Dr. Borchmann on Next Steps With Tisagenlecleucel in DLBCL

Peter Borchmann, MD, professor, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany, discusses next steps with tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

In findings from the phase II JULIET study, the chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy tisagenlecleucel showed an objective response rate of 52% in adult patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL. Following these encouraging results, Borchmann says that physicians would like to see tisagenlecleucel moved to earlier lines of therapy.

This is a very difficult-to-treat patient population, Borchmann says, and outcomes for second-line treatment for patients are very poor, regardless of transplant eligibility status. A randomized phase III trial has been planned to compare tisagenlecleucel to second-line standard of care. This trial will be very important, Borchmann says, because efficacy for high-dose chemotherapy and transplantation is low, and toxicities are high.