Fig. 7. High IFN-γ induction is associated with improved survival in patients with DLBCL exhibiting high CAR4:CAR8 T-cell ratios.
A cohort of patients with DLBCL (n = 63) treated with anti-CD19 CAR T cells at Saint-Louis Hospital (Paris) was analyzed for CAR4:CAR8 T-cell ratio in the blood (day 7 after CAR T-cell transfer) and for IFN-γ concentration in the serum (day 0 and day 7 after CAR T-cell transfer). a, Distribution of the CAR4:CAR8 T-cell ratios in the blood of treated patients. Each dot represents one patient (n = 63). Red dashed bar represents the median (1.31). b, Stronger IFN-γ induction in patients with high CAR4:CAR8 ratios. Scatter-plot showing the serum concentration of IFN-γ (expressed as a fold change relative to the baseline concentration measured at day 0) as a function of the ratio of CD4+ and CD8+ CAR T cells. Each dot represents one patient (n = 63). Red bars represent the median. Two-tailed Mann–Whitney U-test was used for statistical analysis and associated P value is shown. c, Induction of IFN-γ correlates with improved clinical outcome in patients with high CAR4:CAR8 ratios. Kaplan–Meier curves showing 1-year estimates of PFS (top) and OS (bottom) for patients displaying high (above the median) CAR4:CAR8 ratios (left) or low (below the median) CAR4:CAR8 ratios (right) as a function of IFN-γ induction. The median of IFN-γ induction (7.72 for patients with high CAR4:CAR8 ratios and 2.16 for patients with low CAR4:CAR8 ratios) was used to discriminate patients with low IFN-γ or high IFN-γ. Log-rank tests were used for statistical analysis and P values are shown.