Second-line lisocabtagene maraleucel versus standard of care for relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma

Patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) primary refractory to or relapsed within 12 months of first-line therapy are at high risk for poor outcomes with current standard of care, platinum-based immunochemotherapy and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel) is an autologous, CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy. The multinational phase 3 TRANSFORM trial compared liso-cel versus standard of care for R/R LBCL. Interim analysis of the trial found that median event-free survival was significantly improved in the liso-cel group compared with the standard of care group (10.1 months versus 2.3 months; HR 0.35; p<0.0001). The safety profile of liso-cel was manageable. The authors conclude that these results support liso-cel as a new second-line treatment recommendation in patients with early relapsed or refractory LBCL.