Outcomes for CART as 2L vs 3L vs 4L or beyond in aggressive B-cell lymphoma: real-world evidence from the ABC...

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CART) therapy has transformed the management of relapsed and refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), but real-world outcomes data is needed to confirm the benefits seen in clinical trial settings. We performed a multicenter retrospective analysis evaluating CART therapy outcomes according to line of therapy, specifically second line (2L) vs third line (3L) vs fourth line (4L) and beyond (4L+). We included patients who received CD19-directed CART therapy for de novo diffuse LBCL or transformed follicular lymphoma. Overall (N = 466), 21% (n = 98) of patients received CART as 2L, 41% (n = 192) as 3L, and 38% (n = 176) as 4L+. Median follow-up from CART infusion was 35 months. Overall response rate and complete response rate were similar for 2L vs 3L vs 4L+. From CART infusion, median progression-free survival (mPFS) and median overall survival (mOS) were similar for 2L vs 3L, but shorter in patients receiving CART as 4L+ (mPFS, 11.6 vs 12.7 vs 5.7 months, P< .001; mOS, not reached vs 69.4 vs 21.9 months, P< .001). In patients with double-hit or triple-hit lymphoma (DHL/THL), receiving CART in 2L vs 3L significantly improved 3-year OS (63% [2L] vs 32% [3L], P = .01). Patients with disease that required bridging therapy were also at increased risk of progression or death. Overall, our findings inform real-world practice wherein CART therapy as 2L vs 3L yields similar survival outcomes in unselected patients. However, patients specifically with DHL/THL should be considered for CART therapy in the 2L outside of the primary refractory disease (PRD) or early relapsed setting.