Point-Of-Care CAR T-Cell Production (ARI-0001) Using a Closed Semi-automatic Bioreactor: Experience From an Academic Phase I Clinical Trial

oleh: Maria Castella, Maria Castella, Maria Castella, Miguel Caballero-Baños, Miguel Caballero-Baños, Valentín Ortiz-Maldonado, Europa Azucena González-Navarro, Guillermo Suñé, Guillermo Suñé, Asier Antoñana-Vidósola, Asier Antoñana-Vidósola, Anna Boronat, Anna Boronat, Berta Marzal, Lucía Millán, Beatriz Martín-Antonio, Beatriz Martín-Antonio, Joan Cid, Joan Cid, Miquel Lozano, Miquel Lozano, Enric García, Enric García, Jaime Tabera, Jaime Tabera, Esteve Trias, Unai Perpiña, Josep Ma Canals, Josep Ma Canals, Josep Ma Canals, Tycho Baumann, Daniel Benítez-Ribas, Daniel Benítez-Ribas, Elías Campo, Elías Campo, Elías Campo, Elías Campo, Elías Campo, Jordi Yagüe, Jordi Yagüe, Jordi Yagüe, Álvaro Urbano-Ispizua, Álvaro Urbano-Ispizua, Álvaro Urbano-Ispizua, Álvaro Urbano-Ispizua, Álvaro Urbano-Ispizua, Susana Rives, Susana Rives, Julio Delgado, Julio Delgado, Julio Delgado, Julio Delgado, Manel Juan, Manel Juan, Manel Juan, Manel Juan, Manel Juan, Manel Juan

Format: Article
Diterbitkan: Frontiers Media S.A. 2020-03-01

Deskripsi

Development of semi-automated devices that can reduce the hands-on time and standardize the production of clinical-grade CAR T-cells, such as CliniMACS Prodigy from Miltenyi, is key to facilitate the development of CAR T-cell therapies, especially in academic institutions. However, the feasibility of manufacturing CAR T-cell products from heavily pre-treated patients with this system has not been demonstrated yet. Here we report and characterize the production of 28 CAR T-cell products in the context of a phase I clinical trial for CD19+ B-cell malignancies (NCT03144583). The system includes CD4-CD8 cell selection, lentiviral transduction and T-cell expansion using IL-7/IL-15. Twenty-seven out of 28 CAR T-cell products manufactured met the full list of specifications and were considered valid products. Ex vivo cell expansion lasted an average of 8.5 days and had a mean transduction rate of 30.6 ± 13.44%. All products obtained presented cytotoxic activity against CD19+ cells and were proficient in the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines. Expansion kinetics was slower in patient's cells compared to healthy donor's cells. However, product potency was comparable. CAR T-cell subset phenotype was highly variable among patients and largely determined by the initial product. TCM and TEM were the predominant T-cell phenotypes obtained. 38.7% of CAR T-cells obtained presented a TN or TCM phenotype, in average, which are the subsets capable of establishing a long-lasting T-cell memory in patients. An in-depth analysis to identify individual factors contributing to the optimal T-cell phenotype revealed that ex vivo cell expansion leads to reduced numbers of TN, TSCM, and TEFF cells, while TCM cells increase, both due to cell expansion and CAR-expression. Overall, our results show for the first time that clinical-grade production of CAR T-cells for heavily pre-treated patients using CliniMACS Prodigy system is feasible, and that the obtained products meet the current quality standards of the field. Reduced ex vivo expansion may yield CAR T-cell products with increased persistence in vivo.