Clinical and Radiographic Predictors of Progression and Survival in Relapsed/Refractory Lymphoma Patients Receiving Anti-CD19 CAR T-cell Therapy

Clin Lymphoma Myeloma Leuk. 2023 Jan;23(1):49-56. doi: 10.1016/j.clml.2022.09.009. Epub 2022 Oct 7.

Abstract

Introduction: Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has revolutionized treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell lymphomas, though certain patients do not respond to treatment or relapse afterwards. The purpose of this study is to determine patient variables that are predictive of response to CAR-T therapy.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective review of 59 R/R B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients who received anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy. Risk factors for progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were identified and multivariate logistic regression models for PFS and OS at 1 year were created using stepwise selection. The final multivariate logistic regression models were used to estimate the area under the receiver operating curve (AUROC).

Results: At median follow up of 25.6 months, median overall survival was not reached, and median progression free survival was 5.7 months. Stage IV disease (odds ratio (OR) 9.335, P = .025) was identified as a predictive variable for progression at day 365 with an AUC of 0.7922 (P < .001). IPI (OR 2.828, P = .014), ALC ≥ 0.50 at collection (OR 0.183, P = .043), CRP ≥ 11 (OR 6.177, P = .019), and tocilizumab administration (OR 0.062, P = .005) as predictors for death at day 365 with an AUC 0.8626 (P < .001).

Conclusion: Clinical variables identify R/R lymphoma patients who are at risk for progression and poor overall survival after CAR T-cell therapy. IPI, CRP, ALC, and tocilizumab administration may be predictors of survival.

Keywords: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma; adoptive cellular therapy; model; prediction; prognostic.

MeSH terms

  • Antigens, CD19
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive / adverse effects
  • Lymphoma*
  • Lymphoma, B-Cell*
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / therapy

Substances

  • Antigens, CD19