Hydroxyurea Is Most Suitable for Cytoreduction of AML Prior to CD33/CD3 Bispecific BiTE® Antibody (AMG 330) Therapy: Uncompromised T-Cell Proliferation Ex-Vivoand CD33 Upregulation on AML Cells

Bispecific T-cell engager (BiTE®) antibodies represent a promising tool for anti-leukemic immunotherapy. The CD19/CD3-bispecific antibody blinatumomab was shown to be active in refractory and relapse patients with B-precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (Topp et al, ASCO 2014). Transient, blinatumomab-mediated cytokine release syndrome has been linked to target cell numbers as this phenomenon is predominantly observed within the first treatment cycle. In our previous work, we demonstrated that the bispecific CD33/CD3 BiTE® antibody AMG 330 is able to induce activation and proliferation of residual autologous T-cells and effectively mediates lysis of primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML) cells (Krupka et al, Blood 2014; 123(3):356-65).