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Butt H, Tisdale JF. Gene therapies on the horizon for sickle cell disease: a clinician's perspective. Expert Rev Hematol 2024; 17:555-566. [PMID: 39076056 DOI: 10.1080/17474086.2024.2386366] [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: 04/12/2024] [Revised: 06/20/2024] [Accepted: 07/26/2024] [Indexed: 07/31/2024]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a monogenic disorder that exerts several detrimental health effects on those affected, ultimately resulting in significant morbidity and early mortality. There are millions of individuals globally impacted by this disease. Research in gene therapy has been growing significantly over the past decade, now with two FDA approved products, aiming to find another cure for this complex disease. AREAS COVERED This perspective article aims to provide a clinician's insight into the current landscape of gene therapies, exploring the novel approaches, clinical advances, and potential impact on the management and prognosis of SCD. A comprehensive literature search encompassing databases such as PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar was employed. The search covered literature published from 1980 to 2024, focusing on SCD and curative therapy. EXPERT OPINION After careful evaluation of the risks and benefits associated with the use of gene therapy for affected patients, the need for a cure outweighs the risks associated with treatment in most cases of SCD. With advances in current technologies, gene therapies can increase access to cures for patients with SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henna Butt
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
| | - John F Tisdale
- Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Leonard A, Weiss MJ. Hematopoietic stem cell collection for sickle cell disease gene therapy. Curr Opin Hematol 2024; 31:104-114. [PMID: 38359264 DOI: 10.1097/moh.0000000000000807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2024]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Gene therapy for sickle cell disease (SCD) is advancing rapidly, with two transformative products recently approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and numerous others under study. All current gene therapy protocols require ex vivo modification of autologous hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). However, several SCD-related problems impair HSC collection, including a stressed and damaged bone marrow, potential cytotoxicity by the major therapeutic drug hydroxyurea, and inability to use granulocyte colony stimulating factor, which can precipitate severe vaso-occlusive events. RECENT FINDINGS Peripheral blood mobilization of HSCs using the CXCR4 antagonist plerixafor followed by apheresis collection was recently shown to be safe and effective for most SCD patients and is the current strategy for mobilizing HSCs. However, exceptionally large numbers of HSCs are required to manufacture an adequate cellular product, responses to plerixafor are variable, and most patients require multiple mobilization cycles, increasing the risk for adverse events. For some, gene therapy is prohibited by the failure to obtain adequate numbers of HSCs. SUMMARY Here we review the current knowledge on HSC collection from individuals with SCD and potential improvements that may enhance the safety, efficacy, and availability of gene therapy for this disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Leonard
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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Maitta RW. Apheresis collection of mononuclear cells for chimeric-antigen receptor therapies. Eur J Haematol 2024; 112:36-40. [PMID: 37525900 DOI: 10.1111/ejh.14071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2023] [Revised: 07/19/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023]
Abstract
Collections of lymphocytes to be genetically modified to treat hematologic malignancies have seen a dramatic increase over the last few years as commercial products have been approved. Reports of new products in development that can possibly treat solid organ malignancies represent a massive change in the field. Apheresis is at the center of the collection of cells for the manufacture of these chimeric-antigen receptor therapy products. The expansion of these collections represents one of the areas of apheresis procedures growth. This review will summarize concepts important to this type of collection and variables that need to be optimized to obtain desired cell yields while increasing patients' safety.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert W Maitta
- Department of Pathology, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center and Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
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Asher S, Shah R, Ings S, Horder J, Newrick F, Nesr G, Kesse Adu R, Streetly M, Trompeter S, Lee L, Wisniowski B, Mahmood S, Xu K, Papanikalaou X, McMillan A, Popat R, Yong K, Sive J, Kyriakou C, Rabin N. Haematopoietic stem cell mobilisation followed by high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation for patients with sickle cell disease and myeloma. Br J Haematol 2023; 202:1224-1227. [PMID: 37488061 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.18990] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- S Asher
- Department of Haematology, University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - R Shah
- Department of Haematology, University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - S Ings
- Department of Haematology, University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - J Horder
- Department of Haematology, University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - F Newrick
- Department of Haematology, University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - G Nesr
- Department of Haematology, University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - R Kesse Adu
- Department of Haematology, Guys and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - M Streetly
- Department of Haematology, Guys and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - S Trompeter
- Department of Haematology, University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - L Lee
- Department of Haematology, University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - B Wisniowski
- Department of Haematology, University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - S Mahmood
- Department of Haematology, University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - K Xu
- Department of Haematology, University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - X Papanikalaou
- Department of Haematology, University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - A McMillan
- Department of Haematology, University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - R Popat
- Department of Haematology, University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - K Yong
- Department of Haematology, University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - J Sive
- Department of Haematology, University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - C Kyriakou
- Department of Haematology, University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - N Rabin
- Department of Haematology, University College Hospital London NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
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Sharma A, Boelens JJ, Cancio M, Hankins JS, Bhad P, Azizy M, Lewandowski A, Zhao X, Chitnis S, Peddinti R, Zheng Y, Kapoor N, Ciceri F, Maclachlan T, Yang Y, Liu Y, Yuan J, Naumann U, Yu VW, Stevenson SC, De Vita S, LaBelle JL. CRISPR-Cas9 Editing of the HBG1 and HBG2 Promoters to Treat Sickle Cell Disease. N Engl J Med 2023; 389:820-832. [PMID: 37646679 PMCID: PMC10947132 DOI: 10.1056/nejmoa2215643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Sickle cell disease is caused by a defect in the β-globin subunit of adult hemoglobin. Sickle hemoglobin polymerizes under hypoxic conditions, producing deformed red cells that hemolyze and cause vaso-occlusion that results in progressive organ damage and early death. Elevated fetal hemoglobin levels in red cells protect against complications of sickle cell disease. OTQ923, a clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)-Cas9-edited CD34+ hematopoietic stem- and progenitor-cell (HSPC) product, has a targeted disruption of the HBG1 and HBG2 (γ-globin) gene promoters that increases fetal hemoglobin expression in red-cell progeny. METHODS We performed a tiling CRISPR-Cas9 screen of the HBG1 and HBG2 promoters by electroporating CD34+ cells obtained from healthy donors with Cas9 complexed with one of 72 guide RNAs, and we assessed the fraction of fetal hemoglobin-immunostaining erythroblasts (F cells) in erythroid-differentiated progeny. The gRNA resulting in the highest level of F cells (gRNA-68) was selected for clinical development. We enrolled participants with severe sickle cell disease in a multicenter, phase 1-2 clinical study to assess the safety and adverse-effect profile of OTQ923. RESULTS In preclinical experiments, CD34+ HSPCs (obtained from healthy donors and persons with sickle cell disease) edited with CRISPR-Cas9 and gRNA-68 had sustained on-target editing with no off-target mutations and produced high levels of fetal hemoglobin after in vitro differentiation or xenotransplantation into immunodeficient mice. In the study, three participants received autologous OTQ923 after myeloablative conditioning and were followed for 6 to 18 months. At the end of the follow-up period, all the participants had engraftment and stable induction of fetal hemoglobin (fetal hemoglobin as a percentage of total hemoglobin, 19.0 to 26.8%), with fetal hemoglobin broadly distributed in red cells (F cells as a percentage of red cells, 69.7 to 87.8%). Manifestations of sickle cell disease decreased during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS CRISPR-Cas9 disruption of the HBG1 and HBG2 gene promoters was an effective strategy for induction of fetal hemoglobin. Infusion of autologous OTQ923 into three participants with severe sickle cell disease resulted in sustained induction of red-cell fetal hemoglobin and clinical improvement in disease severity. (Funded by Novartis Pharmaceuticals; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT04443907.).
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Affiliation(s)
- Akshay Sharma
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | | | - Maria Cancio
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Prafulla Bhad
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Marjohn Azizy
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Xiaojun Zhao
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Shripad Chitnis
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Yan Zheng
- St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Neena Kapoor
- Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | | | - Yi Yang
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Yi Liu
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jianping Yuan
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Ulrike Naumann
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Vionnie W.C. Yu
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | | | - Serena De Vita
- Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research, Cambridge, MA, USA
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Benefits of plerixafor for mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells prior to autologous transplantation: a dual-center retrospective cohort study. Cytotherapy 2023:S1465-3249(23)00057-9. [PMID: 36914555 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2023.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 02/04/2023] [Accepted: 02/13/2023] [Indexed: 03/14/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AIMS Before autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT), hematopoietic stem cells must be stimulated to move from the bone marrow to the peripheral blood for harvesting. Plerixafor, a C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 antagonist, is used to increase stem cell harvests. However, the effects of plerixafor on post-ASCT outcomes remain unclear. METHODS In a dual-center retrospective cohort study of 43 Japanese patients who received ASCT, the authors compared transplantation outcomes in patients who underwent stem cell mobilization with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor with (n = 25) or without (n = 18) plerixafor. RESULTS The number of days to neutrophil and platelet engraftment was significantly shorter with plerixafor than without plerixafor, as assessed by univariate (neutrophil, P = 0.004, platelet, P = 0.002), subgroup, propensity score matching and inverse probability weighting analyses. Although the cumulative incidence of fever was comparable with or without plerixafor (P = 0.31), that of sepsis was significantly lower with plerixafor than without (P < 0.01). Thus, the present data indicate that plerixafor leads to earlier neutrophil and platelet engraftment and a reduction of infectious risk. CONCLUSIONS The authors conclude that plerixafor may be safe to use and that it reduces the risk of infection in patients with a low CD34+ cell count the day before apheresis.
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Bhoopalan SV, Yen JS, Levine RM, Sharma A. Editing human hematopoietic stem cells: advances and challenges. Cytotherapy 2023; 25:261-269. [PMID: 36123234 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcyt.2022.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Genome editing of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells is being developed for the treatment of several inherited disorders of the hematopoietic system. The adaptation of CRISPR-Cas9-based technologies to make precise changes to the genome, and developments in altering the specificity and efficiency, and improving the delivery of nucleases to target cells have led to several breakthroughs. Many clinical trials are ongoing, and several pre-clinical models have been reported that would allow these genetic therapies to one day offer a potential cure to patients with diseases where limited options currently exist. However, there remain several challenges with respect to establishing safety, expanding accessibility and improving the manufacturing processes of these therapeutic products. This review focuses on some of the recent advances in the field of genome editing of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and illustrates the ongoing challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senthil Velan Bhoopalan
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Jonathan S Yen
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Rachel M Levine
- Department of Hematology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Akshay Sharma
- Department of Bone Marrow Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
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