Flow cytometry (FCM) and quantitative PCR (qPCR) are conventional methods for assessing CAR-T expansion, while digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) is emerging as a promising alternative. We monitored CAR-T transcript expansion in 40 B-NHL patients post-infusion of CAR-T products (axi-cel; tisa-cel; and brexu-cel) with both His-Tag FCM and ddPCR techniques. Sensitivity and predictive capacity for efficacy and safety outcomes of ddPCR were analyzed and compared with FCM. A significant correlation between CAR-T counts determined by FCM and CAR transcripts assessed by ddPCR (p < 0.001) was observed. FCM revealed median CD3+CAR+ cell counts at 7, 14, and 30 days post-infusion with no significant differences. In contrast, ddPCR-measured median copies of CAR-T transcripts demonstrated significant lower copy numbers in tisa-cel recipients compared to the other products at day 7 and day 14. Patients with a peak of CAR transcripts at day 7 exceeding 5000 copies/microg gDNA, termed “good CAR-T expanders”, were more likely to achieve a favorable response at 3 months (HR 10.79, 95% CI 1.16–100.42, p = 0.036). Good CAR-T expanders showed superior progression-free survival at 3, 6, and 12 months compared to poor CAR-T expanders (p = 0.088). Those reaching a peak higher than 5000 copies/microg gDNA were more likely to experience severe CRS and ICANS. DdPCR proves to be a practical method for monitoring CAR-T expansion, providing quantitative information that better predicts both treatment outcomes and toxicity.

Galli, E., Viscovo, M., Fosso, F., Pansini, I., Di Cesare, G., Iacovelli, C., Maiolo, E., Sora', F., Hohaus, S., Sica, S., Bellesi, S., Chiusolo, P., Unlocking Predictive Power: Quantitative Assessment of CAR-T Expansion with Digital Droplet Polymerase Chain Reaction (ddPCR), <<INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES>>, 2024; 25 (5): N/A-N/A. [doi:10.3390/ijms25052673] [https://hdl.handle.net/10807/274574]

Unlocking Predictive Power: Quantitative Assessment of CAR-T Expansion with Digital Droplet Polymerase Chain Reaction (ddPCR)

Galli, Eugenio;Viscovo, Marcello;Pansini, Ilaria;Sora', Federica;Hohaus, Stefan;Bellesi, Silvia;Chiusolo, Patrizia
2024

Abstract

Flow cytometry (FCM) and quantitative PCR (qPCR) are conventional methods for assessing CAR-T expansion, while digital droplet PCR (ddPCR) is emerging as a promising alternative. We monitored CAR-T transcript expansion in 40 B-NHL patients post-infusion of CAR-T products (axi-cel; tisa-cel; and brexu-cel) with both His-Tag FCM and ddPCR techniques. Sensitivity and predictive capacity for efficacy and safety outcomes of ddPCR were analyzed and compared with FCM. A significant correlation between CAR-T counts determined by FCM and CAR transcripts assessed by ddPCR (p < 0.001) was observed. FCM revealed median CD3+CAR+ cell counts at 7, 14, and 30 days post-infusion with no significant differences. In contrast, ddPCR-measured median copies of CAR-T transcripts demonstrated significant lower copy numbers in tisa-cel recipients compared to the other products at day 7 and day 14. Patients with a peak of CAR transcripts at day 7 exceeding 5000 copies/microg gDNA, termed “good CAR-T expanders”, were more likely to achieve a favorable response at 3 months (HR 10.79, 95% CI 1.16–100.42, p = 0.036). Good CAR-T expanders showed superior progression-free survival at 3, 6, and 12 months compared to poor CAR-T expanders (p = 0.088). Those reaching a peak higher than 5000 copies/microg gDNA were more likely to experience severe CRS and ICANS. DdPCR proves to be a practical method for monitoring CAR-T expansion, providing quantitative information that better predicts both treatment outcomes and toxicity.
2024
Inglese
Galli, E., Viscovo, M., Fosso, F., Pansini, I., Di Cesare, G., Iacovelli, C., Maiolo, E., Sora', F., Hohaus, S., Sica, S., Bellesi, S., Chiusolo, P., Unlocking Predictive Power: Quantitative Assessment of CAR-T Expansion with Digital Droplet Polymerase Chain Reaction (ddPCR), <<INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR SCIENCES>>, 2024; 25 (5): N/A-N/A. [doi:10.3390/ijms25052673] [https://hdl.handle.net/10807/274574]
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