Patient Management and Outcomes
EBV+ PTLD treatment overview
A range of therapies are available for EBV-positive PTLD; however, some patients fail to respond to initial treatment and have limited alternative options.
While rituximab-based therapy has improved outcomes, relapse and refractory disease remain common, highlighting a clear unmet medical need.
Ongoing research into adoptive immunotherapy – particularly EBV-specific CTL therapy – is offering new insight into how immune restoration may improve long-term disease control.
Data are presented only for providing overview information about clinical practices
and could not be approved by Regulatory Authorities.
EBV+ PTLD treatment algorithm following HCT or SOT1-5
Reduction in Immunosuppression (RIS)
First-line therapy
Maintained throughout treatment in
some patients, often in combination with rituximab.
T-Cell Immunotherapy
For patients with relapsed/
refactory EBV+ PTLD
or those for whom chemotherapy
is inappropriate
Reduction in immunosuppression
What is RIS?
Reduction in immunosuppression (RIS) helps restore immune function, allowing EBV-specific CTLs to proliferate and control B-cell growth.4
- Once diagnosis of EBV+ PTLD is suspected, immediate RIS should be considered1,2,3,5 – this may be sufficient for a select group of low-risk patients with early legions or low-stage, non-bulky disease1
- In high-risk patients, RIS is often combined with other treatments (e.g. rituximab ± chemotherapy)1,6,7
- Alternative therapies are indicated when RIS is not possible1
FIRST-LINE THERAPY
RIS promotes immune recovery4
and may be sufficient for select
low-risk patients1
Key treatment outcomes
While RIS can help restore immune control,4 response rates are limited,5,8 reinforcing the need for combination approaches such as RIS plus rituximab in the first-line setting.5,6
In a prospective, multicentre Phase 2 study of 16 adult SOT recipients with PTLD, RIS achieved partial response (PR) in 1 of 16 patients (6%) and no complete responses (CRs).8
After SOT
| Group | Management of immunosuppressives |
Duration | Response n (%) |
Toxicity n/N (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GROUP 1 Clinically urgent (level 1; n=3) |
Cyclosporine/tacrolimus: reduced to 25% Azathioprine/methotrexate/ cyclophosphamide: stopped Glucocorticoid: reduced to 7.5 mg/day |
Immunosuppressives were maintained at this level for a maximum of 10 days |
CR: 0 (0%) PR: 1 (6%) |
Rejections: 6/16 (38%) |
| GROUP 2 Clinically not urgent (level 2; n=13) |
Cyclosporine/tacrolimus: reduced to 50% Azathioprine/methotrexate/ cyclophosphamide: stopped Glucocorticoid: reduced by 50% (lower limit 7.5 mg/day) |
Immunosuppressives were maintained at this level for a maximum of 14 days |
Median patient age was 47 years; 75% of patients had late PTLD, and nearly 70% of patients had advanced stage of disease and/or elevated lactate dehydrogenase.8
Adapted from Swinnen LJ, et al. Transplantation. 2008.
Conventional treatment approaches
Rituximab & chemotherapy
Rituximab, a monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody, is commonly used for CD20-positive polymorphic PTLD or monomorphic DLBCL-like PTLD that is resistant to RIS, but can also be used as first-line therapy. 2,4
In patients who do not respond adequately to rituximab monotherapy, combination treatment with chemotherapy (e.g. R-CHOP) can be given. Sequential use of rituximab followed by chemotherapy may also be a favourable option.1
Key treatment outcomes
Rituximab
monotherapy
Rituximab monotherapy
Prospective Phase 2 studies in adults with PTLD after SOT who failed to respond to RIS have shown
rituximab to be effective and well tolerated.9-11
After SOT
| Study | N | Response, n (%) |
Infections (WHO grade III/IV) |
Median OS (months)12 |
Rituximab-related mortality | Safety profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Oertel, et al. (2005)9 |
17 |
CR: 9 (53%) |
None |
37.0 |
None |
|
|
Choquet, et al. (2006)10 |
43 |
CR: 12 (28%)* |
None |
14.9 |
None |
|
|
González Barca, et al. (2007)11† |
38 |
CR: 23 (61%) |
None |
42.0 |
None |
|
*Day 80 response: nine patients with CR; three patients with complete unconfirmed response.
†In case of partial remission, four additional doses of rituximab were administered.11
Chemotherapy ±
rituximab
Chemotherapy ± rituximab
Retrospective studies have evaluated the clinical outcomes of CHOP-based chemotherapy in adults
with PTLD after SOT, revealing high rates of toxicity.13-17
AFTER SOT
| Study | Chemotherapy regimen (n) |
CR, % (n/n) | Treatment-related mortality, % (n/n) |
Safety profile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mamzer-Bruneel, |
CHOP (8), CHOP+RT (2) |
60 (6/10) |
60 (6/10*) |
|
|
Norin, et al. |
CHOP (6), CHOP + MTX (2) |
50 (6/12) |
17 (2/12) |
|
|
Elstrom, et al. |
CHOP (10), R-CHOP (9), |
57 (13/23) |
26 (6/23) |
|
|
Fohrer, et al. |
ACVBP (32), |
67 (22/33) |
9 (3/33) |
|
|
Choquet, et al. |
CHOP (26) |
50 (13/26) |
31 (8/26) |
|
*All deaths regardless of causality.
†CHOP + dexamethasone, ifosfamide, MTX, cytarabine, etoposide, intrathecal methotrexate, cytarabine, prednisolone; two patients received chemotherapy other than CHOP.
‡CEP: cyclophosphamide, etoposide, prednisone; ESHAP: etoposide, methylprednisolone, cytarabine, cisplatin; ProMACECytaBOM: mechlorethamine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide,
etoposide, vincristine, prednisone, procarbazine, methotrexate, cytarabine, bleomycin; R/C: rituximab, cyclophosphamide.
Sequential treatment
(rituximab followed by
chemotherapy)
PTLD 1st Study12
Sequential treatment (ST):
rituximab > CHOP
In a Phase 2 study of patients with CD20+ PTLD refractory to initial RIS, 90% (53/59) achieved complete or partial response after four weekly doses of rituximab followed by four 21-day cycles of CHOP.
Read MorePTLD-1 RSST STUDY18
Response-adapted sequential treatment
The subsequent Phase 2 PTLD-1 RSST trial evaluated a response-adapted strategy after rituximab induction, showing that rituximab consolidation in patients achieving CR was safe and effective.
Read MorePTLD-2 MODIFIED RSST STUDY19
Modified RSST
A Phase 2 trial tested a modified RSST approach. In addition to patients who achieved a CR after rituximab induction, rituximab maintenance monotherapy was also given to those in PR and who were considered low risk with <3 IPI risk factors. Similar TTP, OS, and PFS were observed compared to the PTLD-1 ST and RSST trials.
Read More
RIS + rituximab,
chemotherapy, DLI
AFTER HCT: retrospective analyses
First-line rituximab after HCT shows variable responses and limited survival, highlighting a clear unmet need in this patient population.
Response varies between studies from
CR with first-line rituximab,
reflects wide variability20,21
Narrative review of treatment approaches for
EBV-associated PTLD following solid organ or
haematopoietic cell transplantation.20
Retrospective multicentre UK study of 69 patients with probable or proven
EBV-associated PTLD following alemtuzumab-based allo-SCT.21
Survival
Survival rates have been reported, mostly among
patients treated with rituximab as first-line therapy21
Retrospective multicentre UK study of 69 patients
with probable or proven EBV-associated PTLD following
alemtuzumab-based allo-SCT.21
Relapse/refractory disease:
Around 50% of cases relapse or are refractory to rituximab-based regimens,23
and few studies have reported outcomes in this setting
| Study | n/N* | Treatment (n) | Response rate | Relapses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Hou et al. (2009)23 |
1/12† | RIS + rituximab (1); DLI (2) |
CR: 1/1 (RIS + rituximab) CR: 0/1, PR: 2/2 (DLI) |
- |
|
Fox et al. (2014)21 |
3/62‡ | CHOP (5); CHOP followed by DLI (2); DLI (3) |
CR: 0/5, PR: 0/5 (CHOP) CR: 3/5 (DLI) |
None |
|
Socié et al. (2024)22 |
4/81‡ | Chemotherapy-containing regimen (32); Other, not specified (4) |
Durable response of >6 months: 4/36 (all therapies) |
2/4 |
*n: the total number of patients who achieved a CR; N: the number of patients constituting the study population.
†One patient achieved CR after first-line therapy.
‡Patients who achieved a CR (or durable response) after next-line therapy
T-cell immunotherapy
Poor outcomes persist in refractory EBV+ PTLD
For patients with relapsed or refractory disease, prognosis remains poor and therapeutic options are limited.22,24,25
This underscores the importance of additional treatment approaches to support this patient population.
Treatment options for relapsed
or refractory EBV+ PTLD remain limited22,24,25
After SOT24
Retrospective chart review of patients with EBV+ PTLD following SOT who received rituximab alone or rituximab plus chemotherapy as initial therapy. Median OS was the time from the earliest date when patients developed relapsed/refractory disease.24
After HCT22
Retrospective chart review of allogeneic HCT recipients who failed rituximab alone or rituximab plus chemotherapy. Median OS was time from initial treatment failure leading to relapsed/refractory EBV+ PTLD.22
Beyond rituximab: limited options for refractory disease
Treatment options for patients whose disease is refractory to rituximab remain limited, typically involving chemotherapy or immunotherapy.1,3
When chemotherapy is inappropriate or ineffective, immunotherapy may offer an alternative therapeutic approach.1,3
Among emerging strategies, EBV-specific CTL therapy has shown promise in addressing this unmet need.20,26
Treatment options beyond rituximab are limited1,3
EBV-specific CTL therapy has shown promise1,3,20,26
Adoptive T-cell immunotherapy
What is immunotherapy?
Immunotherapy harnesses the body’s own immune system to recognise and eliminate diseased or infected cells.
In EBV+ PTLD, adoptive immunotherapy aims to restore T-cell function, helping to re-establish immune control and limit disease progression.1,4,20,25
Adoptive immunotherapy aims
to restore T-cell function 4,25
What are EBV specific CTLs?
Cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) are specialised immune cells that recognise and destroy infected or malignant cells.1,25
In EBV+ PTLD, EBV-specific CTLs can identify and eliminate B cells harbouring the virus, helping to re-establish immune control and reduce tumour burden.1,25,27
What is EBV-specific CTL therapy?
EBV-specific CTL therapy involves the infusion of CTLs generated to recognise EBV antigens.1,27
These CTLs can be derived from:1,4,25
- The patient’s own cells
- The original stem cell donor in HCT recipients
- A partially HLA-matched third-party donor
Appropriately matched EBV-specific CTLs enable targeted elimination infected B cells while minimising the risk of graft rejection1,27,29
Sources and applications for T-cell therapy6,27,28
| T-cell source | Typical use | Key considerations |
|---|---|---|
|
Donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) |
Post-HCT PTLD of donor origin |
High GvHD risk |
|
Donor-derived |
Post-HCT PTLD of donor origin |
Lower GvHD risk than DLI; production may be delayed |
|
Autologous |
Post-SOT PTLD of recipient origin |
Production may be delayed |
|
Third-party |
PTLD following SOT or HCT |
Readily available from established cell banks |
Simplified model for illustrative purposes only.
Key clinical evidence
Evaluating EBV-specific CTL therapy
Clinical research provides important insights into the role of EBV-specific CTLs
in relapsed/refractory EBV+ PTLD following transplantation.
Experience suggests third-party EBV-CTLs warrant exploration in both SOT and HCT
settings, while donor-derived EBV-CTLs have achieved response rates exceeding 80%
in post-HCT PTLD.90
Key treatment outcomes
SOT
THIRD-PARTY EBV-CTLs: adoptive T-cell therapy in the EBV+ PTLD setting after SOT
| Study | Method of selection | Prior therapy | n | HLA | Response (CR+PR)% (n/n) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Mahadeo, et al. (2024)26* |
EBV-BLCL-stimulated EBV CTLs |
Rituximab ± CT |
29 |
≥2 |
52 (15/29) |
|
Bonifacius, et al. (2023)31* |
EBV-BLCL-stimulated T-cell line |
CT ± rituximab |
5 |
≥3/6 |
80 (4/5) |
|
Prockop, et al. (2020)32* |
EBV-BLCL-sensitised T-cell line |
Rituximab ± CT/RT |
13 |
≥2/10 |
54 (7/13) |
|
Chiou, et al. (2018)33 |
EBV-BLCL-stimulated EBV CTLs |
RIS ± rituximab/IG/antiviral |
10 |
2–5/6; 5–7/10 |
80 (8/10) |
|
Gallot, et al. (2014)34* |
EBV-BLCL-stimulated EBV CTLs |
CT ± rituximab/RT |
3 |
≥2 |
33 (1/3) |
|
Vickers, et al. (2014)35* |
EBV-LCL-stimulated EBV CTLs |
NA |
5 |
3–9/10 |
100 (5/5) |
|
Gandhi, et al. (2007)36 |
EBV-LCL-sensitised EBV CTLs |
RIS, rituximab ± CT |
3 |
≥3/6 |
66 (2/3) |
|
Haque, et al. (2007)37* |
EBV-LCL-stimulated EBV CTLs |
RIS, rituximab ± other |
31 |
2–5/6 |
61 (19/31) |
|
Sun, et al. (2002)38* |
EBV-BLCL-stimulated EBV CTLs |
RT; rituximab + CT |
2 |
≥4/6 |
100(2/2) |
*These studies also investigated third-party EBV-CTLs in patients who received HCT.
Spotlight: Allele study
ALLELE is a global, multicentre, open-label phase 3 study investigating
the efficacy and safety of tabelecleucel after failure of rituximab ±
chemotherapy in patients with EBV+ PTLD following SOT or HCT.26
Study Design
Key inclusion criteria:
- Prior allogenic SOT or HCT
- Biopsy-proven EBV+ PTLD
- Previous rituximab or rituximab+CT failure
- ECOG PS ≤3 (Lansky score ≥20 for patients aged <16 years)
Key exclusion criteria:
- Patients with Grade ≥2 GvHD, active CNS PTLD, Burkitt lymphoma, classical Hodgkin lymphoma, or any T-cell lymphoma
Primary endpoint: Objective response rate†
Secondary endpoints:
- OS
- Duration of response
- Objective response overall
- Overall PR and CR rates
- Time to response and time to best response
- Rates of allograft loss/rejection episodes (SOT)
- Safety
Adapted from Mahadeo, et al. The Lancet. 2024.
*Treatment ends with any of the following: maximal response achieved, unacceptable toxicity, initiation of non-protocol therapy, failure of up to four tabelecleucel with
different HLA restrictions (HCT) or two tabelecleucel with different HLA restrictions (SOT).26 †Evaluated by independent review (IORA).26
Patient population
ALLELE started accrual in 2018 with efficacy and safety data published on 43 patients with relapsed/refractory EBV+ PTLD (29 SOT and 14 HCT) who received at least one dose of study treatment
| Baseline patient characteristics26,43 | SOT (n=29) | HCT (n=14) | All (N=43) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Median age (range), years | 44.4 (6.1–81.5) | 51.9 (3.2–73.2) | 48.5 (3.2–81.5) |
| Male, n (%) | 16 (55.2) | 8 (57.1) | 24 (55.8) |
|
ECOG PS (age ≥16 years)*
|
27 |
13 |
40 |
|
PLTD-adapted prognostic index
|
2 (7.4) |
|
|
|
Disease morphology and histology
|
19 (65.5) |
10 (71.4) |
29 (67.4) |
| Extra nodal disease (%) | 24 (82.8) | 9 (64.3) | 33 (76.7) |
|
Prior therapies
|
1.0 (1–5) |
1.0 (1–4) |
1.0 (1–5) |
|
Disease morphology and histology
|
19 (65.5) |
10 (71.4) |
29 (67.4) |
| Median time from transplant to EBV+ PTLD diagnosis (range), months | 13.2 (7.2–103.2) |
4.3 (3.2–7.8) |
- |
| Median time from initial EBV+ PTLD diagnosis to first administration (range), months | 6.6 (3.5–13.0) |
1.2 (0.8–3.0) |
4.0 (2.2–8.6) |
| Median cycles (range) | 2.0 (1.0–3.0) | 3.0 (2.0–4.0) | 2.0 (1.0–4.0) |
| Median number of doses administered (range) | 6.0 (3.0–9.0) | 9.0 (6–12) | 6.0 (3.0–12.0) |
| Median treatment duration (range), months | 1.9(0.5–3.4) | 2.8(1.9–4.3) | 2.1(0.5–3.9) |
Data cut-off date: 5 Nov 2021.
*Percentages for ECOG were based on the number of patients in the corresponding age group.26
†Disease risk for PTLD patients was assessed at baseline using the PTLD-adapted prognostic index (based on age, ECOG score and serum lactate dehydrogenase level).43
‡Chemotherapy regimens could have also been combined with rituximab or other immunotherapy agents.
Key Efficacy
Primary Endpoint
Tabelecleucel demonstrated a clinically meaningful ORR
Among all patients:
- Median TTR was 1.0 month
- Estimated median DoR was 23 months
Overall Response Rate %
Data cut-off date: 5 Nov 2021.
OVERALL SURVIVAL
1-year OS in patients with EBV+ PTLD following SOT or HCT was 61.1%
Patients responding to tabelecleucel had higher 1-year OS rate than non-responders
In responders, estimated 1-year OS was 84.4% (95% CI, 58.9-94.7) with mOS not reached
In non responders, the estimated 1-year OS was 34.8% (95% CI, 14.6-56.1) with mOS of 5.7 months
AMONG ALL PATIENTS, MEDIAN OS WAS 18.4 MONTHS
Data cut-off date: 5 Nov 2021.
Figure used with permission of Elsevier Ltd., from Mahadeo, Kris Michael et al. The Lancet Oncology,
Volume 25, Issue 3, 376–387; permission conveyed through Copyright Clearance Center, Inc.
Key safety
SAFETY PROFILE
Tabelecleucel was generally well tolerated in relapsed/refractory EBV+ PTLD patients
Most TESAEs were not treatment related; none of the fatal TESAEs were related to tabelecleucel.
- None of the five fatal TEAEs were related to tabelecleucel
- There was no trend in treatment-related TESAEs; all TESAEs were reported in single patients, except for pyrexia, which was reported in two patients
- There were no reports of tumour flare reaction, infusion-related reaction, cytokine release syndrome, marrow rejection, or transmission of infectious disease
- There were no events of GvHD or organ rejection reported as related to tabelecleucel
*TEAEs are events that occurred from start of tabelecleucel to 30 days after the last dose or treatment-related events that occurred on or after the first dose of tabelecleucel.
†Fatal TESAEs were disease progression (n=3), respiratory failure (n=1), multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (n=1).
Data cut-off date: 5 Nov 2021.
| Event type, n (%) | SOT (n=29) | HCT (n=14) | All (n=43) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Any TESAEs* | 15 (51.7) | 8 (57.1) | 23 (53.5) |
| Grade ≥3 TESAEs | 15 (51.7) | 8 (57.1) | 23 (53.5) |
| Fatal TESAEs† | 4 (13.8) | 1 (7.1) | 5 (11.6) |
| Treatment-related event type, n (%) | All (n=43) |
|---|---|
| Treatment-related serious AEs | 4 (9.3) |
| Grade ≥3 treatment-related serious AEs | 2 (4.7) |
| Treatment-related serious AEs that led to treatment discontinuation | 0 (0) |
Updated Analysis
Updated Analysis44
Updated ALLELE study data from a larger cohort confirm the previously reported benefit–risk profile of tabelecleucel in R/R EBV+ PTLD
Most TESAEs were not treatment related
None of the fatal TESAEs were related to tabelecleucel
No cases of tabelecleucel-related GvHD or organ rejection were reported
Updated analysis included 75 patients
- SOT: n=49
- HCT: n=26
Data cutoff date: Oct 9, 2023.
*Response assessed per Lugano classification with LYRIC modification by IORA. †Estimated by the Kaplan–Meier method
Key takeaways
The ALLELE study provides pivotal evidence on the use of tabelecleucel, an off-the-shelf EBV-specific T-cell immunotherapy, in R/R EBV+ PTLD after failure of rituximab and/or chemotherapy.26,44
- ORR: 51% (22/43) in the main ALLELE trial; 50.7% (38/75) in the updated cohort, with best overall responses of CR in 28.0% and PR in 22.7%
- Median OS 18.4 months among all patients
- Median DoR 23.0 months among all patients
- Clinical benefit was observed across both SOT and HCT subgroups
- Generally well tolerated in both the initial and updated analyses
Data cut-off: Nov 5, 2021 (main ALLELE cohort, n=43;
Oct 9 2023 (updated cohort, n=75).
Tabelecleucel is a licensed treatment option for patients with R/R EBV+ PTLD following rituximab-based therapy45