Key clinical point : Among patients receiving the bendamustine-rituximab regimen for newly diagnosed mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), selected patients with high-risk disease may require CD19-directed autologous chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy within 6 months of bendamustine exposure.
Major finding: The cumulative incidences of the first and second MCL progression were 14% (95% CI 8%-20%) and 6% (95% CI 3%-11%), respectively, at 6 months from the last bendamustine dose. Ki67 ≥ 50% was a significant risk factor for the occurrence of the first MCL progression within 6 months of bendamustine exposure (adjusted sub-hazard ratio 3.38; P =.022).
Study details: Findings are from retrospective population-based study including 118 adult patients with newly diagnosed MCL who received bendamustine-rituximab induction therapy with or without high-dose cytarabine and autologous stem cell transplantation followed by maintenance rituximab therapy.
Disclosures: This study did not receive any funding. All authors declared receiving honoraria from various sources.
Source: Puckrin R et al. Estimating the impact of early bendamustine failure on feasibility of subsequent CAR-T cell therapy in mantle cell lymphoma. Leuk Lymphoma. 2023 (Jun 20). Doi: 10.1080/10428194.2023.2226278