Dr. Westin on the Evolving Landscape of CAR T-Cell Therapy in NHL

Jason R. Westin, MD, director, Lymphoma Clinical Research, section chief, Aggressive Lymphoma, associate professor, Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the evolving landscape of CAR T-cell therapy in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

It remains undetermined which patients with NHL are the most suitable for CAR T-cell therapy, Westin says. Previously, transplant-eligible patients were considered candidates, though this system relied on a more subjective assessment and vaguer criteria, such as organ function performance status and laboratory assessments, Westin explains. These assessments were done to determine which patients could tolerate high-dose chemotherapy, Westin adds.

However, based on the influx of various data from patient reported outcomes and trials, CAR T cells could provide a benefit for patients who, historically, have not been considered transplant eligible, Westin adds.

CAR T-cell therapy could be less toxic and better tolerated by some of the patients who may not have tolerated high dose chemotherapy, Westin continues. Expanding the use of CAR T-cell therapy in more patients with NHL could provide curative options to a larger portion of the population, Westin concludes.