by CAR-T cell therapy has been found to be a safe and effective treatment for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), even in patients who are considered high risk due to comorbidities, according to a collaborative study conducted by the U.S. Lymphoma CAR-T Cell Consortium. The findings of the study will be presented at the upcoming American Society of Hematology’s annual meeting in San Diego.
The study, which spanned over five years and involved 17 academic cancer centers in the U.S., concluded that CAR-T cell therapy has significantly changed the treatment landscape for DLBCL patients. Dr. Jay Y. Spiegel, the lead presenter of the study and a hematologist-oncologist at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, emphasized the potential of this therapy in treating even high-risk patients. However, he also stressed the importance of maximizing survivorship to prevent patients from succumbing to other causes.
The retrospective analysis conducted by the consortium examined the five-year outcomes of DLBCL patients who received CAR-T cell therapy, including those who would not have met the eligibility criteria for the ZUMA-1 clinical trial. The analysis encompassed data from 298 patients who underwent leukapheresis as part of the CAR-T cell process. They also assessed risk factors associated with poorer survival outcomes, as well as long-term toxicities and causes of non-relapse mortality.
Despite including high-risk patients who were considered ineligible for the ZUMA-1 trial, the analysis yielded results similar to the original study. The progression-free survival rate and overall survival rate at five years were 28.5% and 40.3%, respectively. Non-relapse deaths were primarily attributed to infections or secondary cancers. While the results were encouraging, Dr. Spiegel noted the need to address the rates of non-relapse mortality.
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is a rapidly growing blood cancer and the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It occurs when genetic mutations transform healthy cells into cancerous cells, often affecting the lymphatic system. In 2020, DLBCL was diagnosed in approximately six out of every 100,000 individuals, while around 500 out of every 100,000 people were diagnosed with cancer in any part of their bodies.
The frontline therapy for DLBCL involves the use of the monoclonal antibody drug rituximab, three chemotherapy drugs, and a drug that targets and kills lymphoma cells. While this therapy is generally safe and effective, it does not always provide a complete response or prevent the cancer from recurring. Studies have shown that approximately 40% of patients who receive standard therapy experience relapse or recurrence of DLBCL.
CAR-T cell therapy is considered as a treatment option for patients who experience relapse or recurrence of DLBCL after completing frontline therapy. This type of immunotherapy involves genetically modifying the patient’s T cells to enhance the immune system’s ability to identify and eliminate cancerous cells. Dr. Spiegel stated that the analysis provides assurance to physicians and patients that CAR-T cell therapy can lead to durable remissions and potentially even cures, particularly for patients who have failed chemotherapy or experienced relapse or recurrence of lymphoma.
CAR-T cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment approach for DLBCL patients who previously had limited options after the failure of standard chemotherapy. Dr. Spiegel explained that before CAR-T, clinicians would explore various strategies to achieve disease remission in patients who failed chemotherapy. However, with the advent of CAR-T cell therapy, the focus has shifted towards improving survivorship outcomes and increasing the number of patients who achieve long-term remission and better quality of life.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
2. We have leveraged AI tools to mine information and compile it
