[Tisagenlecleucel for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: real-world data from single institute...

Area of Science:

• Hematology
• Oncology
• Immunotherapy

Context:

• Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy represents a significant advancement in treating relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (r/r DLBCL).
• Real-world data are crucial for understanding the effectiveness and safety of CAR T-cell therapies in diverse patient populations beyond clinical trial criteria.

Purpose:

• This study retrospectively evaluated the safety and effectiveness of commercially available tisagenlecleucel in patients with r/r DLBCL treated at a single institution.
• The analysis aimed to assess response rates, survival outcomes, and adverse events, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and cytopenias, in a real-world setting.

Summary:

• Twenty-one patients with r/r DLBCL received tisagenlecleucel. High rates of any-grade (85.7%) and severe (9.5%) cytokine release syndrome (CRS) were observed, managed with tocilizumab and/or glucocorticoids.
• The 3-month complete response (CR) rate was 61.9%. At 6 months, progression-free survival (PFS) was 53.1% and overall survival (OS) was 69.2%.
• Severe cytopenias and hypogammaglobulinemia were frequent. Importantly, comorbidities did not significantly impact CR, PFS, or adverse event rates, suggesting tisagenlecleucel's efficacy and safety are maintained in a broader patient group.

Impact:

• Tisagenlecleucel demonstrated high efficacy and a manageable safety profile in the real-world treatment of r/r DLBCL, consistent with pivotal trial findings.
• The study highlights the therapy's effectiveness even in patients with comorbidities, potentially expanding treatment eligibility.
• These findings support the use of tisagenlecleucel as a valuable therapeutic option for r/r DLBCL in routine clinical practice.