CAR T in patients with large B-cell lymphoma not fit for autologous transplant

Br J Haematol. 2023 Jul;202(1):65-73. doi: 10.1111/bjh.18810. Epub 2023 Apr 20.

Abstract

Large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) patients with comorbidities and/or advanced age are increasingly considered for treatment with CD19 CAR T, but data on the clinical benefit of CAR T in the less fit patient population are still limited. We analysed outcomes of consecutive patients approved for treatment with axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) or tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) by the UK National CAR T Clinical Panel, according to fitness for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). 81/404 (20%) of approved patients were deemed unfit for ASCT. Unfit patients were more likely to receive tisa-cel versus axi-cel (52% vs. 48%) compared to 20% versus 80% in ASCT-fit patients; p < 0.0001. The drop-out rate from approval to infusion was significantly higher in the ASCT-unfit group (34.6% vs. 23.5%; p = 0.042). Among infused patients, response rate, progression-free and overall survival were similar in both cohorts. CAR T was well-tolerated in ASCT-unfit patients with an incidence of grade ≥3 cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity of 2% and 11%, respectively. Results from this multicentre real-world cohort demonstrate that CD19 CAR T can be safely delivered in carefully selected older patients and patients with comorbidities who are not deemed suitable for transplant.

Keywords: ASCT unfit; CD19 CAR T; cellular therapies; large B-cell lymphoma.

MeSH terms

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Antigens, CD19
  • Autografts
  • Cytokine Release Syndrome
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive / adverse effects
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse* / therapy
  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen*
  • Transplantation, Autologous
  • Transplants*

Substances

  • Receptors, Chimeric Antigen
  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Antigens, CD19