Frequently Asked Questions on Coronavirus Disease 2019 Vaccination for Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Recipients From the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy and the American Society of Hematology

How Immunocompromised Hosts Were Left Behind in the Quest to Control the COVID-19 Pandemic

The immunocompromised population was disproportionately affected by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 pandemic. However, these individuals were largely excluded from clinical trials of vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and small molecule antivirals. Although the community of scientists, clinical researchers, and funding agencies have proven that these therapeutics can be made and tested in record time, extending this progress to vulnerable and medically complex individuals from the start has been a missed opportunity. Here, we advocate that it is paramount to plan for future pandemics by investing in specific clinical trial infrastructure for the immunocompromised population to be prepared when the need arises.

Best Practice Considerations by The American Society of Transplant and Cellular Therapy: Infection Prevention and Management After Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Therapy for Hematological Malignancies

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is rapidly advancing, offering promising treatments for patients with hematological malignancy. However, associated infectious complications remain a significant concern because of their contribution to patient morbidity and non-relapse mortality. Recent epidemiological insights shed light on risk factors for infections after CAR T-cell therapy. However, the available evidence is predominantly retrospective, highlighting a need for further prospective studies. Institutions are challenged with managing infections after CAR T-cell therapy but variations in the approaches taken underscore the importance of standardizing infection prevention and management protocols across different healthcare settings. Therefore, the Infectious Diseases Special Interest Group of the American Society of Transplantation and Cellular Therapy assembled an expert panel to develop best practice considerations. The aim was to guide healthcare professionals in optimizing infection prevention and management for CAR T-cell therapy recipients and advocates for early consultation of Infectious Diseases during treatment planning phases given the complexities involved. By synthesizing current evidence and expert opinion these best practice considerations provide the basis for understanding infection risk after CAR T-cell therapies and propose risk-mitigating strategies in children, adolescents, and adults. Continued research and collaboration will be essential to refining and effectively implementing these recommendations.

Improved outcome of COVID-19 over time in patients treated with CAR T-cell therapy: Update of the European COVID-19 multicenter study on behalf of the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (EBMT) Infectious Diseases Working Party (IDWP) and the European Hematology Association (EHA) Lymphoma Group

COVID-19 has been associated with high mortality in patients treated with Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy for hematologic malignancies. Here, we investigated whether the outcome has improved over time with the primary objective of assessing COVID-19-attributable mortality in the Omicron period of 2022 compared to previous years. Data for this multicenter study were collected using the MED-A and COVID-19 report forms developed by the EBMT. One-hundred-eighty patients were included in the analysis, 39 diagnosed in 2020, 35 in 2021 and 106 in 2022. The median age was 58.9 years (min-max: 5.2-78.4). There was a successive decrease in COVID-19-related mortality over time (2020: 43.6%, 2021: 22.9%, 2022: 7.5%) and in multivariate analysis year of infection was the strongest predictor of survival (p = 0.0001). Comparing 2022 with 2020-2021, significantly fewer patients had lower respiratory symptoms (21.7% vs 37.8%, p = 0.01), needed oxygen support (25.5% vs 43.2%, p = 0.01), or were admitted to ICU (5.7% vs 33.8%, p = 0.0001). Although COVID-19-related mortality has decreased over time, CAR T-cell recipients remain at higher risk for complications than the general population. Consequently, vigilant monitoring for COVID-19 in patients undergoing B-cell-targeting CAR T-cell treatment is continuously recommended ensuring optimal prevention of infection and advanced state-of-the art treatment when needed.

The winding road: Infectious disease considerations for CAR-T and other novel adoptive cellular therapies in the era of COVID-19

Adoptive cellular therapies (ACT) are novel, promising treatments for life-threatening malignancies. In addition to the better known chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, ACTs include tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), cancer antigen-specific T cell receptors (TCRs), and CAR-NK (natural killer) cells. In key historic milestones, several adoptive therapies recently received FDA approvals, including 6 CAR-T products for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and the first TIL therapy for the treatment for metastatic melanoma. The rapid pace of clinical trials in the field and the discoveries they provide are ushering in a new era of cancer immunotherapy. However, the potential complications of these therapies are still not fully understood. In particular, patients receiving ACT may be at increased risk for severe infections due to immunocompromise resulting from their underlying malignancies, which are further compounded by the immune derangements that develop in the setting of cellular immunotherapy and/or the preconditioning treatment needed to enhance ACT efficacy. Moreover, these treatments are being readily implemented at a time following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it remains unclear what additional risks these patients may face from SARS-CoV-2 and similar infections. Here, we examine the evidence for infectious complications with emerging adoptive therapies, and provide a focused review of the epidemiology, complications, and clinical management for COVID-19 in CAR-T recipients to understand the risk this disease may pose to recipients of other forms of ACT.

SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination in the First Year After Hematopoietic Cell Transplant or Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy: A Prospective, Multicenter, Observational Study

BACKGROUND

The optimal timing of vaccination with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccines after cellular therapy is incompletely understood. The objectives of this study are to determine whether humoral and cellular responses after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination differ if initiated <4 months versus 4-12 months after cellular therapy.

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter, prospective, observational study at 30 cancer centers in the United States. SARS-CoV-2 vaccination was administered as part of routine care. We obtained blood prior to and after vaccinations at up to 5 time points and tested for SARS-CoV-2 spike (anti-S) IgG in all participants and neutralizing antibodies for Wuhan D614G, Delta B.1.617.2, and Omicron B.1.1.529 strains, as well as SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell receptors, in a subgroup.

RESULTS

We enrolled 466 allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) (n = 231), autologous HCT (n = 170), and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T-cell) therapy (n = 65) recipients between April 2021 and June 2022. Humoral and cellular responses did not significantly differ among participants initiating vaccinations <4 months versus 4-12 months after cellular therapy. Anti-S IgG ≥2500 U/mL was correlated with high neutralizing antibody titers and attained by the last time point in 70%, 69%, and 34% of allogeneic HCT, autologous HCT, and CAR-T-cell recipients, respectively. SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell responses were attained in 57%, 83%, and 58%, respectively. Pre-cellular therapy SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination and baseline B-cell count were key predictors of post-cellular therapy immunity.

CONCLUSIONS

These data support mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination prior to, and reinitiation 3 to 4 months after, cellular therapies with allogeneic HCT, autologous HCT, and CAR-T-cell therapy.

Overview of infectious complications among CAR T- cell therapy recipients

Chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cell (CAR T-cell) therapy has revolutionized the management of hematological malignancies. In addition to impressive malignancy-related outcomes, CAR T-cell therapy has significant toxicity-related adverse events, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS), immune effector cell associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), immune effector cell-associated hematotoxicity (ICAHT), and opportunistic infections. Different CAR T-cell targets have different epidemiology and risk factors for infection, and these targets result in different long-term immunodeficiency states due to their distinct on-target and off- tumor effects. These effects are exacerbated by the use of multimodal immunosuppression in the management of CRS and ICANS. The most effective course of action for managing infectious complications involves determining screening, prophylactic, and monitoring strategies and understanding the role of immunoglobulin replacement and re-vaccination strategies. This involves considering the nature of prior immunomodulating therapies, underlying malignancy, the CAR T-cell target, and the development and management of related adverse events. In conclusion, we now have an increasing understanding of infection management for CAR T-cell recipients. As additional effector cells and CAR T-cell targets become available, infection management strategies will continue to evolve.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in the first year after hematopoietic cell transplant or chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy: A prospective, multicenter, observational study (BMT CTN 2101)

Background

The optimal timing of vaccination with SARS-CoV-2 vaccines after cellular therapy is incompletely understood.

Objective

To describe humoral and cellular responses after SARS-CoV-2 vaccination initiated <4 months versus 4-12 months after cellular therapy.

Design

Multicenter prospective observational study.

Setting

34 centers in the United States.

Participants

466 allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT; n=231), autologous HCT (n=170), or chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T cell) therapy (n=65) recipients enrolled between April 2021 and June 2022.

Interventions

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination as part of routine care.

Measurements

We obtained blood prior to and after vaccinations at up to five time points and tested for SARS-CoV-2 spike (anti-S) IgG in all participants and neutralizing antibodies for Wuhan D614G, Delta B.1.617.2, and Omicron B.1.1.529 strains, as well as SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell receptors (TCRs), in a subgroup.

Results

Anti-S IgG and neutralizing antibody responses increased with vaccination in HCT recipients irrespective of vaccine initiation timing but were unchanged in CAR-T cell recipients initiating vaccines within 4 months. Anti-S IgG ≥2,500 U/mL was correlated with high neutralizing antibody titers and attained by the last time point in 70%, 69%, and 34% of allogeneic HCT, autologous HCT, and CAR-T cell recipients, respectively. SARS-CoV-2-specific T cell responses were attained in 57%, 83%, and 58%, respectively. Humoral and cellular responses did not significantly differ among participants initiating vaccinations <4 months vs 4-12 months after cellular therapy. Pre-cellular therapy SARS-CoV-2 infection or vaccination were key predictors of post-cellular therapy anti-S IgG levels.

Limitations

The majority of participants were adults and received mRNA vaccines.

Conclusions

These data support starting mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination three to four months after allogeneic HCT, autologous HCT, and CAR-T cell therapy.

Funding

National Marrow Donor Program, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, Novartis, LabCorp, American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Adaptive Biotechnologies, and the National Institutes of Health.

Long-term survivorship care after CAR-T cell therapy

While cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome are well-recognized acute toxicities of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy, these complications have become increasingly manageable by protocolized treatment algorithms incorporating the early administration of tocilizumab and corticosteroids. As CAR-T cell therapy expands to new disease indications and the number of long-term survivors steadily increases, there is growing recognition of the need to appropriately evaluate and manage the late effects of CAR-T cell therapy, including late-onset or persistent neurotoxicity, prolonged cytopenias, delayed immune reconstitution and infections, subsequent malignancies, organ dysfunction, psychological distress, and fertility implications. In this review, we provide a practical approach to the long-term survivorship care of the CAR-T cell recipient, with a focus on the optimal strategies to address the common and challenging late complications affecting this unique population.

COVID-19 after hematopoietic cell transplantation and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T-cell therapy

More than 3 years have passed since Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) was declared a global pandemic, yet COVID-19 still severely impacts immunocompromised individuals including those treated with hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and chimeric antigen receptor-T-cell therapies who remain at high risk for severe COVID-19 and mortality. Despite vaccination efforts, these patients have inadequate responses due to immunosuppression, which underscores the need for additional preventive approaches. The optimal timing, schedule of vaccination, and immunological correlates for protective immunity remain unknown. Antiviral therapies used early during disease can reduce mortality and severity due to COVID-19. The combination or sequential use of antivirals could be beneficial to control replication and prevent the development of treatment-related mutations in protracted COVID-19. Despite conflicting data, COVID-19 convalescent plasma remains an option in immunocompromised patients with mild-to-moderate disease to prevent progression. Protracted COVID-19 has been increasingly recognized among these patients and has been implicated in intra-host emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants. Finally, novel SARS-CoV2-specific T-cells and natural killer cell-boosting (or -containing) products may be active against multiple variants and are promising therapies in immunocompromised patients.

Stimulation of Potent Humoral and Cellular Immunity via Synthetic Dual-Antigen MVA-Based COVID-19 Vaccine COH04S1 in Cancer Patients Post Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy

Hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell patients are immunocompromised, remain at high risk following SARS-CoV-2 infection, and are less likely than immunocompetent individuals to respond to vaccination. As part of the safety lead-in portion of a phase 2 clinical trial in patients post HCT/CAR-T for hematological malignancies (HM), we tested the immunogenicity of the synthetic modified vaccinia Ankara-based COVID-19 vaccine COH04S1 co-expressing spike (S) and nucleocapsid (N) antigens. Thirteen patients were vaccinated 3-12 months post HCT/CAR-T with two to four doses of COH04S1. SARS-CoV-2 antigen-specific humoral and cellular immune responses, including neutralizing antibodies to ancestral virus and variants of concern (VOC), were measured up to six months post vaccination and compared to immune responses in historical cohorts of naïve healthy volunteers (HV) vaccinated with COH04S1 and naïve healthcare workers (HCW) vaccinated with the FDA-approved mRNA vaccine Comirnaty® (Pfizer, New York, NY, USA). After one or two COH04S1 vaccine doses, HCT/CAR-T recipients showed a significant increase in S- and N-specific binding antibody titers and neutralizing antibodies with potent activity against SARS-CoV-2 ancestral virus and VOC, including the highly immune evasive Omicron XBB.1.5 variant. Furthermore, vaccination with COH04S1 resulted in a significant increase in S- and N-specific T cells, predominantly CD4+ T lymphocytes. Elevated S- and N-specific immune responses continued to persist at six months post vaccination. Furthermore, both humoral and cellular immune responses in COH04S1-vaccinated HCT/CAR-T patients were superior or comparable to those measured in COH04S1-vaccinated HV or Comirnaty®-vaccinated HCW. These results demonstrate robust stimulation of SARS-CoV-2 S- and N-specific immune responses including cross-reactive neutralizing antibodies by COH04S1 in HM patients post HCT/CAR-T, supporting further testing of COH04S1 in immunocompromised populations.

SARS-CoV-2 vaccination in the first year after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant: a prospective, multicentre, observational study

Background

The optimal timing for SARS-CoV-2 vaccines within the first year after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) is poorly understood.

Methods

We conducted a prospective, multicentre, observational study of allogeneic HCT recipients who initiated SARS-CoV-2 vaccinations within 12 months of HCT. Participants were enrolled at 22 academic cancer centers across the United States. Participants of any age who were planning to receive a first post-HCT SARS-CoV-2 vaccine within 12 months of HCT were eligible. We obtained blood prior to and after each vaccine dose for up to four vaccine doses, with an end-of-study sample seven to nine months after enrollment. We tested for SARS-CoV-2 spike protein (anti-S) IgG; nucleocapsid protein (anti-N) IgG; neutralizing antibodies for Wuhan D614G, Delta B.1.617.2, and Omicron B.1.1.529 strains; and SARS-CoV-2-specific T-cell receptors (TCRs). The primary outcome was a comparison of anti-S IgG titers at the post-V2 time point in participants initiating vaccinations <4 months versus 4-12 months after HCT using a propensity-adjusted analysis. We also evaluated factors associated with high-level anti-S IgG titers (≥2403 U/mL) in logistic regression models.

Findings

Between April 22, 2021 and November 17, 2021, 175 allogeneic HCT recipients were enrolled in the study, of whom all but one received mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccines. SARS-CoV-2 anti-S IgG titers, neutralizing antibody titers, and TCR breadth and depth did not significantly differ at all tested time points following the second vaccination among those initiating vaccinations <4 months versus 4-12 months after HCT. Anti-S IgG ≥2403 U/mL correlated with neutralizing antibody levels similar to those observed in a prior study of non-immunocompromised individuals, and 57% of participants achieved anti-S IgG ≥2403 U/mL at the end-of-study time point. In models adjusted for SARS-CoV-2 infection pre-enrollment, SARS-CoV-2 vaccination pre-HCT, CD19+ B-cell count, CD4+ T-cell count, and age (as applicable to the model), vaccine initiation timing was not associated with high-level anti-S IgG titers at the post-V2, post-V3, or end-of-study time points. Notably, prior graft-versus-host-disease (GVHD) or use of immunosuppressive medications were not associated with high-level anti-S IgG titers. Grade ≥3 vaccine-associated adverse events were infrequent.

Interpretation

These data support starting mRNA SARS-CoV-2 vaccination three months after HCT, irrespective of concurrent GVHD or use of immunosuppressive medications. This is one of the largest prospective analyses of vaccination for any pathogen within the first year after allogeneic HCT and supports current guidelines for SARS-CoV-2 vaccination starting three months post-HCT. Additionally, there are few studies of mRNA vaccine formulations for other pathogens in HCT recipients, and these data provide encouraging proof-of-concept for the utility of early vaccination targeting additional pathogens with mRNA vaccine platforms.

Funding

National Marrow Donor Program, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, Novartis, LabCorp, American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, Adaptive Biotechnologies, and the National Institutes of Health.