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Dreyzin A, Rankin AW, Luciani K, Gavrilova T, Shah NN. Overcoming the challenges of primary resistance and relapse after CAR-T cell therapy. Expert Rev Clin Immunol 2024; 20:745-763. [PMID: 38739466 PMCID: PMC11180598 DOI: 10.1080/1744666x.2024.2349738] [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: 12/17/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION While CAR T-cell therapy has led to remarkable responses in relapsed B-cell hematologic malignancies, only 50% of patients ultimately have a complete, sustained response. Understanding the mechanisms of resistance and relapse after CAR T-cell therapy is crucial to future development and improving outcomes. AREAS COVERED We review reasons for both primary resistance and relapse after CAR T-cell therapies. Reasons for primary failure include CAR T-cell manufacturing problems, suboptimal fitness of autologous T-cells themselves, and intrinsic features of the underlying cancer and tumor microenvironment. Relapse after initial response to CAR T-cell therapy may be antigen-positive, due to CAR T-cell exhaustion or limited persistence, or antigen-negative, due to antigen-modulation on the target cells. Finally, we discuss ongoing efforts to overcome resistance to CAR T-cell therapy with enhanced CAR constructs, manufacturing methods, alternate cell types, combinatorial strategies, and optimization of both pre-infusion conditioning regimens and post-infusion consolidative strategies. EXPERT OPINION There is a continued need for novel approaches to CAR T-cell therapy for both hematologic and solid malignancies to obtain sustained remissions. Opportunities for improvement include development of new targets, optimally combining existing CAR T-cell therapies, and defining the role for adjunctive immune modulators and stem cell transplant in enhancing long-term survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Dreyzin
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center of Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Division of Pediatric Oncology, Children's National Hospital, Washington DC, USA
| | - Alexander W Rankin
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center of Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Katia Luciani
- School of Medicine, University of Limerick, Limerick, Ireland
| | | | - Nirali N Shah
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center of Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Dias J, Garcia J, Agliardi G, Roddie C. CAR-T cell manufacturing landscape-Lessons from the past decade and considerations for early clinical development. Mol Ther Methods Clin Dev 2024; 32:101250. [PMID: 38737799 PMCID: PMC11088187 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtm.2024.101250] [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] [Indexed: 05/14/2024]
Abstract
CAR-T cell therapies have consolidated their position over the last decade as an effective alternative to conventional chemotherapies for the treatment of a number of hematological malignancies. With an exponential increase in the number of commercial therapies and hundreds of phase 1 trials exploring CAR-T cell efficacy in different settings (including autoimmunity and solid tumors), demand for manufacturing capabilities in recent years has considerably increased. In this review, we explore the current landscape of CAR-T cell manufacturing and discuss some of the challenges limiting production capacity worldwide. We describe the latest technical developments in GMP production platform design to facilitate the delivery of a range of increasingly complex CAR-T cell products, and the challenges associated with translation of new scientific developments into clinical products for patients. We explore all aspects of the manufacturing process, namely early development, manufacturing technology, quality control, and the requirements for industrial scaling. Finally, we discuss the challenges faced as a small academic team, responsible for the delivery of a high number of innovative products to patients. We describe our experience in the setup of an effective bench-to-clinic pipeline, with a streamlined workflow, for implementation of a diverse portfolio of phase 1 trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliana Dias
- Centre for Cell, Gene and Tissue Therapeutics, Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London NW3 2QG, UK
- Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - John Garcia
- Centre for Cell, Gene and Tissue Therapeutics, Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London NW3 2QG, UK
- Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Giulia Agliardi
- Centre for Cell, Gene and Tissue Therapeutics, Royal Free Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London NW3 2QG, UK
- Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Claire Roddie
- Research Department of Haematology, Cancer Institute, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
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Kitamura W, Urata T, Fujii K, Fukumi T, Ikeuchi K, Seike K, Fujiwara H, Asada N, Ennishi D, Matsuoka KI, Otsuka F, Maeda Y, Fujii N. Collection efficiency and safety of large-volume leukapheresis for the manufacturing of tisagenlecleucel. Transfusion 2024; 64:674-684. [PMID: 38419458 DOI: 10.1111/trf.17765] [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: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 02/06/2024] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In patients with relapsed or refractory B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia or B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (r/r B-ALL/B-NHL) with low CD3+ cells in the peripheral blood (PB), sufficient CD3+ cell yield in a single day may not be obtained with normal-volume leukapheresis (NVL). Large-volume leukapheresis (LVL) refers to the processing of more than three times the total blood volume (TBV) in a single session for PB apheresis; however, the efficiency and safety of LVL for manufacturing of tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) remain unclear. This study aimed to investigate the tolerability of LVL. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS We retrospectively collected data on LVL (≥3-fold TBV) and NVL (<3-fold TBV) performed for patients with r/r B-ALL/B-NHL in our institution during November 2019 and September 2023. All procedures were performed using a continuous mononuclear cell collection (cMNC) protocol with the Spectra Optia. RESULTS Although pre-apheresis CD3+ cells in the PB were significantly lower in LVL procedures (900 vs. 348/μL, p < .01), all patients could obtain sufficient CD3+ cell yield in a single day with a comparably successful rate of final products (including out-of-specification) between the two groups (97.2% vs. 100.0%, p = 1.00). The incidence and severity of citrate toxicity (no patients with grade ≥ 3) during procedures was not significantly different between the two groups (22.2% vs. 26.1%, p = .43) and no patient discontinued leukapheresis due to any complications. CONCLUSION LVL procedures using Spectra Optia cMNC protocol was well tolerated and did not affect the manufacturing of tisa-cel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Kitamura
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
- Division of Blood Transfusion, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Urata
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
- Division of Blood Transfusion, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
| | - Keiko Fujii
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
- Division of Clinical Laboratory, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
| | - Takuya Fukumi
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
- Division of Blood Transfusion, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Ikeuchi
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
- Division of Blood Transfusion, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
| | - Keisuke Seike
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
| | - Hideaki Fujiwara
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
| | - Noboru Asada
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
| | - Daisuke Ennishi
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
- Center for Comprehensive Genomic Medicine, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Matsuoka
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
| | - Fumio Otsuka
- Division of Clinical Laboratory, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
- Department of General Medicine, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Maeda
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
| | - Nobuharu Fujii
- Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
- Division of Blood Transfusion, Okayama University Hospital, Okayama, Japan
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Knight E T, Oluwole O, Kitko C. The Implementation of Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell Therapy in Pediatric Patients: Where Did We Come From, Where Are We Now, and Where are We Going? Clin Hematol Int 2024; 6:96-115. [PMID: 38817691 PMCID: PMC11108586 DOI: 10.46989/001c.94386] [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: 01/17/2024] [Accepted: 02/13/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024] Open
Abstract
CD19-directed Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). Somewhat uniquely among oncologic clinical trials, early clinical development occurred simultaneously in both children and adults. In subsequent years however, the larger number of adult patients with relapsed/refractory (r/r) malignancies has led to accelerated development of multiple CAR T-cell products that target a variety of malignancies, resulting in six currently FDA-approved for adult patients. By comparison, only a single CAR-T cell therapy is approved by the FDA for pediatric patients: tisagenlecleucel, which is approved for patients ≤ 25 years with refractory B-cell precursor ALL, or B-cell ALL in second or later relapse. Tisagenlecleucel is also under evaluation in pediatric patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, but is not yet been approved for this indication. All the other FDA-approved CD19-directed CAR-T cell therapies available for adult patients (axicabtagene ciloleucel, brexucabtagene autoleucel, and lisocabtagene maraleucel) are currently under investigations among children, with preliminary results available in some cases. As the volume and complexity of data continue to grow, so too does the necessity of rapid assimilation and implementation of those data. This is particularly true when considering "atypical" situations, e.g. those arising when patients do not precisely conform to the profile of those included in pivotal clinical trials, or when alternative treatment options (e.g. hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) or bispecific T-cell engagers (BITEs)) are also available. We have therefore developed a relevant summary of the currently available literature pertaining to the use of CD19-directed CAR-T cell therapies in pediatric patients, and sought to provide guidance for clinicians seeking additional data about specific clinical situations.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Olalekan Oluwole
- Medicine Hematology and Oncology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
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Lan HR, Chen M, Yao SY, Chen JX, Jin KT. Novel immunotherapies for breast cancer: Focus on 2023 findings. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 128:111549. [PMID: 38266449 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.111549] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 01/11/2024] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Immunotherapy has emerged as a revolutionary approach in cancer therapy, and recent advancements hold significant promise for breast cancer (BCa) management. Employing the patient's immune system to combat BCa has become a focal point in immunotherapeutic investigations. Strategies such as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), adoptive cell transfer (ACT), and targeting the tumor microenvironment (TME) have disclosed encouraging clinical outcomes. ICIs, particularly programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 inhibitors, exhibit efficacy in specific BCa subtypes, including triple-negative BCa (TNBC) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive cancers. ACT approaches, including tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, showed promising clinical outcomes in enhancing tumor recognition and elimination. Targeting the TME through immune agonists and oncolytic viruses signifies a burgeoning field of research. While challenges persist in patient selection, resistance mechanisms, and combination therapy optimization, these novel immunotherapies hold transformative potential for BCa treatment. Continued research and clinical trials are imperative to refine and implement these innovative approaches, paving the way for improved outcomes and revolutionizing the management of BCa. This review provides a concise overview of the latest immunotherapies (2023 studies) in BCa, highlighting their potential and current status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huan-Rong Lan
- Department of Surgical Oncology, Hangzhou Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310002, China
| | - Min Chen
- Department of Colorectal Surgery, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China
| | - Shi-Ya Yao
- Department of Gastrointestinal, Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China
| | - Jun-Xia Chen
- Department of Gynecology, Shaoxing People's Hospital, Shaoxing, Zhejiang 312000, China.
| | - Ke-Tao Jin
- Department of Gastrointestinal, Colorectal and Anal Surgery, Affiliated Hangzhou First People's Hospital, School of Medicine, Westlake University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310006, China.
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Baguet C, Larghero J, Mebarki M. Early predictive factors of failure in autologous CAR T-cell manufacturing and/or efficacy in hematologic malignancies. Blood Adv 2024; 8:337-342. [PMID: 38052048 PMCID: PMC10788849 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2023011992] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2023] [Revised: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/07/2023] Open
Abstract
ABSTRACT Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies have shown significant benefits in the treatment of hematologic malignancies, such as B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) and B-cell lymphoma. Despite the therapeutic advances offered by these innovative treatments, failures are still observed in 15% to 40% of patients with B-ALL and >50% of patients with B-cell lymphoma. Several hypotheses have emerged including CD19-negative or -positive relapses, low CAR T-cell activation and/or expansion in vivo, or T-cell exhaustion. To date, in the European Union, CAR T cells granted with marketing authorization are autologous and thus associated with a strong heterogeneity between products. Indeed, the manufacturing of a single batch requires cellular starting material collection by apheresis for each patient, with variable cellular composition, and then challenging pharmaceutical companies to standardize as much as possible the production process. In addition, these cost and time-consuming therapies are associated with a risk of manufacturing failure reaching 25%. Thus, there is a growing need to identify early risk factors of unsuccessful production and/or therapeutic escape. Quality of the apheresis product, pathology progression, as well as previous treatments have been reported as predictive factors of the variability in clinical response. The aim of this review is to report and discuss predictive factors that could help to anticipate the manufacturing success and clinical response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémentine Baguet
- Université Paris Cité, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Unité de Thérapie Cellulaire, Paris, France
| | - Jérôme Larghero
- Université Paris Cité, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Unité de Thérapie Cellulaire, Paris, France
- Université Paris Cité, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Centre MEARY de Thérapie Cellulaire et Génique, Paris, France
- INSERM, Centre d’investigation Clinique de Biothérapies CBT501, Paris, France
| | - Miryam Mebarki
- Université Paris Cité, Assistance Publique – Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Saint-Louis, Unité de Thérapie Cellulaire, Paris, France
- INSERM, Centre d’investigation Clinique de Biothérapies CBT501, Paris, France
- Faculté de pharmacie, Université Paris Cité, Paris, France
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Bäckel N, Hort S, Kis T, Nettleton DF, Egan JR, Jacobs JJL, Grunert D, Schmitt RH. Elaborating the potential of Artificial Intelligence in automated CAR-T cell manufacturing. FRONTIERS IN MOLECULAR MEDICINE 2023; 3:1250508. [PMID: 39086671 PMCID: PMC11285580 DOI: 10.3389/fmmed.2023.1250508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
This paper discusses the challenges of producing CAR-T cells for cancer treatment and the potential for Artificial Intelligence (AI) for its improvement. CAR-T cell therapy was approved in 2018 as the first Advanced Therapy Medicinal Product (ATMP) for treating acute leukemia and lymphoma. ATMPs are cell- and gene-based therapies that show great promise for treating various cancers and hereditary diseases. While some new ATMPs have been approved, ongoing clinical trials are expected to lead to the approval of many more. However, the production of CAR-T cells presents a significant challenge due to the high costs associated with the manufacturing process, making the therapy very expensive (approx. $400,000). Furthermore, autologous CAR-T therapy is limited to a make-to-order approach, which makes scaling economical production difficult. First attempts are being made to automate this multi-step manufacturing process, which will not only directly reduce the high manufacturing costs but will also enable comprehensive data collection. AI technologies have the ability to analyze this data and convert it into knowledge and insights. In order to exploit these opportunities, this paper analyses the data potential in the automated CAR-T production process and creates a mapping to the capabilities of AI applications. The paper explores the possible use of AI in analyzing the data generated during the automated process and its capabilities to further improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of CAR-T cell production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niklas Bäckel
- Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT, Aachen, Germany
| | - Simon Hort
- Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT, Aachen, Germany
| | - Tamás Kis
- Institute for Computer Science and Control, Hungarian Research Network, Budapest, Hungary
| | | | - Joseph R. Egan
- Department of Biochemical Engineering, Mathematical Modelling of Cell and Gene Therapies, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Dennis Grunert
- Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT, Aachen, Germany
| | - Robert H. Schmitt
- Fraunhofer Institute for Production Technology IPT, Aachen, Germany
- Laboratory for Machine Tools and Production Engineering (WZL), RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
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Lehmann M, Bonig H. Predicting chimeric antigen receptor apheresis process volume. Cytotherapy 2023; 25:900-901. [PMID: 37149798 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2023.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian Lehmann
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; German Red Cross Blood Service, Baden-Württemberg-Hesse, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Halvard Bonig
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Goethe University, Frankfurt am Main, Germany; German Red Cross Blood Service, Baden-Württemberg-Hesse, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
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Worel N, Holbro A, Vrielink H, Ootjers C, Le Poole K, Beer-Wekking I, Rintala T, Lozano M, Bonig H. A guide to the collection of T-cells by apheresis for ATMP manufacturing-recommendations of the GoCART coalition apheresis working group. Bone Marrow Transplant 2023; 58:742-748. [PMID: 37024570 DOI: 10.1038/s41409-023-01957-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023]
Abstract
Autologous chimeric antigen receptor-modified T-cells (CAR-T) provide meaningful benefit for otherwise refractory malignancies. As clinical indications for CAR-T cells are expanding, hospitals hitherto not active in the field of immune effector cell therapy will need to build capacity and expertise. The GoCART Coalition seeks to disseminate knowledge and skills to facilitate the introduction of CAR-T cells and to standardize management and documentation of CAR-T cell recipients, in order to optimize outcomes and to be able to benchmark clinical results against other centers. Apheresis generates the starting material for CAR-T cell manufacturing. This guide provides some initial suggestions for patient's apheresis readiness and performance to collect starting material and should thus facilitate the implementation of a CAR-T-starting material apheresis facility. It cannot replace, of course, the extensive training needed to perform qualitative apheresis collections in compliance with national and international regulations and assess their cellular composition and biological safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Worel
- Department for Transfusion Medicine and Cell Therapy, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
| | - Andreas Holbro
- Regional Blood Transfusion Service, Swiss Red Cross, Basel, Switzerland
- Division of Hematology, University Hospital Basel and University Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Innovation Focus Cell Therapies, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Hans Vrielink
- Department for Transfusion Medicine, Sanquin Blood Supply, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Claudia Ootjers
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Kaatje Le Poole
- Department for Transfusion Medicine, Sanquin Blood Supply, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ingrid Beer-Wekking
- Department of Hematology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Miquel Lozano
- Apheresis and Cellular Therapy Unit, Department of Hemotherapy and Hemostasis, University Clinic Hospital, IDIBAPS, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Halvard Bonig
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine and Immunohematology, Goethe University, Frankfurt a.M., Germany
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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