What is the Role of Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation (HCT) for Pediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) in the Age of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell (CART) Therapy?

J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2019 Jul;41(5):337-344. doi: 10.1097/MPH.0000000000001479.

Abstract

CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CART) therapy has revolutionized the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory hematologic malignancies, especially B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. As CART immunotherapy expands from clinical trials to FDA-approved treatments, a consensus among oncologists and hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) physicians is needed to identify which patients may benefit from consolidative HCT post-CART therapy. Here, we review CD19 CART therapy and the outcomes of published clinical trials, highlighting the use of post-CART HCT and the pattern of relapse after CD19 CART. At this time, the limited available long-term data from clinical trials precludes us from making definitive HCT recommendations. However, based on currently available data, we propose that consolidative HCT post-CART therapy be considered for all HCT-eligible patients and especially for pediatric patients with KMT2A-rearranged B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD19
  • Child
  • Gene Rearrangement
  • Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation / methods*
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase / genetics
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive / methods*
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein / genetics
  • Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy
  • Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / therapy*
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen

Substances

  • Antigens, CD19
  • KMT2A protein, human
  • Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen
  • Myeloid-Lymphoid Leukemia Protein
  • Histone-Lysine N-Methyltransferase