Technical Feasibility and Safety of Repeated Computed Tomography–Guided Transthoracic Intratumoral Injection of Gene-Modified Cellular Immunotherapy in Metastatic NSCLC

• Published in: JTO clinical and research reports 2021-11, Vol.2 (11), p.100242-100242, Article 100242
• Main Authors: Shahrouki, Puja, Lee, Jay M., Barclay, Jonathan, Khan, Sarah N., Genshaft, Scott, Abtin, Fereidoun, Dubinett, Steven M., Lisberg, Aaron, Sharma, Sherven, Garon, Edward B., Suh, Robert
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Dendritic cells; Gene therapy; Immunotherapy; Non–small cell lung cancer; Original
• ISSN: 2666-3643; 2666-3643
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jtocrr.2021.100242

To assess the technical feasibility and safety of repeated percutaneous computed tomography (CT)–guided transthoracic biopsies and intratumoral injections of gene-modified dendritic cells in metastatic NSCLC. A total of 15 patients with 15 NSCLC lesions measuring greater than 1.0 cm underwent two cycles of intratumoral biopsies and CCL21 dendritic cell injections separated by 7 days. All needle placements and injections were done under CT guidance. Clinical and imaging follow-up was done approximately 4 weeks after the first procedure. Safety and feasibility were determined as: (1) safety and feasibility similar to that of single-needle biopsy, and (2) an absence of serious adverse events defined as grade greater than or equal to three according to the National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 5.0. A total of 30 percutaneous, transthoracic intratumoral biopsies and injections into the lung cancer were performed, two cycles (at d 0 and 7) received by each patient (311 biopsies and 96 intratumoral injections). All percutaneous cases achieved technical success with respect to needle placement for both biopsy and injection of CCL21 dendritic cells. Only minor complications were observed (grade