitt Cancer Center Tampa Florida USA
| | - Charalambos Andreadis
- Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center University of California San Francisco San Francisco California USA
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17
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Levine JE, Grupp SA, Pulsipher MA, Dietz AC, Rives S, Myers GD, August KJ, Verneris MR, Buechner J, Laetsch TW, Bittencourt H, Baruchel A, Boyer MW, De Moerloose B, Qayed M, Davies SM, Phillips CL, Driscoll TA, Bader P, Schlis K, Wood PA, Mody R, Yi L, Leung M, Eldjerou LK, June CH, Maude SL. Pooled safety analysis of tisagenlecleucel in children and young adults with B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. J Immunother Cancer 2021; 9:e002287. [PMID: 34353848 PMCID: PMC8344270 DOI: 10.1136/jitc-2020-002287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Tisagenlecleucel, an anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy, has demonstrated efficacy in children and young adults with relapsed/refractory B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) in two multicenter phase 2 trials (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02435849 (ELIANA) and NCT02228096 (ENSIGN)), leading to commercialization of tisagenlecleucel for the treatment of patients up to age 25 years with B-ALL that is refractory or in second or greater relapse. METHODS A pooled analysis of 137 patients from these trials (ELIANA: n=79; ENSIGN: n=58) was performed to provide a comprehensive safety profile for tisagenlecleucel. RESULTS Grade 3/4 tisagenlecleucel-related adverse events (AEs) were reported in 77% of patients. Specific AEs of interest that occurred ≤8 weeks postinfusion included cytokine-release syndrome (CRS; 79% (grade 4: 22%)), infections (42%; grade 3/4: 19%), prolonged (not resolved by day 28) cytopenias (40%; grade 3/4: 34%), neurologic events (36%; grade 3: 10%; no grade 4 events), and tumor lysis syndrome (4%; all grade 3). Treatment for CRS included tocilizumab (40%) and corticosteroids (23%). The frequency of neurologic events increased with CRS severity (p<0.001). Median time to resolution of grade 3/4 cytopenias to grade ≤2 was 2.0 (95% CI 1.87 to 2.23) months for neutropenia, 2.4 (95% CI 1.97 to 3.68) months for lymphopenia, 2.0 (95% CI 1.87 to 2.27) months for leukopenia, 1.9 (95% CI 1.74 to 2.10) months for thrombocytopenia, and 1.0 (95% CI 0.95 to 1.87) month for anemia. All patients who achieved complete remission (CR)/CR with incomplete hematologic recovery experienced B cell aplasia; however, as nearly all responders also received immunoglobulin replacement, few grade 3/4 infections occurred >1 year postinfusion. CONCLUSIONS This pooled analysis provides a detailed safety profile for tisagenlecleucel during the course of clinical trials, and AE management guidance, with a longer follow-up duration compared with previous reports.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E Levine
- Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, New York, USA
| | - Stephan A Grupp
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Division of Oncology, Center for Childhood Cancer Research and Cancer Immunotherapy Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Michael A Pulsipher
- Section of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Children's Hospital Los Angeles Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Andrew C Dietz
- Section of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Children's Hospital Los Angeles Cancer and Blood Disease Institute, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California, USA
| | - Susana Rives
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - G Douglas Myers
- Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| | - Keith J August
- Children's Mercy Hospital Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri, USA
| | - Michael R Verneris
- Division of Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplant, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
- Department of BMT and Cellular Therapy, Children's Hospital Colorado, University of Colorado, Boulder, Colorado, USA
| | - Jochen Buechner
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Theodore W Laetsch
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Division of Oncology, Center for Childhood Cancer Research and Cancer Immunotherapy Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pediatrics and Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
- Pauline Allen Gill Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's Health, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Henrique Bittencourt
- Hematology Oncology Division, Charles-Bruneau Cancer Center, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, Québec, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Montreal, Montreal, Québec, Canada
| | - Andre Baruchel
- Pediatric Hematology-Immunology Department, University Hospital Robert Debré (APHP) and Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Michael W Boyer
- Department of Pediatrics and Internal Medicine, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
| | - Barbara De Moerloose
- Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Muna Qayed
- Aflac Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, USA
| | - Stella M Davies
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Christine L Phillips
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
- Cancer and Blood Diseases Institute, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Timothy A Driscoll
- Department of Pediatric Transplant and Cellular Therapy, Children's Health Center, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Peter Bader
- Division for Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunology, Hospital for Children and Adolescents, University Hospital Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Krysta Schlis
- Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Patricia A Wood
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
| | - Rajen Mody
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Hematology Oncology, Michigan Medicine, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Lan Yi
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
| | - Mimi Leung
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
| | - Lamis K Eldjerou
- Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, East Hanover, New Jersey, USA
| | - Carl H June
- Center for Cellular Immunotherapies, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Shannon L Maude
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Division of Oncology, Center for Childhood Cancer Research and Cancer Immunotherapy Program, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
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Park CH. Making Potent CAR T Cells Using Genetic Engineering and Synergistic Agents. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13133236. [PMID: 34209505 PMCID: PMC8269169 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13133236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Revised: 06/16/2021] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Immunotherapies are emerging as powerful weapons for the treatment of malignancies. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered T cells have shown dramatic clinical results in patients with hematological malignancies. However, it is still challenging for CAR T cell therapy to be successful in several types of blood cancer and most solid tumors. Many attempts have been made to enhance the efficacy of CAR T cell therapy by modifying the CAR construct using combination agents, such as compounds, antibodies, or radiation. At present, technology to improve CAR T cell therapy is rapidly developing. In this review, we particularly emphasize the most recent studies utilizing genetic engineering and synergistic agents to improve CAR T cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Hoon Park
- Therapeutics & Biotechnology Division, Korea Research Institute of Chemical Technology, 141 Gajeong-ro, Daejeon 34114, Korea; ; Tel.: +82-42-860-7416; Fax: +82-42-861-4246
- Medicinal & Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 34113, Korea
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Cost Effectiveness Analysis of Tisagenlecleucel for the Treatment of Adult Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma in Japan. Transplant Cell Ther 2021; 27:506.e1-506.e10. [PMID: 33823168 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtct.2021.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
There are limited treatment options and substantial unmet needs for adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (r/r DLBCL) in Japan. In 2019, tisagenlecleucel, a CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy, was approved for r/r DLBCL in Japan. The efficacy and safety of tisagenlecleucel were demonstrated in the pivotal phase II single-arm JULIET trial. The objective of the current study was to assess the cost-effectiveness of tisagenlecleucel treatment strategy versus current standard of care (salvage chemotherapy treatment strategy) for the treatment of patients with r/r DLBCL in Japan. A three-state partitioned survival model was constructed from a Japanese public healthcare payer's perspective, with the following three health states: progression-free survival, progressive/relapsed disease, and death. Because the tisagenlecleucel arm included patients who did or did not receive the infusion, a decision-tree structure was used to partition patients based on their infusion status. Treatment efficacy and costs were based on tisagenlecleucel-infused patients for those who received the infusion; for non-infused patients, they were based on standard salvage chemotherapy. The efficacy inputs for tisagenlecleucel-infused patients and salvage chemotherapy were based on observed data in the JULIET trial and the international SCHOLAR-1 meta-analysis, respectively, before year 3. Afterward, all patients were assumed to have no further progression and to incur the mortality risk of long-term DLBCL survivors. The base case analysis explored a lifetime horizon (44 years), with costs and effectiveness discounted 2.0% annually, and it used a monthly model cycle. Direct costs were considered in the base case, composed of pretreatment costs, treatment costs, adverse events management costs, follow-up costs before progression, subsequent SCT costs, post-progression costs, and terminal care costs. Total incremental costs, life years (LYs), and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) were compared for tisagenlecleucel versus salvage chemotherapy. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (ICER) was estimated as the costs per QALY gained, and a threshold of ¥7.5 million was used to assess whether tisagenlecleucel is cost effective. Deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses were performed. The total LYs (discounted) for tisagenlecleucel and salvage chemotherapy were 7.24 and 4.35 years, respectively; the corresponding QALYs were 5.42 and 2.57 years, respectively. The discounted incremental LYs and QALYs comparing tisagenlecleucel to salvage chemotherapy were estimated as 2.89 and 2.85 years, respectively. Over a lifetime horizon, the model estimated that tisagenlecleucel had a total incremental cost of ¥15,590,335 (discounted) versus salvage chemotherapy. Tisagenlecleucel was associated with an ICER of ¥5,476,496 per QALY gained compared to salvage chemotherapy. Extensive sensitivity analyses supported the base-case findings. Tisagenlecleucel is a cost-effective treatment strategy for r/r DLBCL compared to salvage chemotherapy treatment strategy from a Japanese public healthcare payer's perspective.
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20
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Lam C, Meinert E, Yang A, Cui Z. Comparison between centralized and decentralized supply chains of autologous chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies: a UK case study based on discrete event simulation. Cytotherapy 2021; 23:433-451. [PMID: 33674239 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2020.08.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/16/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Decentralized, or distributed, manufacturing that takes place close to the point of care has been a manufacturing paradigm of heightened interest within the cell therapy domain because of the product's being living cell material as well as the need for a highly monitored and temperature-controlled supply chain that has the potential to benefit from close proximity between manufacturing and application. METHODS To compare the operational feasibility and cost implications of manufacturing autologous chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR T)-cell products between centralized and decentralized schemes, a discrete event simulation model was built using ExtendSIM 9 for simulating the patient-to-patient supply chain, from the collection of patient cells to the final administration of CAR T therapy in hospitals. Simulations were carried out for hypothetical systems in the UK using three demand levels-low (100 patients per annum), anticipated (200 patients per annum) and high (500 patients per annum)-to assess resource allocation, cost per treatment and system resilience to demand changes and to quantify the risks of mix-ups within the supply chain for the delivery of CAR T treatments. RESULTS The simulation results show that although centralized manufacturing offers better economies of scale, individual facilities in a decentralized system can spread facility costs across a greater number of treatments and better utilize resources at high demand levels (annual demand of 500 patients), allowing for an overall more comparable cost per treatment. In general, raw material and consumable costs have been shown to be one of the greatest cost drivers, and genetic modification-associated costs have been shown to account for over one third of raw material and consumable costs. Turnaround time per treatment for the decentralized scheme is shown to be consistently lower than its centralized counterpart, as there is no need for product freeze-thaw, packaging and transportation, although the time savings is shown to be insignificant in the UK case study because of its rather compact geographical setting with well-established transportation networks. In both schemes, sterility testing lies on the critical path for treatment delivery and is shown to be critical for treatment turnaround time reduction. CONCLUSIONS Considering both cost and treatment turnaround time, point-of-care manufacturing within the UK does not show great advantages over centralized manufacturing. However, further simulations using this model can be used to understand the feasibility of decentralized manufacturing in a larger geographical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ching Lam
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Edward Meinert
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Aidong Yang
- Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Zhanfeng Cui
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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21
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Current State of the Art of Allogeneic CAR Approaches - Pile 'Em High and Sell 'Em Cheap. J Pharm Sci 2021; 110:1909-1914. [PMID: 33577827 DOI: 10.1016/j.xphs.2021.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2020] [Revised: 02/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The advent and rapid propagation of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-based therapeutics in recent years has taken the oncology field by storm and delivered considerable benefit to cancer patients, many of whom previously had no other treatment options available to them. CAR-based therapies are now a bona fide therapeutic modality in the fight against cancer, along with more "traditional" treatments, such as small molecule and antibody drugs. For the technology to take the next step and reach much larger numbers of patients in need, it will be necessary for those treatments to become "off-the-shelf" offering patients a standardised, consistent, and cost-effective product. This article offers an overview of the evolution and development options for off-the-shelf CAR-based treatments, the advantages and disadvantages of the various approaches, along with key optimisation parameters that must be considered.
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22
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Bouziana S, Bouzianas D. Anti-CD19 CAR-T cells: Digging in the dark side of the golden therapy. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2020; 157:103096. [PMID: 33181441 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2020.103096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The unprecedented technological advances in genetic engineering have resulted in the advent of the very promising chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy. Based on the striking outcomes of clinical trials, the first two commercial CAR-T cell products, tisagenlecleucel and axicabtagene ciloleucel, have been approved in both the United States and Europe for the treatment of patients with highly aggressive CD19-positive hematological malignancies. Despite the initial remarkable responses many patients finally relapse, implying the presence of resistance mechanisms. In this review, we describe the limitations and resistance mechanisms to anti-CD19 CAR-T cells and address potential strategies to overcome CAR-T cell barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella Bouziana
- Department of Hematology-BMT Unit, G. Papanikolaou Hospital, Thessaloniki, Greece.
| | - Dimitrios Bouzianas
- BReMeL Biopharmaceutical and Regenerative Medicine Laboratories, Thessaloniki, Greece
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23
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CRISPR-Mediated Non-Viral Site-Specific Gene Integration and Expression in T Cells: Protocol and Application for T-Cell Therapy. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12061704. [PMID: 32604839 PMCID: PMC7352666 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Revised: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
T cells engineered with chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) show great promise in the treatment of some cancers. Modifying T cells to express CARs generally relies on T-cell transduction using viral vectors carrying a transgene, resulting in semi-random DNA integration within the T-cell genome. While this approach has proven successful and is used in generating the Food and Drug Administration (FDA, USA) approved B-lymphocyte antigen CD19-specific CAR T cells, it is possible the transgene could integrate into a locus that would lead to malignant transformation of the engineered T cells. In addition, manufacturing viral vectors is time-consuming and expensive. One way to overcome these challenges is site-specific gene integration, which can be achieved through clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR) mediated editing and non-viral DNA, which serves as a template for homology-directed repair (HDR). This non-viral gene editing approach provides a rapid, highly specific, and inexpensive way to engineer T cells. Here, we describe an optimized protocol for the site-specific knock-in of a large transgene in primary human T cells using non-viral double stranded DNA as a repair template. As proof-of-principle, we targeted the T-cell receptor alpha constant (TRAC) locus for insertion of a large transgene containing green fluorescence protein (GFP) and interleukin-15 (IL-15). To optimize the knock-in conditions we tested template DNA concentration, homology arm length, cell number, and knock-in efficiency over time. We then applied these established guidelines to target the TRAC or interleukin-13 (IL-13) locus for the knock-in of synthetic molecules, such as a CAR, bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE), and other transgenes. While integration efficiency depends on the targeted gene locus and selected transgene, this optimized protocol reliably generates the desired insertion at rates upwards of 20%. Thus, it should serve as a good starting point for investigators who are interested in knocking in transgenes into specific loci.
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