ASH 2020 | Prior blinatumomab use impacts CD19-CAR T-cell therapy response rates in R/R ALL
Nirali Shah, MD, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, discusses the findings of a retrospective evaluation of the impact of blinatumomab (blina) use prior to CD19 CAR T-cell therapy, on CAR outcomes in pediatric and young adult relapsed/refractory acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). It was theorized that prior anti-CD19 antibody use (blina) may cause increased relapse risk or CAR non-response due to selective pressure on CD19. 412 patients could be evaluated, of whom 17.8% had received blina prior to CD19 CAR. 18.3% of blina patients were non-responders, compared to 7.0% of non-blina patients. Blina was also associated with worse event and relapse-free survival. The results show blina is associated with increased risk of CAR non-response and worsened survival measures. Further investigation into blina’s impact on CD19 expression levels is ongoing. This interview took place during the 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, 2020.
