Cytokine Storms in COVID-19, Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis, and CAR-T Therapy

Cytokine storm (CS) is a hyperinflammatory syndrome causing multiorgan dysfunction and high mortality, especially in patients with malignant hematologic neoplasms. Triggers include malignant neoplasm-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (MN-HLH), cytokine release syndrome from chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T CRS), and COVID-19, but the underlying mechanisms of inflammation and their impact on outcomes are poorly understood.

To delineate the inflammatory patterns characterizing different CS etiologies and their association with clinical outcomes.

This retrospective cohort study was conducted at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, between March 1, 2020, and November 20, 2022, using the software-as-a-service Syntropy Foundry Platform. Participants were patients with malignant hematologic neoplasms who developed CS from COVID-19 (COVID-CS), MN-HLH, or CAR-T CRS.

Diagnostic criteria for COVID-CS were developed based on surging inflammatory markers (interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, and ferritin), while diagnosis of MN-HLH and CAR-T CRS followed established guidelines.

The study compared cytokine levels, clinical characteristics, and survival outcomes across the 3 cohorts and focused on inflammatory markers, survival times, and key factors associated with survival identified through univariate and multivariable analyses.

A total of 671 patients met the inclusion criteria. Of those, 220 (33%) had CAR-T CRS, 227 (34%) had COVID-CS, and 224 (33%) had MN-HLH. Patients were predominantly male (435 [65%]), and 461 (69%) were White, with significant differences in median age (CAR-T CRS, 63 [IQR, 54-71] years; COVID-CS, 63 [IQR, 52-72] years; MN-HLH, 55 [IQR, 41-65] years; P < .001) as well as number of admission days and underlying cancer type across cohorts. Marked variations in cytokine levels and survival outcomes were observed, with the MN-HLH cohort exhibiting the highest levels of inflammatory markers (eg, median TNF-α, 105 pg/mL [IQR, 38-201 pg/mL] for MN-HLH vs 23 pg/mL [IQR, 17-42 pg/mL] for COVID-CS) and lowest fibrinogen and albumin levels. The cohort with CAR-T CRS showed substantially longer survival times compared with the cohort with COVID-CS (hazard ratio [HR], 2.93; 95% CI, 1.95-4.41) and the cohort with MN-HLH (HR, 8.12; 95% CI, 5.51-12.00). Clustering analysis showed overlapping patterns between COVID-CS and CAR-T CRS, while MN-HLH formed a distinct cluster.

This study of CS syndromes found distinct immune responses within each cohort. The distinct clinical patterns and outcomes associated with different CS etiologies emphasize the importance of early diagnosis and timely intervention.