Key clinical point: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is effective for and can be safely administered to older patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) despite an increased infection rate.
Major finding: At a median follow-up of 16.3 months, the objective response rate was 67%. Median progression-free and overall survival were 10.3 (95% CI 3.3-not reached) and 28.4 (95% CI 12.4-not reached) months, respectively. Patients age > 70 years and age ≤ 70 years had comparable progression-free ( P = .6) and overall ( P = .5) survival and comparable incidence rates of immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome ( P = .19); however, patients age > 70 years vs age ≤ 70 years had higher all-grade infection rates (79% vs 40%, respectively).
Study details: This single-center retrospective study included 66 patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL who received either tisagenlecleucel or axicabtagene ciloleucel, of whom 21% were age > 70 years.
Disclosures: This study did not receive any specific funding. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Source: Trando A et al. Outcomes of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy in patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL): A single-institution experience. Cancers. 2023; 15(18):4671 (Sep 21). doi: 10.3390/cancers15184671