Multinational phase 1-2 trial of TRBC1-directed CAR T cell therapy for relapsed or refractory peripheral T cell lymphoma

Relapsed or refractory peripheral T cell lymphomas (R/R PTCLs) are aggressive tumors with a poor prognosis. The multinational phase 1-2 LibraT1 trial evaluates T cell antigen receptor beta chain constant domain 1 (TRBC1)-directed CAR T cells (‘AUTO4’) for R/R PTCL. Interim analysis of the first ten patients found grade 3 cytokine release syndrome in one patients and complete metabolic response in four patients, with remissions being durable beyond one year in two patients. While an absence of circulating CAR T cells was observed, CAR T cells were readily detected in lymph node biopsy samples from sites of original disease suggesting homing to tumor sites. The authors conclude that these results support the continuing exploration of TRBC1 targeting in PTCL.