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  • Humoral and cellular immuno...
    Haydu, J. Erika; Maron, Jenny S.; Redd, Robert A.; Gallagher, Kathleen M.E.; Fischinger, Stephanie; Barnes, Jeffrey A.; Hochberg, Ephraim P.; Johnson, P. Connor; Takvorian, R.W.; Katsis, Katelin; Portman, Daneal; Ruiters, Jade; Sechio, Sidney; Devlin, Mary; Regan, Connor; Blumenthal, Kimberly G.; Banerji, Aleena; Judd, Allen D.; Scorsune, Krista J.; McGree, Brianne M.; Sherburne, Maryanne M.; Lynch, Julia M.; Weitzman, James I.; Lei, Matthew; Kotton, Camille N.; Dighe, Anand S.; Maus, Marcela V.; Alter, Galit; Abramson, Jeremy S.; Soumerai, Jacob D.

    Blood advances, 03/2022, Volume: 6, Issue: 6
    Journal Article

    Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), the most common leukemia worldwide, is associated with increased COVID-19 mortality. Previous studies suggest only a portion of vaccinated CLL patients develop severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike antibodies. Whether the elicited antibodies are functional and/or accompanied by functional T-cell responses is unknown. This prospective cohort study included patients with CLL who received SARS-CoV-2 and PCV13 vaccines (not concurrently). The primary cohort included adults with CLL off therapy. Coprimary outcomes were serologic response to SARS-CoV-2 (receptor binding domain RBD immunoassay) and PCV13 vaccines (23-serotype IgG assay). Characterization of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and their functional activity and assessment of functional T-cell responses was performed. Sixty percent (18/30) of patients demonstrated serologic responses to SARS-CoV-2 vaccination, appearing more frequent among treatment-naïve patients (72%). Among treatment-naïve patients, an absolute lymphocyte count ≤24 000/µL was associated with serologic response (94% vs 14%; P < .001). On interferon-γ release assays, 80% (16/20) of patients had functional spike-specific T-cell responses, including 78% (7/9) with a negative RBD immunoassay, a group enriched for prior B-cell–depleting therapies. A bead-based multiplex immunoassay identified antibodies against wild-type and variant SARS-CoV-2 (α, β, γ, and δ) in all tested patients and confirmed Fc-receptor binding and effector functions of these antibodies. Of 11 patients with negative RBD immunoassay after vaccination, 6 (55%) responded to an additional mRNA-based vaccine dose. The PCV13 serologic response rate was 29% (8/28). Our data demonstrate that SARS-CoV-2 vaccination induces functional T-cell and antibody responses in patients with CLL and provides the framework for investigating the molecular mechanisms and clinical benefit of these responses. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT05007860. •In this prospective study, 60% of patients with CLL developed SARS-CoV-2 antibodies and 80% developed functional T-cell responses after vaccination.•Vaccinated patients with CLL developed antibodies against wild-type and variant SARS-CoV-2 viruses capable of binding and effector functions. Display omitted