Rates of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell–associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) from Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) data on US subjects (SUBJ) with lymphoma following chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (CAR-T).

7528 Background: The engineered T-cell products axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) and brexucabtagene autoleucel (brexu-cel) are FDA approved for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), respectively. This study investigated real-world rates of CRS and ICANS following CAR-T. Methods: This study analyzed CIBMTR data of US SUBJ receiving axi-cel or brexu-cel for any indication from Oct 2020–Dec 2021 with ≥1 follow-up visit. CRS and ICANS were graded per American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy consensus guidelines. Results: 927 SUBJ (median age, 63 y; men, 65%) from 87 centers were analyzed. Most received axi-cel (76%), 83% of whom had DLBCL or transformed follicular lymphoma (tFL); 24% received brexu-cel (MCL). Most SUBJ had Ann Arbor stage III/IV (63%), no active central nervous system disease (84%), and refractory disease at CAR-T infusion (66%). Among all 589 SUBJ with DLBCL/tFL who received axi-cel, 54% achieved complete response, 17% partial response, and 6% stable disease. 89/715 SUBJ with available data received treatment for CRS prevention, mostly tocilizumab alone (80% 71/89) or in combination (3% 3/89). Overall, 766 SUBJ (83%) developed CRS (grade ≥3, 64 8%; Table). Of the 89 SUBJ who received CRS prevention treatment, 78% developed CRS, with 3% (3/89) having grade ≥3. 77% of SUBJ with CRS received CRS treatment, 97% of whom received tocilizumab (alone or in combination eg, with corticosteroids). Most (64%) SUBJ with grade 1 CRS received treatment, 63% of whom received tocilizumab alone. ICANS occurred in 424/876 SUBJ with ICANS data (48%; Table), of whom 205 (48%) had grade ≥3. ICANS treatment was reported and administered to 86% of SUBJ with ICANS, 92% of whom received corticosteroids. Conclusions: CRS and ICANS incidence rates were consistent with previously published literature and highlight potential burdens of CAR-T. In addition, the treatment landscape for CRS is changing; SUBJ with grade 1 CRS often received treatment. These data will inform the design of future studies aimed at preventing and treating CAR-T toxicities. Table: see text