Could cytokine release syndrome induce acute myelofibrosis in CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cells therapy?

Abstract

CAR-T cells therapy can give rise to most common and concerning two side effects–cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity. But in our CD19 CAR-T cells therapy clinical trial, we observed 1 out of 17 patients with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) developed acute myelofibrosis(AMF) after grade IV CRS post to the CD19 CAR-T cells therapy. This finding suggests that the CAR-T cells therapy may have rare and serious AMF, which we should pay important attention to. Trial registration:NCT02968472. Registered 18 November 2016–Retrospectively registered, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02968472.