ORIGINAL RESEARCH article

Front. Pharmacol., 23 April 2015

Sec. Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Discovery

Volume 6 - 2015 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fphar.2015.00076

Long term follow up of patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation and transfusion of HSV-TK transduced T-cells

  • EM

    Eva M. Weissinger 1*

  • SB

    Sylvia Borchers 1

  • AS

    Anna Silvani 2

  • EP

    Elena Provasi 3

  • MR

    Marina Radrizzani 2

  • IK

    Irene K. Beckmann 1

  • CB

    Claudia Benati 2

  • JS

    Joerg Schmidtke 4

  • WK

    Wolfgang Kuehnau 4

  • PS

    Patrick Schweier 1

  • SL

    Susanne Luther 1

  • IF

    Ivonne Fernandez-Munoz 1

  • GB

    Gernot Beutel 1

  • FC

    Fabio Ciceri 3

  • CB

    Chiara Bonini 3

  • AG

    Arnold Ganser 1

  • BH

    Bernd Hertenstein 1,5

  • MS

    Michael Stadler 1

  • 1. Laboratory for Transplantation Biology, Department of Hematology/Hemostasis/Oncology/Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School Hannover, Germany

  • 2. MolMed, Milano Italy

  • 3. Cancer Immunotherapy and Gene Therapy Program, San Raffaele Hospital Milano, Italy

  • 4. Institute of Human Genetics, Hannover Medical School Hannover, Germany

  • 5. Department of Hematology/Oncology, Klinikum Bremen-Mitte Bremen, Germany

Abstract

Allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is one of the curative treatments for hematologic malignancies, but is hampered by severe complications, such as acute or chronic graft-versus-host-disease (aGvHD; cGvHD) and infections. CD34-selection of stem cells reduces the risk of aGvHD, but also leads to increased infectious complications and relapse. Thus, we studied the safety, efficacy, and feasibility of transfer of gene modified donor T-cells shortly after allo-HSCT in two clinical trials between 2002 and 2007 and here we compare the results to unmodified donor leukocyte infusion (DLI). The aim of these trials was to provide patients with the protection of T-cells after T-cell-depleted allo-HSCT in the matched or mismatched donor setting with an option to delete transduced T-cells, if severe aGvHD occurred within the trial period. Donor-T-cells were transduced with the replication-deficient retrovirus SFCMM-3, expressing HSV-TK and the truncated ΔLNGFR for selection of transduced cells. Transduced cells were transfused either after day +60 (matched donors) or on day +42 (haploidentical donors). Nine patients were included in the first trial (MHH; 2002 until 2007), two were included in TK007 (2005–2009) and six serves as a control group for outcome after haploidentical transplantation without HSV-TK-transduced DLI. Three patients developed acute GvHD, two had grade I of the skin, one had aGvHD on day +131 (post-HSCT; +89 post-HSV-TK DLI) grade II, which was successfully controlled by ganciclovir (GCV). Donor chimerism was stabilized after transfusion of the transduced cells in all patients treated. Functionality of HSV-TK gene expressing T-cells was shown by loss of bcr-able gene expression as well as by control of cytomegalovirus-reactivation. To date, six patients have relapsed and died, two after a second hematopoietic stem cell transplantation without T-cell depletion or administration of unmodified T-cells. Eleven patients (seven post-HSV-TK DLI) are alive and well to date.

Introduction

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is applied successfully to the treatment of many hematopoietic malignancies, but remains limited by severe acute graft-versus-host-disease (aGvHD). Despite prophylactic treatment of the patients with immunosuppressive drugs after allo-HSCT, GvHD is still associated with non-relapse mortality (NRM) and contributes around 25% of NRM. (Mavroudis et al., 1998) T-cell depletion of the graft by CD34-enrichment has been found to be the most effective method to prevent GvHD, but this leads to an increased risk of leukemic relapse in about 80% of patients (Horowitz et al., 1990; Gratwohl, 1994). Leukemic relapse can be treated by donor leukocyte infusion (DLI; Hertenstein et al., 1993; Kolb et al., 1995; Massenkeil et al., 2003), providing evidence for an immunological graft-versus-leukemia effect (GvL). Thus, prophylactic transfusion of donor T-cells has been included in many protocols, despite the increased risk for acute GvHD (Kolb, 2008). Acute GvHD contributes significantly to non-relapse morbidity and mortality (NRM), thus prevention or control of this severe complication is necessary.

T-cells are optimal targets for retroviral gene transfer and stability of transduced T-cells has been shown even for several years (Herve et al., 1992; Mavilio et al., 1994; Tiberghien, 1994; Contassot et al., 2000; Weissinger et al., 2000; Ciceri et al., 2009; Borchers et al., 2011). The expression of suicide genes has been shown to be effective to control GvHD, while retaining the positive effects of T-cells like GvL-activity (Bonini et al., 1997; Bondanza et al., 2006; Ciceri et al., 2009; Borchers et al., 2011). Clinical trials with HSV-TK transduced donor T-cells were initiated early in France, Italy and Germany and have been previously published (Bonini et al., 1997; Ciceri et al., 2009; Borchers et al., 2011). Transduced donor T-cells were transfused either immediately after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) on day 0 (Contassot et al., 2000; Ferrand et al., 2000), on day +40 (Ciceri et al., 2009) or after day +60 (Borchers et al., 2011). Eight patients from the first NGFR-HSV-TK-studies developed acute (n = 6) or chronic GvHD (n = 2), which resolved after treatment with GCV alone in seven of eight patients. Immunization against HSV-TK epitopes was observed in one patient at MHH and led to premature elimination of transduced T cells (Borchers et al., 2011). The chance to get immunized strictly depended on the presence of an active immune system at the time of transfusion of transduced T-cells (Traversari et al., 2007). At Hannover proteomic monitoring was added to predict pending, severe aGvHD to patients included after 2005 [10 of 12 acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients; Weissinger et al., 2007, 2013]. Here, we analyzed the long term outcome of all patients treated at MHH with genetically modified T-cells and compare the outcome of mismatched transplantation in combination with prophylactic DLI to unmodified DLI-treatment of relapse.

Materials and Methods

Study Protocol

Case Description

Seventeen patients, 15 with AML and two with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), were transplanted from their HLA-identical (n = 9) or haploidentical (n = 8) family donors with CD34-enriched stem cells without further immunosuppression (Table 1). Eleven received transduced donor lymphocytes according to either one of the protocols (Figure 1). The clinical protocols were approved by the ethic committee of the Hannover Medical School (protocol numbers 2157 or 3644) and by the national committee for somatic gene therapy of the “Bundesärztekammer” (No 53 or No 76) and the Paul-Ehrlich-Institute (1274). In addition, both trials were registered at the German register of gene therapy trials.

Table 1A

Table 1: clinical dataAll patients (n = 17)Table 1All patients (n =17)
Age35 (18–63)GvHD-Pro
DiseaseCSA/MTX0
Acute (AML, ALL, sAML)15CSA/MMF1
Chronic (MDS, MPS, CML, CLL)2TCD11
StatusATG, Thymo14
CR 1/CP114None3
CR 2 or higher2Donor
No CR (untreated, relapse, refr.)1Related17
ConditioningUnrelated0
Myeloablative (TBI/Cy)9HLA-match
RIC8Matched9
GraftMismatched8
PBSC17Gender
Bone marrow1Female/male9/8
HSV-TK DLI11m/f donor4
None6Alive11

Patient clinical characteristics: all patients were transplanted with CD34-enriched donor cells from their HLA-identical siblings or haploidentical family donors.

Donors’ gender and age are shown under “donor.” Transduced T-cells were transfused after day +60 or day +42 (MMRD). PBSC (CD6-depleted) +BM.

Table 1B

UPNaGvHDcGvHDDLIaGvHD_DLI (days)aGvHD_ DLI gradecGvHD_ DLIcGvHD_ DLI grade (days)Days_ HSCTRelapserelapse_dayYears HSCT_FUSurvivalcomments/cause of death
914NoNoYesYes4 (93)YesMild (451)451No12,4Yes
919NoNoYesNoNoNo12,2Yes
1021NoNoYesNoYesSevere (2626)2626Yes245210,6YesECP for chronic
1040NoNoYesNoNoYes9605,2Norelapse
1048NoNoYesNoNoNo7,6Yes
1108NoNoYesNoNoNo9,9Yes
1159NoNoYesYes1 (192)NoNo8,1Yes
1190NoNoYesNoNoNo8,6Yes
1208NoNoYesNoNoYes4352,0No
1208YesNoNon.a.3 (97)No5,7NoMOF sepsis post-2nd HSCT
1040NoNoYesNoNoYes5202,5NoRelapse post-2nd HSCT

Patient follow up after sibling (MRD) HSCT and HSVTk transfer: acute and chronic GvHD after HSCT or DLI were monitored and are shown in table.

In addition relapse, survival and cause of death are summarized. Two patients relapsed and have been transplanted for a second time. Outcome of second HSCT shown in table. n.a., not applicable; FU (follow up until death after 2nd HSCT); 1040 and 1208, 2nd HSCT due to relapse.

Table 1C

UPNAgeGenderDIAGN_PRFAB-
classification
StatusHLA-donorSourceConditioningGvHD_ProphAcute GvHDaGvHD-daysaGvHD_gradeChrGvHDCGvHD grade (days)
150523fAMLM4/M5CR 1MMRDPBPCFlu/Mel ph/Thiotepa/ATGTCDYes (post-DLI)131IINo
155025mAMLMOInduction failureMMRDKM+PBPCFlamsa(TBI)/ATGCSA/MTXNon.a.Unknown
155132fAMLM5bCR 2MMRDPBPCFlu/Mel ph/Thiotepa/ATGTCDNon.a.n.a.
143834mAMLM5bCR 1MMRDPBPCFlu/Mel ph/Thiotepa/ATGTCDNon.a.No
126918mAMLM5aCR 1MMRDPBPCFlu/Mel ph/Thiotepa/ATGTCDja54IYes
127238mAMLn.d.CR 1MMRDPBPCBu/Cy/ATGCSA/MTXNon.a.YesLimited (131)
145563mAMLM2CR 2MMRDPBPCFlu/Mel ph/Thiotepa/ATGTCDNon.a.YesLimited (117)
152458fAMLMOCR 1MMRDPBPCFlamsa (w/o AMSA)(TBI)/ATGCSA/MMFja30INo

Clinical characteristics, and follow-up after haplo-HSCT (MMRD) with and without HSV-TK gene transfer: patient and donor characteristics acute and chronic GvHD are summarized for two patients with HSV-TK T-cells and six control patients without gene transduced DLI.

Table 1D

UPNAgeDiagnosisTx (Tet-table)HLA recipientDonorHLA-donor CMv+Days post-HSCTCD3+/μlCD8+/μlCD4+/μlCD8+ count OK? (> =50)A0201 % CD3+CD8+A0201/μlA2402 % der CD3+CD8+Absolute number
A2402/μ l
All CMV+ T-Zellen/μ lEBV A0201 % der
CD3+CD8+
EBV A0201/μlComment(s)
150523AML2.2.2007A02/A24MMRDA02 A24-501301517673Yes0.2210.05010.070Prior HSCT
150523AML2.2.2007A02/A24MMRDA02 A2428321No0.0000.00000.870
150523AML2.2.2007A02/A24MMRDA02 A245527513No0.0000.00000.420
150523AML2.2.2007A02/A24MMRDA02 A247732632960251Yes0.0100.06220.010
150523AML2.2.2007A02/A24MMRDA02 A248339443549315Yes0.0100.12450.228
150523AML2.2.2007A02/A24MMRDA02 A249020711603386Yes0.0322.0433351.8129Clear population
150523AML2.2.2007A02/A24MMRDA02 A249716291065452Yes0.0202.7529301.7419GVHD II skin
150523AML2.2.2007A02/A24MMRDA02 A241371199685447Yes0.0100.02000.070GVHD II skin
150523AML2.2.2007A02/A24MMRDA02 A241431048422538Yes0.0203.0113131.928
150523AML2.2.2007A02/A24MMRDA02 A24213612391160Yes0.0000.05000.000
150523AML2.2.2007A02/A24MMRDA02 A24230715473205Yes0.0000.07000.000
155025AML31.5.2007A02MMRDA02-29542232238Yes1.704n.a.n.a.40.120Prior HSCT
155025AML31.5.2007A02MMRDA023223162No1.060n.a.n.a.00.000
155025AML31.5.2007A02MMRDA024363043462Yes0.131n.a.n.a.10.000

CMV-reactivation and immune reconstitution after MMRD-HSCT: summarizes the data after transplantation for 1505 and 1550 with respect to immune reconstitution of CMV-specific CTL.

Prior HSCT (day -29) CMV-CTL could be detected, after HSCT the patient reactivated CMV und by day +32 CMV-CTL reconstitution occurred. Shown are absolute numbers of CMV-CTL after tetramer staining with HLA-A02 (pp65-NLV) tetramer. Patient 1550 (PBSC-CD6-depleted+ BM) reactivated CMV on day +32 and controlled the CMV-reactivation after treatment with GCV (no transduced DLI) and upon expansion of CMV-CTL from the graft.

FIGURE 1

Conditioning and Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation

T-cells were harvested from all donors after informed consent and shipped to Milano for transduction. Eleven patients received total body irradiation (TBI; 12 Gy) and cyclophosphamide (120 mg/kg) followed by a CD34-enriched stem cell graft from matched related donors (MRDs; Table 1). Donors received G-CSF (2 × 5 μg/kg daily) for 4–5 days and blood leukocytes were collected at the Institute for Transfusion Medicine (MHH; Borchers et al., 2011). CD34-selection was performed under GMP conditions using the CliniMACS-system (Miltenyi; Bergisch Gladbach, Germany) at the Center for Cellular Therapy (former Cytonet, Hannover, Germany). At least 3.9 × 106/kg CD34-positive cells were transplanted on day 0, and CD3+ T-cells were usually below 1 × 104 cells/kg body weight (Table 1). CD34-selection was the only GvHD prophylaxis. Missing informed consent, acute GvHD grade II or more, life threatening infections, or relapse at the time of transfusion were exclusion criteria for gene therapy. Relapse and declining donor chimerism were treated with additional, non-transduced DLI (see Table 2). One patient (UPN 1505) received a second transduced DLI to treat relapse.

Table 2

UPNGebdatAge_HSCT (1st and 2nd)DLIDLI-days-post-HSCTCells/kg BW
91406.07.195745DLI(HSV-TK)711 × 10E7
91406.07.195745DLI chimerism1781 × 10E7
91A06.07.195745DLI chimerism2491 × 10E7
91A06.07.195745DLI chimerism3293 × 10E7
91A06.07.195745DLI chimerism4065,3 × 10E7
91903.02.196735DLI(HSV-TK)874 × 10E6
102102.12.196339DLI(HSV-TK)1131,3 x10E7
102102.12.196339DLIrelapse25351,8 × 10E7
102102.12.196339DLIrelapse25641,12 × 10E8
102102.12.196339DLIrelapse25922 × 10E8
104028.12.195250Stemcell boost1916 × 10E6 CD34+
104028.12.195250DLI(HSV-TK)3301 × 10E7
104028.12.195253DLIprophylaxis2681,03 × 10E6
104028.12.195253DLIprophylaxis3045 × 10E6
104028.12.195253DLIprophylaxis3391 × 10E7
104028.12.195253DLIrelapse5355 × 10E7
104028.12.195253DLIrelapse5631 × 10E8
104028.12.195253DLIrelapse6121,23 × 10E8
104823.01.196538DLI(HSV-TK)1001,5 × 10E7
110818.02.195351DLI(HSV-TK)1264 × 10E6
115923.12.196835DLI(HSV-TK)1367,5 x10E6
119010.03.196638DLI(HSV-TK)1291 × 10E7
120806.12.195351DLI(HSV-TK)731,3 × 10E7
120806.12.195351DLIrelapse5191,8 × 10E7
126910.04.198718DLIrelapse3775,38 × 10E4
126910.04.198718DLIrelapse4051,3 × 10E5
126910.04.198718DLIrelapse4334,7 × 10E5
126910.04.198718DLIrelapse4611,27 × 10E6
126910.04.198718DLIrelapse4885 × 10E6
126910.04.198718DLIrelapse5171 × 10E7
126910.04.198718DLIrelapse5455,03 × 10E7
143813.10.197234Nona
155025.04.198225No
150516.12.198323DLI(HSV-TK)481 × 10E6
150516.12.198323DLI(HSV-TK) therapy2221 × 10E6
155118.08.197532DLI(HSV-TK)421 × 10E6

Summary of transduced and non-transduced DLI: peripheral blood of all patients was screened routinely for the presence of transduced cells with FACS and PCR.

The number of transduced (first DLI) and non-transdcued DLI (for loss of chimerism or relapse) are shown as number of transduced cells (CD3+ cells) or as number of leukocytes transfused per kg body weight.

Description of the Retroviral Vector and the Transduction Protocol

Lymphapheresis material was obtained from 11/17 donors and shipped to MolMed (Italy) by courier for transduction. The replication-deficient, retroviral vector SFCMM-3 encodes the HSV-TK gene that confers sensitivity to GCV, and the truncated low affinity nerve-growth-factor-receptor gene (ΔLNGFR) serving as a positive selection marker and transduction protocols have been described previously (Mavilio et al., 1994; Bonini et al., 2007; Ciceri et al., 2007, 2009; Borchers et al., 2011) Briefly, cells were expanded with OKT-3 (30 ng/ml) in RPMI1640 with 5% autologous plasma and 100 U/ml IL-2 (Chiron, USA) for 72 h. Cells were transduced by spin-inoculation with SFCMM-3-supernatant twice within 24 h in the presence of 4 μg/ml protamine sulfate and expanded for 48 h. Transduction efficiencies were determined by FACS and subsequently the cells were selected using a monoclonal antibody (anti-LNGFR-antibody, Roche, Mannheim, Germany) and immunomagnetic beads (Dynabeads; Verzeletti et al., 1998). Transduced and selected cells were cryopreserved, while safety tests (as approved by the authorities) were accomplished and shipped to Hannover for transfusion (Table 1).

Monitoring for the Presence of Transduced T Lymphocytes

Characterization and ex vivo detection of circulating transduced cells was planned at weekly for the first month 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, at 9 months, 12 months, and yearly thereafter. The follow up for three patients is now more than 12 years (Tables 2 and 3). Flow cytometry (FACS; Coulter, Germany) was performed to examine the frequency and phenotype of the transferred gene-modified T-cells in vivo using mAbs specific to LNGFR (Roche, Mannheim, Germany), CD3, CD4, and CD8 (Coulter), respectively. Immune reconstitution was analyzed for B-, T-, natural killer cells, macrophages, and monocytes.

Table 3

UPNDays post-HSCTDays post-DLIYears follow-upMaterial for cDNAHSV-TK PCR resultComments
914115510843,0PBMNCsPositive
9144161409011,2CD3+Negative
9144526445512,4CD3+NegativeAlive
919366435779,8CD3+Negative
9194165407811,2CD3+Negative
9194530444312,2CD3+NegativeAlive
10218577442,0PBMNCsPositive
1021283127187,4CD3+Negative
10213868375510,60CD3+NegativeAlive
10406873571,0CD3+Positive
10409746441,8PBMNCsPositive
104010577272,90CD3+NegativeRelapse; re-transplantation; died
10487916911,9PBMNCsPositive
104810029022,5PBMNCsNegative
1048278726877,64CD3+NegativeAlive
11087235971,6PBMNCsPositive
11088076811,9PBMNCsPositive
1108359834729,5CD3+NegativeAlive
11593652290,6PBMNCsNegative
11596405041,4CD3+Negative
1159338232468,9CD3+NegativeAlive
1190239822696,2CD3+Negative
1190276726387,2CD3+Positive
1190314430158,3CD3+NegativeLate relapse, alive
12084764031,1PBMNCsPositive
12084844111,1PBMNCsPositive
12085124391,2PBMNCsPositiveRelapse; re-transplantation; died
15052211730,5CD3+Positive
15052502020,6CD3+Positive
15052772290,6CD3+NegativeDied relapse
1551114720,2CD3+Positive
15511481060,3CD3+Negative
15512201780,5CD3+PositiveDied

Long term follow up of PCR for TK-gene: summarizes the results obtained with PCR on HSV-TK gene expression.

UPN# (unique patient identification number), followed by sample date and days after allogeneic HSCT, days after DLI, Tx date (date of transplantation), Days post 1st or 2nd DLI (where appropriate), material from which RNA or DNA were obtained (PBMC: peripheral blood mononuclear cells; CD3: CD3-positive T-cells) and results of HSV-TK-PCR. DNA-isolation and HSV-TK-PCR were done as described in Section “Materials and Methods.”

The presence of gene modified T-cells was confirmed by polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) with primers for the HSV-TK and the LNGFR-gene, as described (Borchers et al., 2011).

HSV-TK-Gene, Donor-Chimerism, and T-Cell Receptor (TCR)-Vβ Family Expression

Transduced cells were analyzed at above mentioned time points and yearly thereafter for the presence of HSV-TK gene expression. To increase the likelihood to detect gene modified cells, PBMNC were enriched for CD3+/CD4+ and CD8+ T-cells. Genomic DNA was isolated using the QIAamp DNA MinElute Kit (Qiagen, Hilden) and amplified. A nested PCR had been developed for the detection of HSV-TK gene (Borchers et al., 2011). The PCR was run on 1.2% agarose gels and analyzed. A summary of the results is shown in Table 3.

RT-PCR-Analyses

RNA was isolated from PBMNC or CD3-enriched, CD3+/CD8+ and CD3+/CD4+ T-cells transcribed into cDNA. TCR-repertoire analyses were done using 25 vß- family specific primers, including controls for the constant region of the TCR and human ß-actin, as described (Naumov et al., 1995). RT-PCR for detection of the bcr-abl fusion transcript was performed as proposed by the BIOMED-1 nested PCR on Taqman concerted action (Van Dongen et al., 1999; Borchers et al., 2011). PCR was performed with the T3 thermocycler (Biometra). Donor chimerism was analyzed by PCR amplification of highly polymorphic short tandem repeat (PCR-STR) sequences in peripheral blood and/or bone marrow samples as described earlier (Briones and Amils, 1998).

Results

12 Years of Successful Transduced T-Cell Transfer at MHH

Seventeen patients were transplanted from MRD or mismatched related donors (MMRDs) and eleven received gene-modified donor T-cells on day +42 (n = 2) or after day +60 (n = 9) after HSCT. Clinical and demographic data are summarized in Table 1. Lymphaphereses were prepared from 11 donors and shipped to MolMed for transduction with SCFMM-3 and enrichment for transduced T-cells with magnetic immunobeads yielded purities of more than 90% for ΔLNGFR+ cells, ranging from 91 to 99.1%. The patients were scheduled to receive transduced T-cells on day +42 or day +60, respectively, after matched (MRD) or haploidentical (MMRD) HSCT, if the clinical situation of the patients allowed transfusion. The first nine patients (MRD; Table 1B), received the T-cell transfusion by day +107 after HSCT (range: 71–330), the two patients receiving cells from MMRD received the HSV-TK DLI on day +42 (Table 1C). The immune reconstitution for lymphocytes was 640 CD3+ T-cells/μl (range: 150–1000 cells/μl) after MRD HSCT and zero for the MMRD transplant recipients.

Transfusion of Genetically Modified Donor Lymphocytes or Untransduced

Seven patients had residual host cells prior to DLI. In six patients donor chimerism progressively increased after DLI and full donor chimerism was obtained in three patients, thus suggesting that the infusion of genetically modified donor lymphocytes may have facilitate HSCT engraftment. In T-depleted transplantation the achievement of full chimerism is particularly difficult. In accordance with this hypothesis, expansion of transduced donor lymphocytes often preceded the improvement of donor chimerism.

ΔLNGFR-positive cells were detected by FACS (up to 6.6% of CD3+ cells) for at least 6 months after transfusion. In two MMRD-recipients all CD3+ T-cells detected were transduced and of donor-origin, as expected. Patient UPN1505 reactivated CMV early after MMRD-HSCT. Transduced cells were transfused on day +42 from the CMV-seropositive donor and by day +77 CMV-CTL (n = 2) from the MMRD were detected (Table 1D). This was followed by an expansion of the CMV-CTL and led to the control of CMV-reactivation (Table 1D). UPN 1505 also developed aGvHD grade II (day +131; Tables 1C,D). GCV was given at 5 mg/kg body weight and as a result aGvHD was cleared. Unfortunately the patient developed relapse and died despite a second transfusion of HSV-TK transduced DLI on day +222 (Tables 1C and 2). Patient 1550 did not receive any DLI, but CMV-CTL could be detected by day +44, providing protection against CMV-reactivation. HSV-TK gene expression was analyzed until last follow-up in all patients and a summary of the data is shown Table 3. The longest follow-up for HSV-TK transduced cells was 7 years after HSCT (UPN1190), followed by 3 years (UPN914), whereas HSV-TK transduced cells were detectable for almost 2 years in another 6. One patient UPN919 lost HSV-TK gene expression after 22 months, in the absence of GCV treatment due to an immunization against transgene products (Borchers et al., 2011). Thus, seven patients had detectable levels of HSV-TK for more than 1 year after HSCT, two died prior to the first year after HSCT (Table 3). PCR for HSV-TK gene expression and donor chimerism are done yearly for all patients alive. To date, six patients have a follow up of more than 6 years patients, two patients had been treated 12 years ago and are both alive and well. None of the surviving patients show HSV-TK expression at last follow up (Table 3).

Discussion

Our data show the long term safety and efficacy of retroviral gene transfer in mature T-cells. The transfusion of transduced cells was tolerated well in all patients with no reported toxicities. Replication competent particles have not been detected and in general gene expression is lost after about 2 years. Ciceri et al. (2009) have recently shown that transfusion of transduced CD3+ cells after haploidentical transplantation allows for optimal expansion of transduced cells (Garin et al., 2001). Long term transgene expression for more than 1 year was observed in seven of nine patients, five had HSV-TK expressing cells for more than 1 year. Two patients transplanted from mismatched donors died prior to day +365. Efficacy of the cells had been demonstrated by control of bcr-abl positivity, donor-chimerism conversion and in the MMRD-transplanted patient 1505 a cytomegalovirus-reactivation was controlled by the expansion of HSV-TK-transduced donor T-cells.

TK007 protocol called for haploidentical (MMRD) HSCT and eight patients were transplanted from haploidentical donors (MMRD) at Hannover. Only two patients received transduced DLI, the others were observed as control group for MMRD-HSCT and HSV-TK transfer. All patients receiving transduced T-cells expressed the transgenes for at least 1 year or until last follow up, if patients died prior to day +365 (Table 3). In one patient an immunization against the transgenes had occurred thus the cells were lost earlier (Borchers et al., 2011).

We have not detected non-functional HSV-TK genes in pour small patient cohort to date (Mercier-Letondal et al., 2008). ΔLNGFR expression as a selection marker allows rapid selection of the transduced cells, which may be favorable for the phenotype of the transduced cells, leaving the T-cell receptor repertoire of the transduced cells relatively intact (Borchers et al., 2011) as compared to more time consuming selection methods with antibiotic resistance genes.

In our studies, two of the 11 patients treated with HSV-TK transduced T-cells so far developed aGvHD grades I or II, respectively. The patient (UPN1505) had developed acute GvHD grade II and was treated successfully with GCV, thus giving a confirmation of the feasibility of the HSV-TK gene transfer for control of acute GvHD by GCV treatment. The persistence of the transduced cells over about 2 years in the majority of the patients suggests that the transduced cells were able to engraft and expand. The expansion of the transduced cells could be linked to clinical data, such as viral infections or was seen as response to declining donor chimerism, suggesting function of transduced cells. After transfusion of the transduced cells one patient reactivated CMV early after HSCT (day +20) and upon transfusion of the transduced cells the CMV-reactivation was cleared. In one patient (UPN919) HSV-TK transduced were lost after 22 months. A low rate of immune mediated elimination of transduced cells was observed in our studies, suggesting that early add-back of TK-expressing cells is permitted, despite intrinsic immunogenicity of the viral-derived suicide gene.

In summary, the data presented here indicate that the use of SFCMM-3 transduced T-cells can be monitored in a clinical setting and is currently safe, efficient, and adequate for the proposed treatment of GvHD.

Statements

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the “Deutsche Jose Carreras Leukämie-stiftung” for the financial support provided to this project by a grant No DJCLS-R98/11 (to AG) and to the European study group (Bonini et al., 1997) “Suicide Gene transfer in Stem Cell Transplantation” supported in part by the European Union (No: QLRT-2000-01265).

Conflict of interest

MolMed is a industrial partner, some of the authors are associated with MolMed (as indicated by affiliation).

References

  • 1

    BondanzaA.ValtolinaV.MagnaniZ.PonzoniM.FleischhauerK.BonyhadiM.et al (2006). Suicide gene therapy of graft-versus-host disease induced by central memory human T lymphocytes.Blood10718281836. 10.1182/blood-2005-09-3716

  • 2

    BoniniC.BondanzaA.PernaS. K.KanekoS.TraversariC.CiceriF.et al (2007). The suicide gene therapy challenge: how to improve a successful gene therapy approach.Mol. Ther.712481252. 10.1038/sj.mt.6300190

  • 3

    BoniniC.FerrariG.VerzelettiS.ServidaP.ZapponeE.RuggieriL.et al (1997). HSV-TK gene transfer into donor lymphocytes for control of allogeneic graft-versus-leukemia.Science27617191724. 10.1126/science.276.5319.1719

  • 4

    BorchersS.ProvasiE.SilvaniA.RadrizzaniM.BenatiC.DammannE.et al (2011). Genetically modified donor leukocyte transfusion and graft-versus-leukemia effect after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.Hum. Gene. Ther.7829841. 10.1089/hum.2010.162

  • 5

    BrionesC.AmilsR. (1998). The evolution of function: a new method to assess the phylogenetic value of ribosomal sensitivity to antibiotics.Int. Microbiol.4301306.

  • 6

    CiceriF.BoniniC.MarktelS.ZapponeE.ServidaP.BernardiM.et al (2007). Antitumor effects of HSV-TK-engineered donor lymphocytes after allogeneic stem-cell transplantation.Blood10946984707. 10.1182/blood-2006-05-023416

  • 7

    CiceriF.BoniniC.StanghelliniM. T.BondanzaA.TraversariC.SalomoniM.et al (2009). Infusion of suicide-gene-engineered donor lymphocytes after family haploidentical haemopoietic stem-cell transplantation for leukaemia (the TK007 trial): a non-randomised phase I-II study.Lancet. Oncol.5489500. 10.1016/S1470-2045(09)70074-9

  • 8

    ContassotE.FerrandC.AngoninR.CohenJ. L.de CarvalhoB. M.LorchelF.et al (2000). Ganciclovir-sensitive acute graft-versus-host disease in mice receiving herpes simplex virus-thymidine kinase-expressing donor T cells in a bone marrow transplantation setting.Transplantation69503508. 10.1097/00007890-200002270-00007

  • 9

    FerrandC.RobinetE.ContassotE.CertouxJ. M.LimA.HerveP.et al (2000). Retrovirus-mediated gene transfer in primary T lymphocytes: influence of the transduction/selection process and of ex vivo expansion on the T cell receptor beta chain hypervariable region repertoire. Hum. Gene. Ther.1111511164. 10.1089/10430340050015202

  • 10

    GarinM. I.GarrettE.TiberghienP.ApperleyJ. F.ChalmersD.MeloJ. V.et al (2001). Molecular mechanism for ganciclovir resistance in human T lymphocytes transduced with retroviral vectors carrying the herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene.Blood97122129. 10.1182/blood.V97.1.122

  • 11

    GratwohlA. (1994). Bone marrow transplantation today. Support Care Cancer22734. 10.1007/BF00355237

  • 12

    HertensteinB.WiesnethM.NovotnyJ.BunjesD.StefanicM.HeinzeB.et al (1993). Interferon-alpha and donor buffy coat transfusions for treatment of relapsed chronic myeloid leukemia after allogeneic bone marrow transplantation.Transplantation5611141118. 10.1097/00007890-199311000-00013

  • 13

    HerveP.FleschM.TiberghienP.WijdenesJ.RacadotE.BordigoniP.et al (1992). Phase I-II trial of a monoclonal anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha antibody for the treatment of refractory severe acute graft-versus-host disease.Blood7933623368.

  • 14

    HorowitzM. M.GaleR. P.SondelP. M.GoldmanJ. M.KerseyJ.KolbH. J.et al (1990). Graft-versus-leukemia reactions after bone marrow transplantation.Blood75555562.

  • 15

    KolbH. J. (2008). Graft-versus-leukemia effects of transplantation and donor lymphocytes.Blood11243714383. 10.1182/blood-2008-03-077974

  • 16

    KolbH. J.SchattenbergA.GoldmanJ. M.HertensteinB.JacobsenN.ArceseW.et al (1995). Graft-versus-leukemia effect of donor lymphocyte transfusions in marrow grafted patients.Blood8620412450.

  • 17

    MassenkeilG.NagyM.LawangM.RosenO.GenvresseI.GeserickG.et al (2003). Reduced intensity conditioning and prophylactic DLI can cure patients with high-risk acute leukaemias if complete donor chimerism can be achieved.Bone Marrow Trans.31339345. 10.1038/sj.bmt.1703859

  • 18

    MavilioF.FerrariG.RossiniS.NobiliN.BoniniC.CasoratiG.et al (1994). Peripheral blood lymphocytes as target cells of retroviral vector-mediated gene transfer.Blood8319881997.

  • 19

    MavroudisD. A.ReadE. J.MolldremJ.RaptisA.PlanteM.CarterC. S.et al (1998). T cell-depleted granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) modified allogenic bone marrow transplantation for hematological malignancy improves graft CD34+ cell content but is associated with delayed pancytopenia.Bone Marrow Trans.21431440. 10.1038/sj.bmt.1701120

  • 20

    Mercier-LetondalP.DeschampsM.SauceD.CertouxJ. M.MilpiedN.LioureB.et al (2008). Early immune response against retrovirally transduced herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase-expressing gene-modified T cells coinfused with a T cell-depleted marrow graft: an altered immune response?Hum. Gene. Ther.9937950. 10.1089/hum.2007.156

  • 21

    NaumovG. I.NaumovaE. S.LouisE. J. (1995). Genetic mapping of the alpha-galactosidase MEL gene family on right and left telomeres of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.Yeast11481483. 10.1002/yea.320110512

  • 22

    TiberghienP. (1994). Use of suicide genes in gene therapy.J. Leukoc. Biol.56203209.

  • 23

    TraversariC.MarktelS.MagnaniZ.MangiaP.RussoV.CiceriF.et al (2007). The potential immunogenicity of the TK suicide gene does not prevent full clinical benefit associated with the use of TK-transduced donor lymphocytes in HSCT for hematologic malignancies.Blood10947084715. 10.1182/blood-2006-04-015230

  • 24

    Van DongenH. P.OlofsenE.VanHarteveltJ. H.KruytE. W. (1999). A procedure of multiple period searching in unequally spaced time-series with the Lomb-Scargle method.Biol. Rhythm. Res.2149177. 10.1076/brhm.30.2.149.1424

  • 25

    VerzelettiS.BoniniC.MarktelS.NobiliN.CiceriF.TraversariC.et al (1998). Herpes simplex virus thymidine kinase gene transfer for controlled graft-versus-host disease and graft-versus-leukemia: clinical follow-up and improved new vectors.Hum. Gene. Ther.922432251. 10.1089/hum.1998.9.15-2243

  • 26

    WeissingerE. M.FranzM.VossC.BoniniC.KremmerE.KolbH. J. (2000). Expression of HSV-TK suicide gene in primary T lymphocytes: the dog as a preclinical model.Cytokines Cell. Mol. Ther.12533. 10.1080/13684730050515886

  • 27

    WeissingerE. M.MetzgerJ.DobbelsteinC.WolffD.SchleuningM.KuzminaZ.et al (2013). Proteomic peptide profiling for preemptive diagnosis of acute graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic stem cell transplantation.Leukemia28842852. 10.1038/leu.2013.210

  • 28

    WeissingerE. M.SchifferE.HertensteinB.FerraraJ. L.HollerE.StadlerM.et al (2007). Proteomic patterns predict acute graft-versus-host disease after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.Blood10955115519. 10.1182/blood-2007-01-069757

Summary

Keywords

gene transfer, horizontal, gene therapy, proteomics data, allogeneic stem cell transplantation, graft vs. host disease

Citation

Weissinger EM, Borchers S, Silvani A, Provasi E, Radrizzani M, Beckmann IK, Benati C, Schmidtke J, Kuehnau W, Schweier P, Luther S, Fernandez-Munoz I, Beutel G, Ciceri F, Bonini C, Ganser A, Hertenstein B and Stadler M (2015) Long term follow up of patients after allogeneic stem cell transplantation and transfusion of HSV-TK transduced T-cells. Front. Pharmacol. 6:76. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2015.00076

Received

01 December 2014

Accepted

24 March 2015

Published

23 April 2015

Volume

6 - 2015

Edited by

Marina Deschamps, Etablissement Français du Sang – Bourgogne Franche-Comté, France

Reviewed by

Adriana Maggi, University of Milan, Italy; Marina Deschamps, Etablissement Français du Sang – Bourgogne Franche-Comté, France

Copyright

*Correspondence: Eva M. Weissinger, Laboratory for Transplantation Biology, Department of Hematology/Hemostasis/Oncology/ Stem Cell Transplantation, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Straße 1, TPFZ, OE 6863, Room 5020, 30625 Hannover, Germany

This article was submitted to Experimental Pharmacology and Drug Discovery, a section of the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology

Disclaimer

All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

Outline

Figures

Cite article

Copy to clipboard


Export citation file


Share article

Article metrics