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Hematological cancer stem cells (HCSCs) is a subpopulation of cells within hematological cancers that, through their characteristics, enhance malignancy and render their therapy more challenging. By uncovering the underlying mechanisms behind characteristic properties such as self-renewal, immune evasion, and conventional therapy resistance, as well as the major differences between other cancers and physiological cells, new and alternative targets can be assessed for use in existing and novel immunotherapeutic interventions. Through the evaluation of the existing literature, one can realize that there have already been several studies addressing the use of stem cell transplantation (SCT), monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), cell therapies, cancer vaccines, and oncolytic viruses, with varying degrees of success. As such, this study aims to combine existing information and clinical evidence to assess and bring to the spotlight targets related to HCSCs that can be considered for the improvement of therapeutic interventions.

Tisagenlecleucel (tisa‐cel) is a second‐generation autologous CD19‐targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T‐cell therapy approved for relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B‐cell lymphoma (LBCL). The approval was based on the results of phase II JULIET trial, with a best overall response rate (ORR) and complete response (CR) rate in infused patients of 52% and 40%, respectively. We report outcomes with tisa‐cel in the standard‐of‐care (SOC) setting for R/R LBCL. Data from all patients with R/R LBCL who underwent leukapheresis from December 2018 until June 2020 with the intent to receive SOC tisa‐cel were retrospectively collected at 10 Spanish institutions. Toxicities were graded according to ASTCT criteria and responses were assessed as per Lugano 2014 classification. Of 91 patients who underwent leukapheresis, 75 (82%) received tisa‐cel therapy. Grade 3 or higher cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity occurred in 5% and 1%, respectively; non‐relapse mortality was 4%. Among the infused patients, best ORR and CR were 60% and 32%, respectively, with a median duration of response of 8.9 months. With a median follow‐up of 14.1 months from CAR T‐cell infusion, median progression‐free survival and overall survival were 3 months and 10.7 months, respectively. At 12 months, patients in CR at first disease evaluation had a PFS of 87% and OS of 93%. Patients with an elevated lactate dehydrogenase showed a shorter PFS and OS on multivariate analysis. Treatment with tisa‐cel for patients with relapsed/refractory LBCL in a European SOC setting showed a manageable safety profile and durable complete responses. This article provides real‐world European data on the results of relapsed/refractory large B‐cell lymphoma patients treated with tisagenlecleucel.

Despite the improved outcomes in patients with hematological malignancies, infections caused by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) pose a new threat to these patients. We retrospectively reviewed the patients with hematological cancer and bacterial bloodstream infections (BSIs) at a tertiary hospital between 2003 and 2022 to assess the impact of MDROs on outcomes. Among 328 BSIs, 81 (24.7%) were caused by MDROs. MDRO rates increased from 10.3% (2003–2007) to 39.7% (2018–2022) ( P  < 0.001). The 30-day mortality rate was 25.0%, which was significantly higher in MDRO-infected patients than in non-MDRO-infected patients (48.1 vs. 17.4%; P  < 0.001). The observed trend was more pronounced in patients with newly diagnosed diseases and relapsed/refractory disease but less prominent in patients in complete remission. Among MDROs, carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria exhibited the highest mortality, followed by vancomycin-resistant enterococci, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus , and extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae . Multivariate analysis identified independent risk factors for 30-day mortality as age ≥ 65 years, newly diagnosed disease, relapsed/refractory disease, MDROs, polymicrobial infection, CRP ≥ 20 mg/L, and inappropriate initial antibiotic therapy. In conclusion, MDROs contribute to adverse outcomes in patients with hematological cancer and bacterial BSIs, with effects varying based on the underlying disease status and causative pathogens. Appropriate initial antibiotic therapy may improve patient outcomes.

Relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease is a major hurdle to long-term survival of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients treated with intensive cytarabine (AraC)-based chemotherapy. R/R AML salvage treatment with venetoclax (VEN) + azacitidine (AZA) results in overall response rates between 20% and 60%, and responses are not durable, highlighting the need for new therapies. Here, we report elevated mTORC1 signaling in AraC-resistant AML cell lines, primary AML patient samples, and patient-derived xenograft (PDX) AML cells derived from patients at relapse postchemotherapy. The CDK9 inhibitor AZD4573 suppresses mTORC1 signaling and downregulates c-MYC and MCL-1, inducing AraC-resistant AML cell death. AZD4573 in combination with VEN + AZA significantly increases AML cell death compared to any of the two-drug combinations and suppresses AML progenitor cells but spares normal hematopoietic progenitor cells. The efficacy of this triple combination remains even with a 10-fold reduction of VEN concentration. The roles of MCL-1 and c-MYC in the three-drug combination were confirmed by knockdown. This study demonstrates that AZD4573 enhances the activity of VEN + AZA against AraC-resistant AML by downregulating c-MYC and MCL-1 and to a lesser extent cellular respiration.

CC-90002 is an anti-CD47 antibody that inhibits CD47-SIRPα interaction and enables macrophage-mediated killing of tumor cells in hematological cancer cell lines. In this first clinical, phase 1, dose-escalation and -expansion study (CC-90002-AML-001; NCT02641002), we evaluated CC-90002 in patients with relapsed/refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) or high-risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS). CC-90002 was administered in escalating doses of 0.1–4.0 mg/kg, using a modified 3 + 3 design. Primary endpoints included dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs), non-tolerated dose (NTD), maximum tolerated dose (MTD), and recommended phase 2 dose. Secondary endpoints included preliminary efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and presence/frequency of anti-drug antibodies (ADAs). Between March 2016 and July 2018, 28 patients were enrolled (24 with AML and 4 with MDS) at 6 sites across the USA. As of July 18, 2018, all patients had discontinued, mainly due to death or progressive disease. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were diarrhea (46.4%), thrombocytopenia (39.3%), febrile neutropenia (35.7%), and aspartate aminotransferase increase (35.7%). Four patients experienced DLTs (1 patient had grade 4 disseminated intravascular coagulation and grade 5 cerebral hemorrhage, 1 had grade 3 purpura, 1 had grade 4 congestive cardiac failure and grade 5 acute respiratory failure, and another had grade 5 sepsis). The NTD and MTD were not reached. No objective responses occurred. CC-90002 serum exposure was dose-dependent. ADAs were present across all doses, and the proportion of ADA-positive patients in cycle 1 increased over time. Despite no unexpected safety findings, the CC-90002-AML-001 study was discontinued in dose escalation for lack of monotherapy activity and evidence of ADAs. However, as other anti-CD47 agents in clinical trials are showing promising early results for AML and MDS, understanding preclinical and clinical differences between individual agents in this class will be of high importance.

Malignant brain tumors rank among the most challenging type of malignancies to manage. The current treatment protocol commonly entails surgery followed by radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy, however, the median patient survival rate is poor. Recent developments in immunotherapy for a variety of tumor types spark optimism that immunological strategies may help patients with brain cancer. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells exploit the tumor-targeting specificity of antibodies or receptor ligands to direct the cytolytic capacity of T cells. Several molecules have been discovered as potential targets for immunotherapy-based targeting, including but not limited to EGFRvIII, IL13Rα2, and HER2. The outstanding clinical responses to CAR T cell-based treatments in patients with hematological malignancies have generated interest in using this approach to treat solid tumors. Research results to date support the astounding clinical response rates of CD19-targeted CAR T cells, early clinical experiences in brain tumors demonstrating safety and evidence for disease-modifying activity, and the promise for further advances to ultimately assist patients clinically. However, several variable factors seem to slow down the progress rate regarding treating brain cancers utilizing CAR T cells. The current study offers a thorough analysis of CAR T cells’ promise in treating brain cancer, including design and delivery considerations, current strides in clinical and preclinical research, issues encountered, and potential solutions.

CD47, or integrin-associated protein, is a cell surface ligand expressed in low levels by nearly all cells of the body. It plays an integral role in various immune responses as well as autoimmunity, by sending a potent “don’t eat me” signal to prevent phagocytosis. A growing body of evidence demonstrates that CD47 is overexpressed in various hematological malignancies and its interaction with SIRPα on the phagocytic cells prevents phagocytosis of cancer cells. Additionally, it is expressed by different cell types in the tumor microenvironment and is required for establishing tumor metastasis. Overexpression of CD47 is thus often associated with poor clinical outcomes. CD47 has emerged as a potential therapeutic target and is being investigated in various preclinical studies as well as clinical trials to prove its safety and efficacy in treating hematological neoplasms. This review focuses on different therapeutic mechanisms to target CD47, either alone or in combination with other cell surface markers, and its pivotal role in impairing tumor growth and metastatic spread of various types of hematological malignancies.

Bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTEs) and bispecific antibodies (BiAbs) have revolutionized the treatment landscape of hematological malignancies. By directing T cells towards specific tumor antigens, BiTEs and BiAbs facilitate the T-cell-mediated lysis of neoplastic cells. The success of blinatumomab, a CD19xCD3 BiTE, in acute lymphoblastic leukemia spearheaded the expansive development of BiTEs/BiAbs in the context of hematological neoplasms. Nearly a decade later, numerous BiTEs/BiAbs targeting a range of tumor-associated antigens have transpired in the treatment of multiple myeloma, non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, acute myelogenous leukemia, and acute lymphoblastic leukemia. However, despite their generally favorable safety profiles, particular toxicities such as infections, cytokine release syndrome, myelosuppression, and neurotoxicity after BiAb/BiTE therapy raise valid concerns. Moreover, target antigen loss and the immunosuppressive microenvironment of hematological neoplasms facilitate resistance towards BiTEs/BiAbs. This review aims to highlight the most recent evidence from clinical trials evaluating the safety and efficacy of BiAbs/BiTEs. Additionally, the review will provide mechanistic insights into the limitations of BiAbs whilst outlining practical applications and strategies to overcome these limitations.

Angiosarcoma is a cancer that develops in blood or lymphatic vessels that presents a significant clinical challenge due to its rarity and aggressive features. Clinical outcomes have not improved in decades, highlighting a need for innovative therapeutic strategies to treat the disease. Genetically, angiosarcomas exhibit high heterogeneity and complexity with many recurrent mutations. However, recent studies have identified some common features within anatomic and molecular subgroups. To identify potential therapeutic vulnerabilities, it is essential to understand and integrate the mutational landscape of angiosarcoma with the models that exist to study the disease. In this review, we will summarize the insights gained from reported genomic alterations in molecular and anatomic subtypes of angiosarcoma, discuss several potential actionable targets, and highlight the preclinical disease models available in the field. Angiosarcomas are a rare and aggressive cancer with a poor prognosis for patients. The genomic landscape of angiosarcoma can be highly complex and heterogenous; however, recent studies have identified some common features especially within anatomic and molecular subgroups. This review integrates these findings with available preclinical models and discusses actionable therapeutic targets for potential clinical advancements.