Exploring Updated Data for Large B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Nilanjan Ghosh, MD, a hematologist and medical oncologist at the Levine Cancer Institute, Atrium Health, discusses the significance of the data from a pilot study of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel) as treatment of patients who are ineligible for second-line transplant with relapsed/refractory aggressive large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Ghosh says these findings are significant for this older patient population, which has been associated with a poorer prognosis. These patients tend to have highly refractory disease and are older, where the median age is 72 years and 85% of patients are 65 years or older.

The complete response rate in this pilot study was 56%, but long-term data are not yet available, says Ghosh. However, in this population of older, frail patients who tend to have organ dysfunction and other comorbidities, achieving a complete response is more meaningful than a partial response.

Thus far, the responses appear durable, and Ghosh says there may be rationale for moving this treatment to earlier lines. For patients who otherwise do not have any potentially long-term treatment or disease control options, this treatment is a promising option for the field. If the study continued to show similar results as it comes to completion, Ghosh concludes we will be on track to incorporate CAR T-cell therapy into this patient population.