
Potent CD19-directed immunotherapies, such as chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CART) and blinatumomab, have drastically changed the outcome of patients with relapsed/refractory B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). However, CD19-negative relapses have emerged as a major problem that is observed in approximately 30% of treated patients. Developing approaches to preventing and treating antigen-loss escapes would therefore represent a vertical advance in the field. Here, we found that in primary patient samples, the IL-3 receptor α chain CD123 was highly expressed on leukemia-initiating cells and CD19-negative blasts in bulk B-ALL at baseline and at relapse after CART19 administration. Using intravital imaging in an antigen-loss CD19-negative relapse xenograft model, we determined that CART123, but not CART19, recognized leukemic blasts, established protracted synapses, and eradicated CD19-negative leukemia, leading to prolonged survival. Furthermore, combining CART19 and CART123 prevented antigen-loss relapses in xenograft models. Finally, we devised a dual CAR-expressing construct that combined CD19- and CD123-mediated T cell activation and demonstrated that it provides superior in vivo activity against B-ALL compared with single-expressing CART or pooled combination CART. In conclusion, these findings indicate that targeting CD19 and CD123 on leukemic blasts represents an effective strategy for treating and preventing antigen-loss relapses occurring after CD19-directed therapies.
T-Lymphocytes, Antigens, CD19, Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit, Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, Antineoplastic Agents, Mice, SCID, Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays, Drug Resistance, Neoplasm, Mice, Inbred NOD, Cell Line, Tumor, Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma, Neoplastic Stem Cells, Animals, Humans, Immunotherapy, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
T-Lymphocytes, Antigens, CD19, Interleukin-3 Receptor alpha Subunit, Receptors, Antigen, T-Cell, Antineoplastic Agents, Mice, SCID, Xenograft Model Antitumor Assays, Drug Resistance, Neoplasm, Mice, Inbred NOD, Cell Line, Tumor, Precursor B-Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma, Neoplastic Stem Cells, Animals, Humans, Immunotherapy, Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 504 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 0.1% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 1% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 0.1% |
