Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 30, 2025
![Dynamic Imaging of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells with [18F]Tetrafluoroborate Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcloudfront.jove.com%2FCDNSource%2Fteasers%2F62334.jpg&w=3840&q=50)
Dynamic Imaging of Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells with [18F]Tetrafluoroborate Positron Emission Tomography/Computed Tomography
Published on: February 17, 2022
CD19 CAR-T With Axicabtagene Ciloleucel in R/R Large B-Cell Lymphoma With/Without Prior Autologous Stem Cell
David T Chen1, Olga Goloubeva2, Aaron P Rapoport3
1Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Maryland Medical Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD.
Background:
Anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy has been a breakthrough in treatment of primary refractory or relapsed large B-cell lymphoma (r/r LBCL) and is poised to supplant previous second line of high dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (HDT/ASCT). However, in clinical practice, high risk patients with chemoimmunotherapy sensitive disease continue to receive salvage chemoimmunotherapy or cannot access CAR-T in a timely manner and thus may still proceed to HDT/ASCT. Little is known about clinical outcomes of CAR-T in patients who receive HDT/ASCT compared to those who are transplant-naïve.
Design:
We conducted a retrospective study of patients with r/r LBCL who previously underwent HDT/ASCT or were transplant-naïve (n = 97) and received axicabtagene ciloleucel after at least 2 prior therapy lines between 1/1/2018 to 12/31/2021. Primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Secondary endpoints were overall survival (OS), nonrelapse mortality (NRM), and cumulative incidence of relapse/progression.
Results:
82 (84.5%) patients were transplant-naïve and 15 (15.5%) previously received HDT/ASCT. No differences were found in the incidence of high-grade cytokine release syndrome or immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome, length of hospital admission, or incidence of cytopenia at day 30. 90-day response, PFS, OS, cumulative incidence of relapse/progression, and NRM were not different. Factors that adversely affected outcomes were prior bridging therapy, elevated LDH or thrombocytopenia at time of lymphodepleting chemotherapy, and worse ECOG performance status.
Conclusion:
Prior treatment with HDT/ASCT does not compromise the safety and efficacy of anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy, suggesting a continued role for HDT/ASCT in treatment of select patients with r/r DLBCL.

