Recognizing and Grading CAR T-Cell Toxicities: An Advanced Practitioner Perspective

Over the past decade, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has significantly improved the outlook for many patients with relapsed and/or refractory B-cell malignancies. The use of CAR T-cell therapy and other therapeutic immune effector cells will likely continue to expand with the development of other targets and use in solid tumors. Although these therapies have shown significant promise in the treatment of some malignancies, they can be associated with unique toxicities including cytokine release syndrome and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome which can be fatal if not identified early and treated appropriately. An understanding of how best to manage the toxicities associated with CAR T-cell therapy is continually evolving. Institutions providing CAR T-cell therapy have undergone changes in infrastructure and staffing models in order to safely care for patients receiving this novel therapy. As members of a multi-disciplinary health care team, advanced practice providers play significant roles in caring for this patient population and must be well-versed in the recognition, grading, and appropriate management of CAR T-cell therapy-related toxicities as these providers care for patients in multiple settings across the continuum of care.

Introduction

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is an adoptive cell therapy that has dramatically improved outcomes in some patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell malignancies. To date, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two constructs that target B-cell malignancies expressing CD19 on the cell surface, and there are numerous clinical trials for agents targeting other antigens for both hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Third- and fourth-generation CAR T-cell therapies, including allogeneic products, are also undergoing clinical investigations (1–8). As more cell products become commercially available and more authorized treatment centers are approved, access to this highly specialized treatment will continue to increase (9, 10).

Despite promising results of clinical trials, toxicities associated with CAR T-cell therapy are common and can be fatal. Although the mechanisms driving toxicities are becoming better understood, the long term sequelae have yet to be determined (11–14). Therefore, it is vital that high level multidisciplinary teams are in place to correctly identify, grade, and manage these adverse events (15). Advanced practice providers (APPs) in the United States experience regular patient contact, and are often responsible for the initial assessment of patients who have received CAR T-cell therapy. Therefore, they must be knowledgeable of the expected toxicities, the timing and grading of these toxicities, and the signs and symptoms of other adverse events that may accompany or mimic the toxicities associated with CAR T-cell therapy (16). Although consensus guidelines on the grading of CAR-T cell-related toxicities were recently published, challenges remain in accurately implementing these guidelines (17, 18).

The purpose of this focused review is to highlight the influence of multidisciplinary care teams, including APPs, in correctly identifying and grading CAR T-cell-related toxicities. This review will include a focused discussion regarding risk factors, differential diagnoses, and guidelines for grading cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), as well as long-term and late effects of CAR T-cell therapy and ways APPs contribute to providing optimal care.

Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS)

Of the reported toxicities related to CAR T-cell therapy, CRS is the most common, and without timely intervention, it can be fatal. CRS is defined by the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT) consensus group as the “supra-physiologic response following immune therapy that results in activation or engagement of endogenous or infused T cells.” According to the ASTCT, CRS begins with a fever and can include hypotension, hypoxia, and/or end organ dysfunction, and these symptoms may be progressive (17). Other adverse events involved in CRS may include arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, heart block, renal failure, transaminitis, and coagulopathy. However, the hallmark of CRS is fever, which is the first presenting symptom, and the severity of CRS is determined by hypotension and/or hypoxia (17). CAR T-cell experts have concluded that the other significant adverse events of CRS are uncommon in the absence of hypotension and/or hypoxia. CRS typically occurs within the first 1 to 14 days following CAR T-cell infusion and can last 2–3 weeks; although this often resolves sooner with optimal management (19, 20). Still, it is recommended that patients be closely monitored for CRS for at least 4 weeks after CAR T-cell infusion (10).

Grading for CRS

In the past, grading for CRS has varied across institutions (12, 21–23). While each grading system improved recognition of CRS, there remained a lack of consensual grading that would allow for comparison among trials and products. To remedy this, experts in CAR T-cell therapy met in 2018 to formalize official recommendations for grading CAR T-cell related toxicities. The final consensus from the ASTCT can be found in Table 1, and is the system most widely adopted by institutions within the United States.

TABLE 1

Table 1. American Society for transplantation and cellular therapy consensus grading of cytokine release syndrome (CRS).

While a history of the grading of CRS is important, because many clinical trials still utilize past grading systems, the aim of this review is focused on highlighting common errors that can meaningfully affect toxicity reporting and grading. For instance, elevated liver enzymes weeks after CAR T-cell infusion are less likely attributable CAR T-cells than to a secondary cause such as antifungal therapy. Additionally, while labs such as C-reactive protein and ferritin levels can help aide in diagnosis, they can also be elevated in numerous other conditions. The next sections will address risk factors and differential diagnoses of CRS to help determine whether a symptom, lab abnormality and adverse event is attributable to CAR T-cell therapy.

Risk Factors for CRS

CRS incidence is high and varies on the basis of a number of factors. In fact, the focus of many clinical trials has been to identify potentially modifiable risk factors because understanding these risk factors can aide in prompt diagnosis (19). High disease burden is one of the most important predictors of severe CRS (24, 25). This has been validated in studies of patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia who received CAR T-cell therapy as well as in lymphoma models (26–28). Additionally, high T-cell doses and a high degree of T-cell expansion can increase the risk of developing CRS. Early cytokine elevations have been associated with severe CRS, and have the potential to act as predictive biomarkers for the development of severe CRS (25, 27). Furthermore, the incidence of CRS varies with the type of CAR T-cell agent and construct, including among the second-generation FDA-approved CAR T-cell products. However, owing to differences in patient populations and grading scales, no definitive conclusions can be drawn.

Differential Diagnoses for CRS

The lymphodepleting chemotherapies most commonly used prior to CAR T-cell infusion- cyclophosphamide and fludarabine- are known to cause cytopenias, which occur during the same timeframe that is typical for CRS. The CAR T-cells themselves may also cause immune-mediated pancytopenia. Thus, it is often difficult to determine whether patients with a fever and neutropenia are experiencing CRS or an infectious complication. One multidisciplinary team noted that infection is more likely to occur in patients who receive high CAR T-cell doses, are heavily pre-treated, or experience severe CRS (29). In fact, the most predictive risk factor for infection in that report was CRS severity. In patients who have received CAR T-cell therapy and subsequently develop fever, an infectious work-up is indicated and empiric antimicrobials should be given until infection is ruled out, especially in patients with neutropenia.

Sepsis presents similarly to CRS, and it is often extremely challenging to distinguish between the two. To illustrate, a substantial number of patients with CRS also meet the criteria for sepsis, which is defined as suspected infection with organ dysfunction (30, 31). Furthermore, elevated lactate levels and hypotension that requires vasopressor support meet the criteria for septic shock and may also occur in patients with severe CRS (24). Although the supportive care for both adverse events may be similar, it is imperative to determine the underlying cause of the symptoms—CRS vs. infection—because the treatment varies drastically. Treatment for CRS may include anti-cytokine therapy and high-dose steroids, which would not be indicated in sepsis. Therefore, it is of value to consider sepsis as a likely differential diagnosis when managing symptoms in a patient who has received CAR T-cell therapy.

Tumor lysis syndrome (TLS) can also present similarly to CRS. Clinically, the symptoms of tumor lysis syndrome may include fever, renal failure, arrhythmia, and seizures. However, tumor lysis syndrome can be identified using objective data such as abnormal laboratory findings including hyperphosphatemia, hyperuricemia, hypocalcemia, and hyperkalemia (24).

Although rare, hypersensitivity reactions to CAR T-cell therapy can occur, and a few cases have been presented in the literature (32). Hypersensitivity presents most often after repeat exposure, which, again, is rare for patients receiving CAR T-cell therapy. The presentation of a typical type I hypersensitivity reaction includes fever, urticarial rash, hypotension, dyspnea, and gastrointestinal symptoms, all of which can been seen in CRS. However, hypersensitivity reactions occur at the same time or soon after the cell infusion, which is not typical for CRS.

In the context of differential diagnoses for CRS, hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH), also termed macrophage activation syndrome, is a rare but potentially fatal condition that can occur in conjunction with CRS (24). As with the previous differential diagnoses, HLH symptoms overlap with those of CRS. To diagnosis HLH, a combination of clinical, laboratory, and histopathological findings must be present (33). According to the most recent guidelines from the Histiocyte Society, diagnosis requires molecular mutations (i.e., PRF1, UNC13D, STXBP1, etc.) or five of the following criteria: fever, splenomegaly, cytopenia affecting at least two different cell lines, hypertriglyceridemia, hemagophagocytosis in the bone marrow, spleen, lymph nodes or liver; low or absent natural killer cells, elevated ferritin and increased soluble CD25 concentration (i.e., soluble IL-2 receptor), the latter of which also fits the clinical picture of CRS (34). However, while HLH is rare in patients receiving CAR T-cells, CRS is common, so CRS should remain high on the differential.

Other important differential diagnoses for CRS include heart failure, pulmonary embolism, and allergic reactions. Patients may also develop organ dysfunction that is related to disease progression rather than CRS. For these reasons, multidisciplinary management provides additional support in diagnosis. If there is concern for heart failure or pulmonary emboli, expert opinion from cardiology and pulmonology will prove invaluable. A list of differential diagnoses for CRS is presented in Table 2, along with clinical pearls to help differentiate from CRS. Table 3 provides a decision support tool for APPs.

TABLE 2

Table 2. Differential diagnoses for cytokine release syndrome.

TABLE 3

Table 3. Decisional flowchart for cytokine release syndrome.

Immune Effector Cell-Associated Neurotoxicity Syndrome (ICANS)

ICANS is the second most commonly noted adverse event related to CAR T-cell therapy. Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome has been defined by the ASTCT consensus group as “a disorder characterized by a pathologic process involving the central nervous system following any immune therapy that results in the activation or engagement of endogenous or infused T cells and/or other immune effector cells.” According to the ASTCT, symptoms of ICANS can include aphasia, altered level of consciousness, impaired cognitive skills, motor weakness, seizures, and cerebral edema, any of which may be progressive (17). Onset and severity of ICANS varies with therapeutic cell products used, but in general, median onset of ICANS in patient who have received commercially approved cell products is 4–6 days with a median duration of 1–14 days. Early manifestations of ICANS include tremor, mild aphasia, altered mental status with impaired attention and confusion, apraxia, and lethargy. These symptoms can progress until the patient becomes somnolent and/or obtunded. In severe cases, mechanical ventilation may be necessary (35). There have been numerous deaths from CAR T-cell therapy-related ICANS (12, 36, 37). Furthermore, one study showed that severe ICANS (grades 3 or 4) has been correlated with decreased overall survival (38). Patient and family education regarding CAR T-cell therapy-related neurotoxicity is paramount because these symptoms can be distressing to all involved.

Grading of ICANS

In 2018, the ASTCT group developed the current consensus guidelines for the grading of immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (17). Encephalopathy is now graded by a tool termed the immune-effector cell-associated encephalopathy (ICE) score. The grading of ICANS includes the ICE score as well as depressed level of consciousness, seizure activity, motor findings, and raised ICP pressure/cerebral edema (Tables 4, 5). Correct attribution, i.e., directly relating adverse event to CAR T-cell therapy or not, is of high importance to avoid meaningfully affecting toxicity reporting and grading. For instance, it is common to attribute generalized weakness as focal motor weakness according to the ICANS grading system which could lead to unnecessary and costly testing. The remainder of this section outlines the risk factors and the differential diagnoses of ICANS to mitigate incorrect attribution.

TABLE 4

Table 4. American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy consensus encephalopathy assessment tool.

TABLE 5

Table 5. American Society for transplantation and cellular therapy consensus grading of immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome for adults.

Risk Factors for ICANS

Factors that correlate with increased risk of ICANS include high tumor burden, lymphodepletion with cyclophosphamide and fludarabine, high CAR T-cell dose, and high ferritin and cytokine levels (39). Several studies have also shown that severe (often defined as grade 3 or 4) CRS is a predictive marker for the development of severe ICANS (12, 38–41). For instance, in numerous studies, 90% of patients who developed ICANS previously had CRS. Additionally, Karschnia et al. found that decreased platelets at the time of CAR T-cell infusion correlated with an increased grade of ICANS, possibly indicating that heavily pre-treated patients tend to have an increased risk of treatment-related adverse events (38). Furthermore, this finding may act as a future biomarker of blood-brain barrier disturbance which could suggest a pathogenesis of ICANS (38).

Although differentiating between ICANS and other neurologic conditions may be challenging, in one phase I study, expressive aphasia developed in 19 of 22 patients who eventually went on to develop severe ICANS (41). Thus, it is imperative that APPs have a thorough understanding of the neurological symptoms that may occur with ICANS in order to determine the correct underlying causes and treatment plan.

Differential Diagnoses for ICANS

The differential diagnoses for ICANS most often involves infection and stroke. An infection accompanied by a high fever can cause confusion that presents similarly to ICANS, and this should be the first differential diagnosis to consider. Stroke risk is also increased in patients who have undergone CAR T-cell therapy owing to its potential to induce hypercoagulability (42). Patients may also be thrombocytopenic after lymphodepleting chemotherapy, potentially increasing the risk for cerebral bleed (43). An understanding of stroke presentation and diagnosis is necessary when treating patients who have received CAR T-cell therapy because the symptoms of stroke and ICANS can be strikingly similar. Other causes of confusion besides ICANS may include sepsis, pain medications, and disease progression in the central nervous system, such as leptomeningeal disease or parenchymal brain lesions. A list of differential diagnoses, including clinical pearls associated with each, are included in Table 6. Additionally, a decisional flowchart for APPs in provided in Table 7.

TABLE 6

Table 6. Differential diagnoses for immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome.

TABLE 7

Table 7. Decisional flowchart for immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome.

Consideration of the timeframe in which the symptoms present is helpful in determining the diagnosis. It is rare, among the current commercial products, for a patient to develop ICANS >30 days after infusion, and even more rare past 60 days. If neurological symptoms present past this time-frame include the aforementioned diagnoses ahead of ICANS when formulating a differential diagnosis. The time-frame and incidence of ICANS does vary to an extent among products, so a familiarity with the product is helpful in differentiating among neurological conditions. Additionally, multidisciplinary management can aide in diagnosis. As described, encephalopathy can manifest in a myriad of ways, so a consult with neurology is often required. Should mechanical ventilation be necessary pulmonary and respiratory therapy must also be skilled in proper diagnosis and timely intervention. Infectious disease experts, while often called upon during CRS, are often required when there is suspicion for ICANS.

Other Adverse Events

B-Cell Aplasia/Cytopenias/ Hypogammaglobulinemia

Although CD19 is expressed on most B-cell malignancies, it is also present on normal B-cells, creating an “on-target, off-tumor” effect. This is termed B-cell aplasia, which results in cytopenias and hypogammaglobulinemia. Cytopenias typically occurs within the first 30 days after cell infusion but can take months or possibly longer to resolve (44). Lymphodepleting chemotherapies are known to cause drops in blood counts initially, but the CAR T-cells can also cause immune-mediated pancytopenia. Thus, it is important to monitor blood counts closely until they return to normal and to provide support with transfusions and growth factors as indicated. However, with some cell products, growth factors should be avoided for a certain period after cell infusion.

According to a number of studies, infection incidence and severity decreased after day 30 of cell infusion (29). Still, given the potential for prolonged B-cell aplasia and subsequent infections, prophylaxis should be considered. At our institution, we recommend herpes zoster and Pneumocystis jiroveci prophylaxis for at least 1 year post CAR T-cell therapy. After 1 year, Pneumocystis jiroveci prophylaxis is discontinued if CD4 counts are >200 and viral prophylaxis is discontinued upon CD19 recovery. Antibacterial and antifungal prophylaxis is initiated at the time of infusion and continued until the absolute neutrophil count is >0.5 K/μL for 3 consecutive days without growth factor support. For patients who develop frequent viral infections and have low levels of immunoglobulin G, monthly infusions of intravenous immunoglobulin G or weekly administration of the subcutaneous formulation is recommended.

It is also important to consider vaccinations in patients who have undergone CAR T-cell therapy. If the patient has undergone stem cell transplantation previously and was never vaccinated after the transplantation, our institution follows the autologous stem cell transplantation and allogeneic stem cell transplantation guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (10). It may benefit patients to wait until their B-cells have recovered or antibodies may not be formed. However, seasonal influenza may be the exception because T-cell response has been reported (45).

Multidisciplinary Team Management

As previously highlighted, a multidisciplinary approach is required to effectively manage the toxicities associated with CAR T-cell therapy. Because CRS may lead to multiple organ system failure, experts in cardiology, nephrology, and pulmonology are often consulted (46). It is no uncommon for a patient to experience an acute kidney injury or re-activation of hepatitis which requires consult with colleagues in nephrology and hepatology. Infectious disease specialists assist with differentiating infection from CRS and offer advice on the treatment of rare infections (29, 42). The neurology team provides expertise in assessing and managing ICANS including seizure management. Psychiatry specialists may also be involved in assisting with neuropsychiatric effects (11). Intensivists frequently care for patients who develop grade 3 and 4 toxicities (47). Emergency room physicians encounter patients who return to the hospital with complications after CAR T-cell therapy. Pharmacists play a role in medication management which assists in ruling out other medications as causes for symptoms as well as vaccination in post CAR T-cell recipients (15, 48). In both inpatient and outpatient settings, nurses play a pivotal role in identifying toxicities and informing the medical team in a timely manner so that appropriate interventions can be initiated (49). APPs are often members of both the primary and consulting teams and follow patients throughout the continuum of care in both inpatient and outpatient settings, and APPs are frequently the frontline personnel in providing rapid assessment of toxicities and/or following the long-term and late effects of CAR T-cell therapy (50).

Challenges and Opportunities for APPs

As additional CAR T-cell therapies receive FDA approval for commercial use and new targets and constructs are developed, including for use in solid tumors, more centers will be providing CAR T-cell therapy (51). APPs who practice oncology will experience both the challenges and opportunities that occur with exponentially increased use of this therapy.

Many of the current CAR T-cell products are known to cause toxicities. Approximately 30% of patients develop high-grade CRS or ICANS with the currently available products. APPs are in a position to effectively provide high-level rapid assessment of toxicities and foster early intervention through initiation of treatment algorithms and communication with nurses and physicians.

Currently, there are challenges regarding consistent grading of toxicities, which is important because the grade of the toxicity determines the treatment. The ASTCT guidelines for immune effector cell toxicities have provided a foundation for consensus; however, there are currently active clinical trials for CAR T-cell therapy that still use the Lee and other criteria for grading. This leads to confusion and difficulty in comparing results across trials or products. This will likely resolve over time as new clinical trials incorporate the ASTCT guidelines and institutions adopt the ASTCT consensus grading. Knowledgeable APPs also have the opportunity to re-inforce education about grading for nurses and fellow APPs.

Many clinicians interact with patients receiving CAR T-cell therapy. All physicians, nurses, APPs, and pharmacists involved in caring for patients receiving CAR T-cell therapy are required to complete product-specific Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy training for commercially available immune effects cell therapies. The Foundation for the Accreditation of Cellular Therapy has also set standards for clinical practice, including requirements for continuing education regarding immune effector cell therapy. Ensuring that all members of the team remain competent in caring for patients receiving these therapies may be a challenge initially, but this goal becomes more feasible as experience grows. APPs have the opportunity to become experts in this new therapy and to educate colleagues through speaking engagements and publications.

Conclusion

Immunotherapy is rapidly becoming a cornerstone of treatment for cancer. The number of patients receiving immune effector cell therapy such as CAR T-cell therapy continues to grow as new targets and constructs are developed. As members of a multi-disciplinary team caring for these patients, APPs have the opportunity to improve outcomes for this patient population by developing expertise in the recognition, grading and treatment of acute toxicities and the management of potential long-term and late effects of this therapy.

Author Contributions

SS was responsible for the development and writing of the manuscript. GW, SJ, and SA contributed equally to the review and revision of the manuscript. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.

Conflict of Interest

SA has participated on Advisory Boards for Kite/Gilead and Celgene.

The remaining authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank Dr. Paolo Strati for his support and guidance in the publication of this manuscript. The authors are grateful to Ms. Erica A. Goodoff from the Department of Scientific Publications, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center for her editorial support.

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