European Hematology Association: The More the T-lymphocytes Differ, the More Effectively They Fight Against Leukemia

MADRID, June 23, 2017 /PRNewswire/ --

Adult patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (r/r ALL) have a poor prognosis despite intense salvage treatments. Recent reports have shown that Blinatumomab (Blin) can induce high remission rates in these patients. Blin is a bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE^®) antibody construct that is designed to direct cytotoxic T cells to CD19-expressing B cells. T-cell receptors (TR) which are present on the surface of T-lymphocytes are necessary for recognition of pathogens.  The extremely high diversity (up to 120 million different TRβ gene rearrangements in young individuals) of TR enables protection against the great variety of pathogens. We investigated the TRβ repertoire in patients on Blin treatment using next generation sequencing (NGS). NGS is a revolutionary technology enabling the assessment of TR characteristics with very high resolution. We compared the diversity of TRβ repertoire in r/r ALL patients responding and non-responding to Blin salvage treatment. The repertoire before Blin administration was significantly (=probably caused by something other than mere chance) more diverse in Blin responders compared to non-responders.  Also the increase of the repertoire diversity during Blin treatment was sharper and significant in responders, whereas non-significant in non-responders. Further studies on larger patient cohorts are necessary to confirm this observation and to show whether response to Blin can be predicted by TRβ repertoire diversity before treatment.

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Presenter:  Dr Michaela Kotrova

Affiliation:  University Hospital Schleswig-Holstein, Kiel, Germany

Topic:  T-CELL RECEPTOR Β (TRB) REPERTOIRE CHARACTERISTICS IN RELAPSED/REFRACTORY (R/R) B-CELL PRECURSOR ACUTE LYMPHOBLASTIC LEUKEMIA (BCP-ALL) ON BLINATUMOMAB TREATMENT

Abstract S803 will be presented by Michaela Kotrova on Sunday, June 25, 08:00 - 09:15 in Room N103.

About the EHA Annual Congress
Hematology is a specialty that covers everything to do with blood: its origin in the bone marrow, diseases of blood and their treatments. The latest data on research and developments will be presented. The topics range from stem cell physiology and development, to leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma - diagnosis and treatment; red blood cells -, white blood cells- and platelet disorders; thrombosis and bleeding disorders.