Table 3

Management of AEs in involved organs during L-CRS in CAR T-cell treatment of B-NHL

SymptomManagement
Lung involvement
  • Use IL-6R antagonist (such as tocilizumab 4–8 mg/kg IV) (recommended)

Massive abdominal lesions*
  • Begin infection control (include protective isolation, food and drink disinfection, etc.) according to the “transplant protocol”, even during conditioning therapy (exploratory recommendation)

  • Adjust the intestinal flora (for example, oral administration of intestinal probiotics such as Clostridium butyricum Enterococcus triple viable tablets) (exploratory recommendation)

  • Administer TNF-α antibody as prophylaxis on day 3 and day 5 after CAR T-cell infusion (exploratory recommendation)

  • For grade 2–3 L-CRS, provide antibody-combination therapy for mainly blocking TNF-α pathway (exploratory recommendation)

Massive serous effusion due to involvement of serous cavity mass
  • Drain paracentesis fluid before CAR T-cell infusion (exploratory recommendation)

  • Indwell catheter of the serous cavity until CRS is relieved (exploratory recommendation)

  • Inject tocilizumab (80 mg) into the serous cavity 3–5 days before CAR T-cell infusion (exploratory recommendation)

Heart involvement
  • Obtain evaluation of potential adverse events (dysrhythmia, heart failure, myocardial damage, etc.) by a cardiologist (exploratory recommendation)

  • CAR T-cell therapy is recommended only after heart lesions are resolved (exploratory recommendation)

Involvement of skin, muscle, and connective tissue
  • Before CAR T-cell therapy, decrease or eliminate lesions of skin and soft tissues (exploratory recommendation)

  • Enhance the prevention of local skin infections (local medication, debridement, etc.) (exploratory recommendation)

  • Administer empirical anti-infection therapy early after CAR T-cell infusion (exploratory recommendation)

Involvement of central nervous system
  • Obtain evaluation by a neurology specialist (exploratory recommendation)

  • Use CAR T-cell therapy with caution in cases of unclear efficacy and high risks (exploratory recommendation)

Dysphagia due to compression of neck lesions
  • Indwell a nasogastric tube for feeding to prevent aspiration (recommended)

  • Provide bridging therapy or intensive conditioning therapy to relieve compression symptoms before CAR T-cell infusion (exploratory recommendation)

Dyspnea caused by compression of neck lesions
  • Indwell a nasogastric tube for feeding to prevent aspiration (recommended)

  • Provide bridging therapy or intensive conditioning therapy to alleviate compression symptoms before CAR T-cell infusion (exploratory recommendation)

  • Formulate an emergency plan for tracheal intubation and provide bedside tracheostomy devices (exploratory recommendation)

AEs, adverse events; L-CRS, local cytokine-release syndrome; CAR, chimeric antigen receptor; B-NHL, B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma; IL-6R, interleukin 6 receptor; IV, intravenous; etc., et cetera; TNF-α, tumor necrosis factor-α. *Massive abdominal lesions: maximum tumor diameter ≥ 10 cm.