Third-party virus specific T cells for the treatment of double stranded DNA viral reactivation and PTLD after solid organ transplant

Reactivation or primary infection with double stranded DNA viruses is common in recipients of solid organ transplants and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Treatment with conventional anti-viral medications is limited by toxicities, resistance, and lack of effective options for adenovirus and BKPyV. Virus-specific T-cells (VSTs) have been shown to be an effective treatment for infections with adenovirus, BKPyV, cytomegalovirus (CMV), and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV). Most of these studies have been conducted in stem cell recipients and no large studies have been published in the solid organ transplant population to date. In this study we report on the outcome of quadrivalent third party VST infusions in 98 recipients of solid organ transplants in the context of an open label phase 2 trial. The ninety-eight patients received a total of 181 infusions, with a median of 2 infusions per patient. The overall response rate was 45% for BKPyV, 65% for CMV, 68% for Adenovirus, and 61% for EBV. Twenty percent of patients with PTLD had a complete response and 40% a partial response. All the VST infusions were well tolerated. We conclude that VSTs are safe and effective in the treatment of viral infections in solid organ transplant recipients.