Dr. Riedell on the Examination of Axi-Cel Therapy in High-Risk LBCL

Peter Riedell, MD, assistant professor of Medicine, Section of Hematology and Oncology, The University of Chicago Department of medicine, discusses the use of axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel; Yescarta) in high-risk large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), as evaluated on the phase 2 ZUMA-12 trial (NCT03761056).

The ZUMA-12 trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of axi-cel as a first-line treatment in patients with high-risk LBCL.

The trial examined a high-risk patient population and utilized a dynamic risk assessment with a PET/CT scan after 2 complete cycles of therapy, Riedell says. Patients that did not achieve a complete response, determined by a Deauville score of 3 or lower, were then eligible to participate on the trial, Riedell explains. T cells were extracted from enrolled patients, and they were moved to treatment with lymphodepleting chemotherapy, followed by the CAR T-cell infusion, Riedell says.

Although the ZUMA-12 trial provided encouraging results with progression-free survival and complete response rates, additional follow-up of the study is required to understand the implications of axi-cel in these patients, Riedell continues. A randomized trial will be necessary to potentially bring axi-cel to the first-line setting, Riedell concludes.