Alexander Heini

Dr. Alexander Heini

orcid

Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

5Years (2022-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

View All Publications
5 April 2022 in Bone Marrow Transplantation
Verified
Journal Article
Closed access
PDF file
AHAlexander Heini
Alexander Heini
UBUlrike Bacher
Ulrike Bacher
MKMarie-Noëlle Kronig
Marie-Noëlle Kronig
GWGertrud Wiedemann
Gertrud Wiedemann
UNUrban Novak
Urban Novak
Thomas PabstThomas Pabst
Thomas Pabst

2 September 2022 in Cells
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AHAlexander Heini
Alexander Heini
Ulrike BacherUlrike Bacher
Ulrike Bacher
NPNaomi A. Porret
Naomi A. Porret
GWGertrud Wiedemann
Gertrud Wiedemann
MLMyriam Legros
Myriam Legros
Thomas PabstThomas Pabst
Thomas Pabst
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare type of B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) affecting predominantly male patients. While complete remissions following first-line treatment are frequent, most patients ultimately relapse, with a usually aggressive further disease course. The use of cytarabine-comprising induction chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation, Rituximab maintenance, Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitors and CAR T therapy has substantially improved survival. Still, options for patients relapsing after CAR T therapy are limited and recommendations for the treatment of these patients are lacking. We report two cases of patients with mantle cell lymphoma who relapsed after CAR T therapy and were treated with the bispecific CD20/CD3 T cell engaging antibody glofitamab. Both patients showed marked increases of circulating CAR T cells and objective responses after glofitamab administration. Therapy was tolerated without relevant side effects in both patients. One patient completed all 12 planned cycles of glofitamab therapy and was alive and without clinical progression at the last follow-up. The second patient declined further treatment after the first cycle and succumbed to disease progression. We review the literature and investigate possible mechanisms involved in the observed responses after administration of glofitamab, such as proliferation of CAR T cells, anti-tumor effects of the bispecific antibody and the role of other possibly contributing factors. Therapy with bispecific antibodies might offer an effective and well-tolerated option for patients with mantle cell lymphoma relapsing after CAR T therapy.

6 March 2024 in Acta Haematologica
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AHAlexander Heini
Alexander Heini
VBVera Ulrike Bacher
Vera Ulrike Bacher
DADilara Akhoundova
Dilara Akhoundova
KSKatja Seipel
Katja Seipel
Thomas PabstThomas Pabst
Thomas Pabst
Introduction: Bispecific antibodies have meaningfully expanded the therapeutic armamentarium in multiple myeloma. Talquetamab is a CD3+ T-cell-redirecting antibody targeting GPRC5D, which is expressed on multiple myeloma plasma cells as well as in keratinized tissues. Due to the expression pattern, toxicity of talquetamab involves skin toxicity. Case Presentation: Here we report the case of a patient who was treated with talquetamab after relapse after CAR-T therapy. The patient developed a severe recurrence of talquetamab-mediated skin toxicity after the administration of a supportive hematopoietic stem cell boost to treat persistent late cytopenias after CAR-T therapy. Conclusion: This case underscores the complex dynamics between novel immunotherapies like talquetamab and stem cell-based interventions in the context of MM treatment, shedding light on the need for personalized approaches to maximize the benefits of these therapies while minimizing their associated adverse effects.

19 March 2023 in Journal of Clinical Medicine
Verified
Journal Article
Open access
PDF file
AHAlexander Heini
Alexander Heini
PBPhilipp Beck
Philipp Beck
Ulrike BacherUlrike Bacher
Ulrike Bacher
KSKatja Seipel
Katja Seipel
TZThilo Zander
Thilo Zander
Thomas PabstThomas Pabst
Thomas Pabst
High-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is an option to consolidate remission in Waldenstrom’s macroglobulinemia (WM), particularly in selected younger patients with chemosensitive disease. BEAM, consisting of BCNU, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan, is often used as a conditioning regimen. However, problems with BCNU, including pneumotoxicity, tolerance, and availability, necessitate the search for alternatives. In this pilot study, we investigated high-dose chemotherapy with BeEAM, in which BCNU is replaced with high-dose bendamustine as an alternative conditioning regimen in six subsequent patients with WM. Bendamustine treatment was well tolerated without unexpected toxicities. The overall response rate was 6/6 patients (2 very good partial responses (VGPR) and 4 PR). After a median follow-up of 72 months, two (33%) patients relapsed. Median progression-free and overall survivals were not reached, and no severe late-onset toxicities were observed so far. In this pilot study, BeEAM conditioning before ASCT seems feasible, safe, and effective in patients with WM.