Dr. Westin on the Utilization of CAR T-Cell Therapy in LBCL

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 utilization of CAR T-cell therapy in relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL).

The implementation of CAR T-cell therapies in this patient population continues to expand, and the use of these regimens have been a practice changing in the third-line setting, Westin says. However, CAR T-cell therapies have yet to impact the patient population to their full potential, Westin explains.

Historically, autologous stem cell transplantation has been the standard treatment in the second-line setting for patients with LBCL, but CAR T-cell therapies should begin to migrate into this space, Westin says.

Ideally, patients should undergo CAR T-cell therapy prior to starting chemotherapy, Westin notes. Sequencing treatments in this fashion would prevent T-cell contamination or damage during chemotherapy, Westin explains. Chemotherapy before CAR T-cell therapy should be avoided when possible, Westin concludes.