Mitoxantrone Hydrochloride Liposome Injection-containing Bridging Regimen and CD19-targeting CAR-T Therapies

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has been approved for a variety of relapsed/refractory hematologic malignancies and has significantly improved patient outcomes. The preparation of CAR-T cells, including a variety of relevant individual factors, usually takes at least 3-4 weeks, or more, so patients may require bridging therapy (BT) to control disease progression and prevent the rapid exacerbation of systemic cancer. Clinical trial data have shown that about 7% of patients do not survive while waiting for CAR-T cell preparation to be completed, so individual bridging therapy can be given after apheresis and 4-6 weeks before CAR-T infusion to achieve effective CAR-T cell therapy.

Mitoxantrone, a traditional anthracycline quinone, is an antibiotic antineoplastic drug. It exerts antitumor effects by interfering with DNA, RNA, and inhibition of topoisomerase II, and is a cell cycle non-specific drug[]. Liposomes are excellent carriers of anti-tumor drugs, which can reduce the distribution of drugs in normal tissues and increase the accumulation of drugs in tumor tissues, thereby reducing toxicity and improving treatment efficacy. To reduce the toxicity of mitoxantrone and improve its efficacy, CSPC Pharmaceutical Group has developed the liposomal formulation of mitoxantrone, which is based on liposomal R&D technology. A new technical upgrade has been carried out on the mitoxantrone liposome, making it the only liposome with a higher dosage than the ordinary preparation, and it is a new anthracycline liposome that has been comprehensively upgraded. In the pivotal phase II study of liposomal mitoxantrone, monotherapy with PTCL was associated with an ORR of 41.7%, a CR rate of 23.1%, a median PFS of 8.5 months, a median OS not reached, and a high incidence of adverse events such as neutropenia and pigmentation, with a good cardiac safety profile and no progression of cardiotoxicity. Single-agent 16mg/m2 and 20mg/m2 doses were also explored in DLBCL, and 35 patients with relapsed and refractory DLBCL were enrolled, with an overall objective response rate of 38.5% in the 26 full analysis sets, which had certain activity in DLBCL.

Inclusion criteria

• Aged ≥ 18 years and <75 years.
• Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group score≤ 2.
• Clinically diagnosed refractory or relapsed B-cell malignancies. Relapse refers to "relapse after a complete response (CR) from initial chemotherapy"; refractory refers to "diagnosis can be made if any of the following are met:(1) tumor shrinkage of <50% or disease progression (PD) after standard chemotherapy; (2) CR is achieved by standard chemotherapy but relapses within six months, (3) 2 or more recurrences after CR, (4) recurrence after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation"; B-cell malignancies include the following 3 categories: (1) B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL); (2) indolent B-cell lymphoma (CLL, FL, MZL); (3) aggressive B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL, BL, MCL).
• Flow cytometry (FCM) or immunohistochemistry showed positive CD19 expression in tumor cells;
• Organ function needs to meet the following conditions:

• EF >50%, and there is no obvious abnormality on ECG; 2) SpO2≥90%； 3) Cr≤2.5 ULN; 4) ALT and AST≤5 ULN, TBil≤3 ULN; 6. Negativity of blood pregnancy test for women, and participants use effective methods of contraception until the last follow-up. 7. The patient or his or her legal guardian voluntarily participates in and signs an informed consent form.

Exclusion criteria

• Prior treatment with doxorubicin or other anthracyclines with a total cumulative dose of doxorubicin >360 mg/m2 (other anthracyclines convert 1 mg of doxorubicin to 2 mg epirubicin).
• Hypersensitivity to any of the study drugs or their components.
• Concomitant other diseases that are not effectively controlled, including but not limited to persistent or poorly controlled infections, symptomatic congestive heart failure, unstable angina, cardiac arrhythmias, poorly controlled pulmonary diseases, or psychiatric disorders.
• Investigators judge patients with central nervous system involvement who may be at high risk of receiving bridging therapy and CD19 CAR-T cell treatment.
• Participants with other active malignancies within five years.
• Patients with relapse after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation who have had grade 3~4 acute graft-versus-host response (GVHD).
• Patients who are pregnant or breast-feeding.
• Active autoimmune disease requiring systemic immunosuppressive therapy.
• Other conditions considered to increase the risk to the subject or interfere with the results of the trial by the researcher.