VIDEO: Anti-CD19 CAR T cells may offer new option for difficult-to-treat patients with DLBCL

SAN DIEGO —Treatment with anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cells may be a new and effective option for difficult-to-treat patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, John M. Burke, MD, medical oncologist at Rocky Mountain Cancer Centers, told HemOnc Today.

Interim data presented at the ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition focused on 111 patients who received a target dose of 2 × 10⁶ anti-CD19 CAR T cells/kg (KTE-C19, Kite Pharma) after a low-dose conditioning regimen of 500 mg/m² cyclophosphamide and 30 mg/m² fludarabine daily for 3 days.

Researchers reported a 76% overall response rate and a 52% complete response rate at 3 months.

“Right now, the studies are being done only in highly trained, mostly academic centers, and also in nonacademic centers where the physicians are transplant specialists,” Burke said. “Incorporating that into community practices is going to be a challenge, and exactly how it’s going to move from the research area to the clinical practice is to be determined.” – by Kristie L. Kahl

Reference:

Neelapu S, et al. Abstract LBA-6. Presented at: ASH Annual Meeting and Exposition; Dec. 3-6, 2016; San Diego.

Disclosure: Burke reports no relevant financial disclosures.