Ansell, Stephen M.

Abstract Introduction: Novel therapeutic agents such as immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) and brentuximab vedotin (BV) are active in classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL), including in patients that relapse after autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). However, optimal management strategy is unclear for patients with relapsed or refractory (RR) cHL post-ASCT. The aim of the study is to determine the impact of novel agents relative to conventional therapy and allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT) on survival outcomes of patients with cHL who relapsed after ASCT. Methods: Patients with RR cHL who underwent ASCT between 06/1993 and 10/2017 at 3 Mayo Clinic sites were included. Clinical characteristics, treatment information, and outcome data were abstracted. For patients who relapsed after ASCT, the post-relapse progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models. Statistical analyses were done in JMP v15.2.1 and EZR v1.54. Results: A total of 332 patients with RR cHL who underwent salvage therapy and ASCT were identified. After a median post-ASCT follow-up of 8.6 years (range 6.8-9.7), 136 (41%) patients had a relapse or disease progression after ASCT. Patient characteristics of the 136 cases are summarized in the Table. The median age at post-ASCT relapse was 34 years (range 20-73), and 77 (57%) were male. 59 (43%) relapsed within 6 months and 77 (57%) relapsed after 6 months following ASCT. 59 (45%) had an extranodal site involvement at relapse. 14 (10%) had therapy with ICI or BV as salvage therapy prior to ASCT or maintenance therapy post-ASCT. The median post-relapse PFS and OS was 0.8 (95% CI 0.6-1.1) and 3.2 years (95% CI 2.2-5.5) years, respectively. Compared to patients who relapse after 6 months, patients who relapsed within 6 months of ASCT had worse post-relapse PFS (median 0.5 [0.3-0.7] vs 1.3 [0.9-1.9] years, p=0.0003) and OS (median 1.3 [0.5-2.2] vs 6.4 [3.7-10.4] years, p=0.0003). Extranodal site involvement at relapse was not associated with post-relapse PFS (median 0.7 [0.5-1.2] vs 0.9 [0.6-1.3] years, p=0.28) but was associated with worse post-relapse OS (median 2.7 [1.5-4.2] vs 6.4 [2.6-NA] years, p=0.006). Prior therapy with ICI or BV was not associated with post-relapse PFS (median 0.6 [0.3-NA] vs 0.8 [0.6-1.1] year, p=0.8) and OS (median NR [1.0-NA] vs 3.2 [2.2-5.5] years, p=0.5). After post-ASCT relapse, the median lines of subsequent therapy were 2 (range 1-12). For first post-ASCT salvage therapy, novel agents (ICI or BV), compared to other therapies, were associated with superior post-relapse PFS (median 1.7 [0.7-3.6] vs 0.7 [0.5-1.0] years, p=0.004) and OS (median 7.6 [4.7-NA] vs 3.2 [2.2-5.6], p=0.02). Allo-SCT following first post-ASCT relapse (n=9) was not associated with improvement in post-relapse PFS (median 2.2 years [0.3-NA] vs 0.8 [0.6-1.1] years, p=0.1) or OS (median NR [0.5-NA] vs 5.1 [3.2-7.3] years, p=0.7). Patients who received ICI or BV at any point post-ASCT relapse had significantly better post-relapse OS (median 7.6 [4.3-16.7] vs 2.2 [1.4-3.7] years, p=0.004) compared to those who never received any novel agent (Figure 1A). In contrast, allo-SCT at any point post-ASCT relapse (n=27) did not improve post-relapse OS (median 5.6 [2.7-NA] vs 4.7 [2.7-7.3] years, p=0.3) (Figure 1B). In multivariate Cox regression models adjusted for age and sex, exposure to ICI and/or BV was associated with superior post-relapse OS (HR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3-0.8, p=0.007); however, allo-SCT was not associated with improvement in post-relapse OS (HR 0.8, 95% CI 0.4-1.5, p=0.5). Conclusions: Patients relapsing within 6 months of ASCT and those with extranodal involvement at relapse had inferior OS after post-ASCT relapse. Prior therapy with novel agents did not impact post-relapse survival outcomes. In the setting of post-ASCT relapse, novel therapeutic agents significantly improved survival outcomes while allo-SCT did not. Future multicenter studies are needed to explore the role of novel agents and allo-SCT in patients with RR cHL post-ASCT relapse. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Wang: Eli Lilly: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; InnoCare: Research Funding; MorphoSys: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; LOXO Oncology: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Paludo: Karyopharm: Research Funding. Tun: Gossamer Bio, Acrotech: Consultancy; Mundipharma, Celgene, BMS, Acrotech, TG therapeutics, Curis, DTRM: Research Funding. Cerhan: Regeneron Genetics Center: Other: Research Collaboration; Genentech: Research Funding; Celgene/BMS: Other: Connect Lymphoma Scientific Steering Committee, Research Funding; NanoString: Research Funding. Habermann: Tess Therapeutics: Other: Data Monitoring Committee; Morphosys: Other: Scientific Advisory Board; Incyte: Other: Scientific Advisory Board; Seagen: Other: Data Monitoring Committee; Loxo Oncology: Other: Scientific Advisory Board; Eli Lilly & Co.,: Other: Scientific Advisor. Witzig: Karyopharm Therapeutics, Celgene/BMS, Incyte, Epizyme: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene/BMS, Acerta Pharma, Kura Oncology, Acrotech Biopharma, Karyopharm Therapeutics: Research Funding. Nowakowski: Celgene, MorphoSys, Genentech, Selvita, Debiopharm Group, Kite/Gilead: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene, NanoString Technologies, MorphoSys: Research Funding. Ansell: Bristol Myers Squibb, ADC Therapeutics, Seattle Genetics, Regeneron, Affimed, AI Therapeutics, Pfizer, Trillium and Takeda: Research Funding.

Abstract Introduction: Factors contributing to the antitumor activity of systemic oncolytic virotherapy (OV) include (i) generalized innate immune activation due to virus infusion; (ii) direct oncolytic and/or immune-mediated destruction of OV infected tumor cells due to intratumoral spread of the virus infection; (iii) collateral boosting of tumor antigen-specific T cell responses that target uninfected tumor cells. We investigated the relative contributions of these 3 factors T cell lymphoma (TCL) patients (pts) responding to a single intravenous infusion of Voyager-V1, an oncolytic vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) encoding IFNβ and sodium iodide symporter (NIS) on NCT03017820. Of relevance, the virally encoded IFNβ enhances tumor specificity, boosts proinflammatory activity & serves as a convenient serum biomarker of infection. Methods: In a first in human trial, a single infusion of Voyager-V1 was administered to 15 pts with relapsed refractory hematologic cancers; 4 dose levels (DL) were tested (5x10 9, 1.7x10 10, 5x10 10, 1.7x10 11 TCID50); 7 pts had TCL. Cytokine levels and CRS symptoms were determined as a measure of generalized immune activation; serum IFNβ levels were monitored as a pharmacodynamic biomarker of virus infection; antitumor T cell responses were measured using ELISPOT assays. Results: Of 8 TCL pts, 3 had RECIST responses: PR at DL 2, a CR & PR at DL 4. Most pts experience short lived CRS typically resolving within 24 hours of virus infusion. Serum IFNβ levels increased post-therapy in all pts, typically peaking by 24 hours post virus infusion and returning to baseline by median day 10. T cell responses could not be accurately determined in most cases due to suboptimal T cell viability and/or function after thawing of frozen PBMC. Factors contributing to tumor regression in each of the responding pts appeared to differ significantly, as exemplified by the case reports below. Pt (I) with CTCL experienced grade 1 CRS followed by brisk regression of multiple cutaneous lesions. The PR lasted 3 mo, after relapse of an eye lesion, but responses at other sites deepened after the relapsed lesion was irradiated; pt remained off active therapy for the next 2 yrs. Peak serum IFNβ 4 hours post infusion was only 182 pg/ml suggesting that disease response may have been driven by nonspecific innate immune activation associated with the virus infusion. Pt (IV) (CD30+ PTCL/ cutaneous relapse) had short lived grade 2 CRS, then developed signs of IFNβ toxicity with AST elevation and thrombocytopenia. Oral ruxolitinib was administered for 5 days as IFNβ toxicity mitigation leading to normalization of AST and platelets. All PET-avid tumors regressed completely. This CR continues 16 months post virus infusion. Peak serum IFNβ was 18,213 pg/ml strongly suggesting that response was driven by extensive intratumoral amplification of the virus and oncolytic tumor destruction. Robust CTL responses to tumor neoantigens were detected in this pt at baseline indicating that collateral boosting of tumor-specific T cells may have been responsible for the long term maintenance of this CR Pt (V) (CD30+ PTCL) had short lived grade 2 CRS followed by response at all disease sites (including complete normalization of an enlarged FDG-avid spleen). Her PR ended after 6 months due to relapse in cervical lymph nodes. Peak serum IFNβ level was modest, 600 pg/ml & sustained over 48 hours suggesting slower intratumoral spread of the virus infection. The deepening of the response long after resolution of the oncolytic phase points strongly to a contribution from antitumor CTL but the assay was technically unsatisfactory in this pt. Conclusion: Analysis of the correlative data supports that intravenous Voyager-V1 therapy can recruit diverse antitumor effector mechanisms to impact tumor response in pts with heavily pretreated TCL. Importantly, intratumoral virus amplification, which results in high circulating concentrations of IFNβ, does not necessarily lead to tumor regression perhaps because of defective immune cell recruitment and/or activation in some tumors but not in others. This will be further evaluated in future study participants by performing CTL assays on fresh, rather than frozen PBMC. In conclusion, a single IV infusion of Voyager-V1 shows highly promising activity against treatment refractory TCL and should be further advanced as a new single-shot or combination therapy for this therapeutically challenging indication. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Witzig: Karyopharm Therapeutics, Celgene/BMS, Incyte, Epizyme: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene/BMS, Acerta Pharma, Kura Oncology, Acrotech Biopharma, Karyopharm Therapeutics: Research Funding. Paludo: Karyopharm: Research Funding. Patnaik: StemLine: Research Funding; Kura Oncology: Research Funding. Dispenzieri: Takeda: Research Funding; Alnylam: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Oncopeptides: Consultancy; Sorrento Therapeutics: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding. Bennani: Kymera: Other: Advisory Board; Vividion: Other: Advisory Board; Kyowa Kirin: Other: Advisory Board; Daichii Sankyo Inc: Other: Advisory Board; Purdue Pharma: Other: Advisory Board; Verastem: Other: Advisory Board. Ansell: Bristol Myers Squibb, ADC Therapeutics, Seattle Genetics, Regeneron, Affimed, AI Therapeutics, Pfizer, Trillium and Takeda: Research Funding. Gertz: Aurora Biopharma: Other: Stock option; Akcea Therapeutics, Ambry Genetics, Amgen Inc, Celgene Corporation, Janssen Biotech Inc, Karyopharm Therapeutics, Pfizer Inc (to Institution), Sanofi Genzyme: Honoraria; Akcea Therapeutics, Alnylam Pharmaceuticals Inc, Prothena: Consultancy; AbbVie Inc, Celgene Corporation: Other: Data Safetly & Monitoring; Ionis Pharmaceuticals: Other: Advisory Board. Dingli: Janssen: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; GSK: Consultancy; Apellis: Consultancy; Novartis: Research Funding; Alexion: Consultancy. Kumar: Astra-Zeneca: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Beigene: Consultancy; Carsgen: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Oncopeptides: Consultancy; Roche-Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; KITE: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Antengene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Tenebio: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Adaptive: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding. Bergsagel: Oncopeptides: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Genetech: Consultancy, Honoraria; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Patents & Royalties: human CRBN mouse; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria. Kapoor: Karyopharm: Consultancy; Cellectar: Consultancy; BeiGene: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Amgen: Research Funding; Ichnos Sciences: Research Funding; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Glaxo SmithKline: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding; Sanofi: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding. Lin: Sorrento: Consultancy; Vineti: Consultancy; Legend: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Gamida Cell: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding. OffLabel Disclosure: VSV-IFNβ-NIS is an oncolytic virus in clinical trial for systemic administration in hematologic malignancies

Abstract Introduction: Intravascular lymphoma (IVL) is an extra nodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma with tropism for vascular endothelium. It is characterized by growth of large cells within the lumen of small to medium sized blood vessels. Central nervous system (CNS) and skin are predominantly involved. This report represents a retrospective single-institution review of IVL. Methods: We identified patients (pts) with IVL evaluated at Mayo Clinic Cancer Center between January 2003 and December 2018. Demographic, clinical, radiologic, pathologic, and therapeutic data were extracted. Statistical analysis of overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS)] was performed using Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Total number of pts was 55; 22% (12/55) had CNS-only IVL, 14.5% (8/55) had CNS and non-CNS IVL, and 63.6% (35/55) had non-CNS IVL. Eighty seven percent (47/54) pts were B cell type, 11% (6/54) were T cell type, one pt had NK cell type IVL and another was unknown. Four pts were diagnosed by autopsy. Median age at diagnosis was 68 years (range, 40-85). Sixty-four percent were males. ECOG performance status was <2 in 66%. The median follow-up time from diagnosis was 63 months [CI 95%, 9-NR], and 47% (26/55) were alive. The most common diagnostic biopsy sites were bone marrow (BM) 45% (25/55), skin 25% (14/55), and brain 29% (16/55). Twenty-nine patients had a PET scan. Seventy nine percent (23/29) had abnormal PET findings, with mean SUV of 8.6 (range 2.5-19.1). Of the 35 pts with non-CNS IVL, 76% (16/21) had abnormal PET; furthermore, the diagnosis was made with biopsies of the following sites: bone marrow 54% (19/35), skin 40% (14/35), lung 14% (5/35), liver 5.7% (2/35), spleen 2.8% (1/35), and omentum 2.8% (1/35). Forty-six percent (13/28) received CNS prophylaxis and ten percent (3/55) had relapse in CNS. Two out of the three pts who had CNS relapse had received CNS prophylaxis. The median time to CNS relapse in non-CNS IVL was 9 months. The most common first-line regimen was high-dose methotrexate+ rituximab containing regimen 62% (10/16) in IVL with CNS involvement and RCHOP (60%) (17/28) in non-CNS IVL. Seventeen percent of (8/48) pts received autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) and 63% (5/8) pts were transplanted in first complete remission (CR1), and 3 pts after the first relapse. Median OS (mOS) for the whole cohort was 57 months, [CI 95%, 9-NR], and median PFS was 7 months [CI 95%, 2-NR]. There was no significant difference in mOS between groups; CNS-only IVL- 9 months (CI 95%, 1-NR), non-CNS IVL -62 months (CI 95%, 20-NR) vs combined CNS and non-CNS IVL- 4 months (CI 95%, 3-NR). mOS for those who received ASCT in CR1 was not reached (CI 95%, 10-NR) vs 51 months in non-transplant group (CI 95%, 3-NR) p=0.24. In pts with non-CNS IVL, there was no significant difference in mOS between CNS prophylaxis subgroup (NR: CI 95%, 57-NR) vs no-CNS prophylaxis subgroup (20 months: CI 95%, 0-NR), p=0.12. In those with CNS IVL mOS for early diagnosis (0-30 days from symptom onset to diagnosis was NR (CI 95%, 3-NR) vs mOS for late diagnosis (>30 days {31-14,440})-5months (CI 95% 1-NR), p=0.29]. Conclusion: 1. BM was most frequently involved in our patients. We suggest that BM biopsy should be part of diagnostic testing when IVL is suspected. 2. Most cases are of B-cell linage, consistent with reported literature. All non-B cell cases were in non-CNS locations. 3. PET scans were abnormal in more than 70% of cases indicating that this imaging modality is vital in the diagnosis due to odd location and small size of lesions. 4.Overall prognosis in the literature was poor with most patients surviving <1 year. Our cohort has mOS of 57 months. The reason(s) for better survival in our cohort could not be definitively determined. 5. CNS involvement had an overall trend towards poor prognosis; however, those diagnosed early had better outcomes; this did not reach statistical significance due to small sample size. 6. mOS was not reached for those transplanted CR1. There was a trend towards a better survival associated with CNS prophylaxis versus no prophylaxis in non-CNS IVL. 7. We suggest that CNS-centric therapeutic approach and intensive consolidation with ASCT should be considered in managing IVL. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Nowakowski: Celgene, NanoString Technologies, MorphoSys: Research Funding; Celgene, MorphoSys, Genentech, Selvita, Debiopharm Group, Kite/Gilead: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Habermann: Incyte: Other: Scientific Advisory Board; Seagen: Other: Data Monitoring Committee; Tess Therapeutics: Other: Data Monitoring Committee; Morphosys: Other: Scientific Advisory Board; Loxo Oncology: Other: Scientific Advisory Board; Eli Lilly & Co.,: Other: Scientific Advisor. Witzig: Karyopharm Therapeutics, Celgene/BMS, Incyte, Epizyme: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene/BMS, Acerta Pharma, Kura Oncology, Acrotech Biopharma, Karyopharm Therapeutics: Research Funding. Ansell: Bristol Myers Squibb, ADC Therapeutics, Seattle Genetics, Regeneron, Affimed, AI Therapeutics, Pfizer, Trillium and Takeda: Research Funding. Tun: Mundipharma, Celgene, BMS, Acrotech, TG therapeutics, Curis, DTRM: Research Funding; Gossamer Bio, Acrotech: Consultancy.

Abstract The tumor microenvironment plays a crucial role in mediating the tumor immune response, thereby affecting patient outcomes in follicular lymphoma (FL). Using CyTOF, we analyzed single cell suspensions created from pre-treatment biopsies in a cohort of 82 FL patients and retrospectively extracted patient clinical parameters. Hierarchical analysis of the tumor microenvironment composition stratified these patients into 4 groups: group 1 represents patients with high percentage of monocyte/macrophages/NK cells; patients from group 2 and 3 are rich of intratumoral T and B cells, respectively. Patients with intermediate number of T and B cells are classed into group 4. Intratumoral T cells from these 4 groups exhibited distinct phenotypical characteristics. Group 1 was enriched with KLRG1 +CD8 + T cells, while group 4 showed increased number of CXCR3 - T EM and CD4 + T N cells. Patients from group 2 and 3 featured with increased number of ICOS + T reg cells and CD57 + T FH cells, respectively. We observed that higher numbers of T cells significantly correlated with early disease stage, lack of B-symptoms, event-free survival at 24 months (EFS24) and a favorable overall and EFS survival in patients with histological grade 1 and 2. However, this association was not seen in patients with histological grade 3a and b, suggesting that T cell-mediated anti-tumor immunity is preserved in low grade patients, but overridden in higher grade patients. CITRUS analysis revealed that a cluster that is CD57 + and PD-1 high was significantly more abundant in patients who had disease progression than patients who had a complete response to therapy, suggesting a role of CD57 + T FH cells in promoting malignant cell growth in FL. Consistent with this finding, we observed that higher number of CD57 + T FH cells correlated with an inferior survival in FL. Using CITE-seq technology, we found that CD57 + T FH cells exhibited a substantially different transcriptome when compared to CD57 - T FH cells. Genes that were differentially upregulated in CD57 + T FH cells when compared to CD57 - T FH cells included genes involved in cell survival, compromised inflammatory response, and metabolism activation including GZMK, CCL4, CST7, DUSP2, LGALS3, CYTOR, CHI3L2, SYNE2, CXCL13, CD27 and FABP5. Taken together, our results indicate different tumor microenvironments among FL patient groups that is associated with variable T-cell phenotype. We found that CD57 + T FH cells play an important role in predicting disease progression and patient prognosis in FL. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Novak: Celgene/BMS: Research Funding. Ansell: Bristol Myers Squibb, ADC Therapeutics, Seattle Genetics, Regeneron, Affimed, AI Therapeutics, Pfizer, Trillium and Takeda: Research Funding.

Abstract Background :COVID-19 adversely affects individuals with cancer. Several studies have found that seroconversion rates among patients with hematologic malignancies are suboptimal when compared to patients without cancer. Among patients with hematologic malignancies, seroconversion rates also appear to be influenced by recent treatment and the type of treatment they have received. Patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and multiple myeloma (MM) are immunocompromised due to impaired humoral and cellular immunity in addition to prescribed immunosuppressive therapy. Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy is now widely used for NHL and MM, but little is known about seroconversion rates after COVID-19 vaccination among these populations. Current national guidelines recommend COVID-19 vaccination to be offered to CAR T recipients as early as three months thereafter. We retrospectively evaluated SARS-CoV-2 spike-binding IgG antibody levels following COVID-19 vaccination among NHL and MM CAR T therapy recipients. Methods:This retrospective study was conducted at three Mayo Clinic sites on NHL and MM patients that received CAR T infusions from Sept 2016 to June 2021. Baseline characteristics were ascertained from medical records. All NHL and MM patients who had received CAR T at any point and were alive at the time that the COVID-19 vaccine first became available were eligible for inclusion for antibody response evaluation. For antibody response to vaccination, antibody spike values > 0.80 U/mL were considered positive. Results: Out of 104 CAR T infusions, 73 patients are alive at the time of this submission. We have had 7 patients with known COVID-19 pre-CAR T and all 7 are currently alive (5 have antibody titers and 2 have not been tested yet). Nineteen patients developed known COVID infection post-CAR T (13 alive and 6 deceased). The mortality of COVID post-CAR T in our sample was 31.5%. Furthermore, of the 13 patients that survived COVID-19, they received CAR T an average of 416 days prior to COVID-19 infection (median = 337, range = 54 - 1406); the 6 patients who died from COVID-19 had received CAR T an average of 250 days prior to COVID-19 infection (median = 164, range = 7 - 846). All 6 deceased patients did not receive COVID-19 vaccination pre-CAR T. Out of 17 CAR T patients tested for antibody spike titers post COVID-19 vaccination, 76.4% were able to mount an antibody response. More patients with MM had a higher titer response to the vaccine (>250 U/mL) compared to the NHL counterparts (0.80-249 U/mL). All patients that received the vaccine, regardless of antibody response, were alive at the time of this submission. Conclusions:The majority of CAR T recipients with NHL and MM are able to mount an antibody response following COVID-19 vaccination in our relatively small sample. The frequency of seroconversion among CAR T recipients seems to be similar to patients with hematologic malignancy who had received a hematopoietic cell transplant reported elsewhere. These findings are limited by our small sample size and may be influenced by the timing of vaccination relative to CAR T. Furthermore, almost half of our patients received IVIG post CAR T which could potentially cause false positive antibody results as pooled immunoglobulin preparations may contain COVID-19 antibodies from vaccinated healthy donors. To better understand the characteristics of the immunologic response against SARS-CoV-2 in patients post-CAR T, larger multicenter studies exploring both humoral and cellular immunity will be needed. JEWN, MI and JM are co-first authors and PV, HM and AR are co-senior authors. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Munoz: Physicians' Education Resource: Honoraria; Seattle Genetics: Honoraria; Bayer: Research Funding; Gilead/Kite Pharma: Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Portola: Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Millennium: Research Funding; Gilead/Kite Pharma, Kyowa, Bayer, Pharmacyclics/Janssen, Seattle Genetics, Acrotech/Aurobindo, Beigene, Verastem, AstraZeneca, Celgene/BMS, Genentech/Roche.: Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics/Abbvie, Bayer, Gilead/Kite Pharma, Pfizer, Janssen, Juno/Celgene, BMS, Kyowa, Alexion, Beigene, Fosunkite, Innovent, Seattle Genetics, Debiopharm, Karyopharm, Genmab, ADC Therapeutics, Epizyme, Beigene, Servier: Consultancy; Targeted Oncology: Honoraria; OncView: Honoraria; Kyowa: Honoraria. Bergsagel: Oncopeptides: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Patents & Royalties: human CRBN mouse; Pfizer: Consultancy, Honoraria; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Genetech: Consultancy, Honoraria; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria. Wang: Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; LOXO Oncology: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; InnoCare: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; MorphoSys: Research Funding; Eli Lilly: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; TG Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Fonseca: Juno: Consultancy; Kite: Consultancy; Aduro: Consultancy; OncoTracker: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy; Patent: Prognosticaton of myeloma via FISH: Patents & Royalties; Caris Life Sciences: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Scientific Advisory Board: Adaptive Biotechnologies: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Consultancy; Amgen: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Merck: Consultancy; Mayo Clinic in Arizona: Current Employment; Celgene: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Bayer: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy. Palmer: Sierra Oncology: Consultancy, Research Funding; CTI BioPharma: Consultancy, Research Funding; Protagonist: Consultancy, Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; PharmaEssentia: Research Funding. Dingli: Novartis: Research Funding; GSK: Consultancy; Apellis: Consultancy; Alexion: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy. Kapoor: Sanofi: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Cellectar: Consultancy; BeiGene: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy; Sanofi: Consultancy; Amgen: Research Funding; Ichnos Sciences: Research Funding; Regeneron Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; Glaxo SmithKline: Research Funding; Karyopharm: Research Funding. Kumar: Roche-Genentech: Consultancy, Research Funding; Oncopeptides: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BMS: Consultancy, Research Funding; Beigene: Consultancy; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Adaptive: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Astra-Zeneca: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Tenebio: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Carsgen: Research Funding; KITE: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy; Antengene: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Research Funding. Paludo: Karyopharm: Research Funding. Bennani: Kymera: Other: Advisory Board; Vividion: Other: Advisory Board; Kyowa Kirin: Other: Advisory Board; Daichii Sankyo Inc: Other: Advisory Board; Purdue Pharma: Other: Advisory Board; Verastem: Other: Advisory Board. Ansell: Bristol Myers Squibb, ADC Therapeutics, Seattle Genetics, Regeneron, Affimed, AI Therapeutics, Pfizer, Trillium and Takeda: Research Funding. Lin: Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Gamida Cell: Consultancy; Takeda: Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Sorrento: Consultancy; Legend: Consultancy; Vineti: Consultancy. Murthy: CRISPR Therapeutics: Research Funding.

Abstract The autograft absolute lymphocyte count (A-ALC) ≥ 0.5 x 10 9 cells/kg is a survival prognostic factor for lymphoma patients undergoing autologous peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (APBHSCT). However, the A-ALC ≥ 0.5 x 10 9 cells/kg has not been tested as prognostic factor against double hit/triple hit lymphomas (DHL/THL). Thus, we set up to investigate if A-ALC ≥ 0.5 x 10 9 cells/kg is a prognostic factor for overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) for DHL/THL post-APBHSCT. From January 2012 until December 2020, we identified 77 DHL/THL patients treated with APBHSCT. All patients required to have the diagnosis of DHL/THL by FISH for rearrangements of MYC, BCL2, and BCL6. Of the 77 patients, 62 patients were classified as DHL and 15 patients as THL. Of the DHL, 82 % (52/68) had the MYC/BCL2 and 16% (10/62) the MYC/BCL6 rearrangements. Dividing the cohort into two groups (A-ALC ≥ 0.5 x 10 9 cells/kg and A-ALC < 0.5 x 10 9 cells/kg), both groups were balanced in regard to de novo versus transformed histology (p = 0.3), cell of origin (p = 0.6), DHL and THL (p = 0.6), MYC/BCL2; MYC/BCL6; and MYC/BCL2/BCL6 rearrangements (p = 0.6), first line chemotherapy (p = 0.2), salvage chemotherapy (p = 0.5), disease status prior to APBHSCT (CR1, CR, and PR) (p = 0.07), stem cell mobilization (Plerixafor versus not) (p = 0.6), and infusion of CD34 count (p = 0.2). With a median follow-up of 20.4 months (range, 0.4-94.5 months) for the entire cohort and with a median follow-up of 33.5 months (range, 3.5-94.5 months) for the patients that remained alive, DHL/THL patients infused with A-ALC ≥ 0.5 x 10 9 cells/kg experienced superior OS (HR = 0.251, 95%CI 0.117-0.539, P < 0.0004) and PFS (HR = 0.347, 95%CI 0.160-0.753, P < 0.007). The 5-year OS rates for the A-ALC ≥ 0.5 x10 9 cells/kg group was 73% (95% confidence interval [CI], 52%-87%) and for the A-ALC < 0.5 x10 9 cells/kg group was 18% (95% CI, 7%-39%) (Figure 1A). The 5-year PFS rates for the A-ALC ≥ 0.5 x10 9 cells/kg group was 73% (95% CI, 59%-85%) and for the A-ALC < 0.5 x10 9 cells/kg group was 13% (95% CI, 5%-33%) (Figure 1B). Multivariate analysis showed that A-ALC was an independent predictor for OS (HR =0.178, 95%CI 0.052-0.614, p <0.005) and PFS (HR = 0.400, 95%CI 0.189-0.850, p <0.02). Our study showed that A-ALC is a prognostic factor for survival in DHL/THL patients undergoing APBHSCT. Our current practice for all lymphoma patients is not only to collect enough stem cell for hematologic engraftment, but also A-ALC ≥ 0.5 x 10 9 cells/kg to improve clinical outcomes post-APBHSCT. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Ansell: Bristol Myers Squibb, ADC Therapeutics, Seattle Genetics, Regeneron, Affimed, AI Therapeutics, Pfizer, Trillium and Takeda: Research Funding. Paludo: Karyopharm: Research Funding.

Abstract Background: While CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (CAR-T) therapy does not use myeloablative chemotherapy, patients with aggressive lymphoma treated with CAR-T are immunosuppressed from lymphodepletion chemotherapy, and prolonged B cell aplasia and hypogammaglobulinemia from CAR-T. The impact of CAR-T on immunologic protection from vaccine-preventable diseases (and thus the need to revaccinate) has not been formally studied. We report the vaccine titers of patients treated with CAR-T at Mayo Clinic, Rochester. Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of patients who received CAR-T from 9/2018 to 4/2021 for treatment of aggressive lymphoma at Mayo Clinic, Rochester. Data was collected on anti-viral and anti-bacterial titers prior to CAR-T infusion and at month 3 post CAR-T. Clinical assays for vaccine titers were used for patient assessment and threshold for clinical assays was used to define antibody titer as positive or negative. Results: In our cohort of 87 CAR-T patients, 83 (94%) patients were infused with axicabtagene ciloleucel, 4 (5%) patients received brexucabtagene autoleucel and 1 (1%) received tisagenlecleucel. Prior to CAR-T therapy, positive titer rate was highest for tetanus and lowest for Streptococcus pneumoniae (Strep PNA). Similar trends were seen whether patients had autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) within 2 years of CAR-T (i.e. within immunization timeframe post ASCT) or not (Table 1). At 3 months post CAR-T, overall seropositivity rates were similar when compared to pre-CAR-T levels for the prior transplant and no prior transplant group. For patients who had received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) supplement prophylactically (for IVIG<400 mg/dl), seropositivity rate for Strep PNA remained zero (Table 1). Among the 30 patients who received IVIG, variable rate of conversion from negative to positive titers were seen for measles (1/2, 50%), mumps (3/5, 60%), rubella (3/4, 75%), varicella-zoster (VZV, 4/4, 100%), hepatitis A (8/9, 89%) and hepatitis B (10/12, 83%). For patients who did not receive IVIG prophylaxis after CAR-T, seropositivity rate for hepatitis A and B was low. In addition, some of these patients had a loss of seropositivity for Strep PNA (2/5, 40%) and hepatitis A (1/4, 25%). Conclusion: The presence of protective vaccine titers is variable for patients receiving CAR-T therapy, regardless of recent ASCT. The loss of protective titers post CAR-T was low. The need for immunization post CAR-T may remain important regardless of transplant status prior to CAR-T. Prophylactic IVIG does not confer complete immunization protection. Optimal timing for immunization post CAR-T is probably unknown and may need to be considered earlier for patients not on prophylactic IVIG. Further study with longer follow-up is needed to inform the need for immunization and optimal timing post CAR-T. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Bennani: Kymera: Other: Advisory Board; Vividion: Other: Advisory Board; Kyowa Kirin: Other: Advisory Board; Daichii Sankyo Inc: Other: Advisory Board; Purdue Pharma: Other: Advisory Board; Verastem: Other: Advisory Board. Paludo: Karyopharm: Research Funding. Wang: LOXO Oncology: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; MorphoSys: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Eli Lilly: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; InnoCare: Research Funding. Ansell: Bristol Myers Squibb, ADC Therapeutics, Seattle Genetics, Regeneron, Affimed, AI Therapeutics, Pfizer, Trillium and Takeda: Research Funding. Lin: Sorrento: Consultancy; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Vineti: Consultancy; Juno: Consultancy; Legend: Consultancy; Gamida Cell: Consultancy; Merck: Research Funding; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding.

Abstract Introduction Chimeric antigen receptor T cell (CAR-T) expansion has been consistently identified as a predictor of clinical response. However, there are no clinically available test to measure CAR-T presence after infusion for the FDA approved CAR-T therapy. We hypothesize that the lymphocyte expansion which can be readily measured as absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) in blood count differential could be a clinically accessible surrogate for CAR-T expansion in patients who receive FDA approved CD19 CAR-T to treat aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). We examined the ALC levels in the first 2 weeks after CAR-T infusion and correlation with clinical outcomes in NHL patients who received CAR-T at our institution. Methods Records were reviewed for patients who received CAR-T between 6/2016 and 1/2021 at Mayo Clinic, Rochester. CAR+ T cells were identified by flow cytometry using an anti-FMC63 antibody. Receiver operator curve was generated using nominal logistic regression to predict complete response (CR) as best response. Progression-free survival and overall survival were calculated using Kaplan-Meier method and between-group differences were assessed using log-rank test. Continuous variables were compared using wilcoxon text and categorical variables were compared using chi-square test. Results Among the 87 patients who received CAR-T for NHL, majority of the pts received axicabtagene ciloleucel (86, 99%). The highest ALC level (ALC peak) in the first 15 days were identified for all patients and median ALC peak was 0.44 X10 9/L (range, 0 - 2.55x10 9/L). The median time to ALC peak was 10 ±3 days. Increasing ALC peak levels correlated with increased CAR+ T cells in blood measured by flow cytometry (n=16, R=0.63, p=0.0008). Using ROC analysis, an ALC peak level of 0.67 was identified as the cut point for best association with CR (AUC=0.68, p=0.0004). Baseline demographics were similar between the high ALC peak (N=35) and low ALC peak (N=52) groups, as shown in Table 1. There was no difference in the incidence, high grade, or duration of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) between the two groups (Table 2). Patients who received a higher cumulative dose of steroid for management of CRS and ICANS had lower ALC peak. A higher ALC peak was associated with an increased CR rate and durable CR at month 6. Similarly, a higher ALC peak was associated with increased progression-free survival (PFS, 6.4 months vs. 2.7 months, p=0.004) and overall survival (OS, 31 months vs. 12 months, p=0.04), as shown in figure 1. Conclusion Given the typical CAR-T expansion seen in the first 2 weeks post infusion, ALC peak in the first 15 days is a clinically accessible, reliable surrogate for CAR-T expansion and predicts durable CR and longer PFS, OS. This study was supported in part by the Mayo Clinic Center for Individualized Medicine, Bernard E. and Edith B. Waterman, Henry J. Predolin Foundation and other generous benefactors of Mayo Clinic. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Bennani: Verastem: Other: Advisory Board; Purdue Pharma: Other: Advisory Board; Daichii Sankyo Inc: Other: Advisory Board; Kyowa Kirin: Other: Advisory Board; Vividion: Other: Advisory Board; Kymera: Other: Advisory Board. Paludo: Karyopharm: Research Funding. Wang: Genentech: Research Funding; Eli Lilly: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; LOXO Oncology: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; MorphoSys: Research Funding; InnoCare: Research Funding; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Ansell: Bristol Myers Squibb, ADC Therapeutics, Seattle Genetics, Regeneron, Affimed, AI Therapeutics, Pfizer, Trillium and Takeda: Research Funding. Lin: Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Legend: Consultancy; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Vineti: Consultancy; Gamida Cell: Consultancy; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; Takeda: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Sorrento: Consultancy; Juno: Consultancy.

Abstract Background: Polatuzumab vedotin (Pola), an antibody drug conjugate targeting CD79b received FDA approval in combination with bendamustine and rituximab (Pola-BR) in June 2019. With CAR-T as destination therapy, the option of Pola-BR appears appealing with its superior efficacy and lack of potential interference with CAR-T due to different target antigens. However, clinical concerns remain regarding prolonged lymphopenia associated with benda and CAR-T manufacturing if used before apheresis. We reviewed the single center experience of all patients with exposure to polatuzumab around CAR-T for R/R aggressive NHL treated at Mayo Clinic Rochester. Methods: A review of patients that received at least one dose of Pola with the intent to proceed to CAR-T between July 1, 2019 and March 31st, 2021 at Mayo Clinic, Rochester were included. Response to therapy was based on 2014 Lugano criteria. Overall survival (OS) was defined as the time from CAR-T infusion to death, and event-free survival (EFS) as the time from CAR-T infusion to disease progression, next treatment, or death. Survival curves were calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimates, and were compared between subgroups using the log-rank test. Cox regression was used for multivariate analysis (MVA). Results: A total of 22 patients were identified during the study period. Of these 18 (82%), made it to CAR-T infusion (17 axi-cel, and 1 -tisa cel). 3 patients died due to progressive disease (PD) before CAR-T and one achieved complete remission (CR). In the pre-CAR-T Pola cohort (n = 22), the median age was 65.5 years (39-73), 50% were males, 96% had advanced stage and IPI ≥ 3. Median prior lines of treatment were 4.5 (2-6), 73% had primary refractory disease and 50% had myc rearrangement. 19 (86%) patients received Pola as bridging therapy and 8 were exposed to Pola before T-cell apheresis. Bendamustine was included in the treatment for 79% (15/19) for bridging therapy and 63% (5/8) with exposure pre-apheresis. For those in the bridging group, the overall response rate (ORR) was 26% (5/19), with one patient achieving CR with Pola-BR. Disease control (defined as those in a partial response [PR] or stable disease [SD]) was seen in 47% (9/19) patients. One of the 8 patients with pre-apheresis exposure to Pola, required an additional attempt at CAR-T manufacturing after the initial failure. At a median follow up of 48 weeks, the EFS and OS in 18 patient cohort with pre-CAR-T Pola exposure were 6.7 weeks (95% CI, 4.3-not reached [NR]) and 15 weeks (95% CI, 9.7-NR), respectively. At the data cut off (7/25/2021), 78% patients had died. As traditional chemo for bridging is a particularly poor prognostic group, we compared Pola-BR bridging group (n = 15), to other traditional chemo bridge group (n = 16) in our CAR-T database. Both groups had comparable baseline characteristics as shown in Table 1 except for higher proportion of patients with B-symptoms in the Pola-BR group at time of CAR-T. There was also no difference in the inflammatory markers (CRP and ferritin) at LD or peak level after CAR-T. Table 2 shows outcomes between the 2 groups with comparable any grade CRS, neurotoxicity, pre and post CAR-T infection rates. Best response ORR to CAR-T was higher in the other chemo group vs. Pola BR (81.2% vs. 33%, p = 0.027). There was a significant difference in the 6-month OS rate (other 81.3% [95%CI, 54.5-96] vs. pola 33.3% [95%CI, 11.8- 61.6], p = 0.007) but no significant difference in the 6-month EFS rate (other 37.5% [95%CI, 15.2-64.6%] vs. pola 13.3% [95%CI, 1.7-40.5%] p = 0.12) between the 2 groups (figure 1). On univariate analysis within the chemo type bridging cohort (Pola-BR + other traditional chemo, n = 31), presence of B-symptoms (HR 4.72, p = 0.002), ECOG PS > 2 at CAR-T (HR 6.75, p = 0.0008), and type of bridge therapy (pola HR 6.57, p = 0.009) were associated with worse OS whereas a response to bridge (PR+SD, HR 0.39, 0.031) was favorable. On MVA, association was maintained for bridge type (pola, p <0.001) and response to bridge (p <0.001). Discussion: Pola based bridge was feasible in this US based cohort without significant issues with CAR-T manufacturing or increased infection rates. However, in this retrospective analysis, use of Pola-BR was associated with inferior outcomes compared to other traditional chemotherapy options. Future studies are required to elucidate whether these difference in outcomes stem from a biological basis versus bias in patient selection. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Wang: TG Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MorphoSys: Research Funding; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Eli Lilly: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; LOXO Oncology: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; InnoCare: Research Funding. Paludo: Karyopharm: Research Funding. Bennani: Kymera: Other: Advisory Board; Vividion: Other: Advisory Board; Kyowa Kirin: Other: Advisory Board; Daichii Sankyo Inc: Other: Advisory Board; Purdue Pharma: Other: Advisory Board; Verastem: Other: Advisory Board. Ansell: Bristol Myers Squibb, ADC Therapeutics, Seattle Genetics, Regeneron, Affimed, AI Therapeutics, Pfizer, Trillium and Takeda: Research Funding. Lin: Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy; Vineti: Consultancy; Takeda: Research Funding; Gamida Cell: Consultancy; Legend: Consultancy; Sorrento: Consultancy.

Abstract Background: Bridging therapy (BT) was not allowed in the ZUMA-1 pivotal trial for axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T) . Since then, several real-world studies have shown the use of bridging therapy to be associated with worse overall survival, duration of response, and complete remission rates. In addition, patients requiring BT during CAR-T manufacturing have a more aggressive and higher tumor burden of disease, also factors associated with poor outcomes. Therefore, factors that can predict outcomes in this high-risk patient cohort are required. We herein examine the impact of response to BT on CAR-T outcomes in large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). Methods: A retrospective review of patients who received axi-cel for NHL from June 2016 - July 2020 at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, was performed. BT was defined as any lymphoma-directed therapy given between leukapheresis and CAR-T infusion. Patients received BT if there were concerns for symptomatic progression of disease during CAR-T manufacturing, reducing the likelihood of eligibility to receive CAR-T. The decision and choice of BT were at the discretion of the treating physician. Response to all lymphoma-directed therapy was evaluated using the 2014 Lugano criteria. Response to BT included patients with a partial response (PR) or stable disease (SD) on PET-CT before initiating lymphodepletion chemotherapy. Event-free survival (EFS) was defined as the time from axi-cel infusion to progression, next treatment, or death. Overall survival (OS) was defined as the time from axi-cel infusion to death. Survival curves were calculated using Kaplan-Meier estimates and were compared between subgroups using the log-rank test. Cox regression was used for univariate and multivariate analysis (MVA). Results: A total of 73 patients underwent car T therapy during this period. Of these, 67% (49/73) received BT therapy. Table 1 shows baseline characteristics of the total BT cohort (n = 49). The median age at CAR-T infusion was 59 years (IQR 46-64); 57% were males and comprised of 47% (23/49) DLBCL followed by 31% (15/49) high-grade B-cell lymphoma types. Based on the Lugano criteria on PET-CT, 22/49 (45%) patients responded to BT. The baseline characteristics were comparable between the responders and non-responders to BT except for a higher proportion (73%) of patients receiving systemic chemotherapy as BT in the responders (Table 1). At a median follow-up of 24 months, 75% had either progressed, died, or started the next treatment (event), and 59% (29/49) had died. The median EFS was significantly longer in the responders as compared to the non-responders to BT, figure 1 (13.04 months (95%CI, 3.54-not reached [NR]) vs. 2.56 months (95%CI, 1.18-3.02), p = 0.002). The OS also trended in favor of the responders (median OS 18.4 months (95% CI, 13.44-NR) vs. 11.84 months (95% CI, 5.05-NR), p = 0.092). The responder group also had a higher 6-month CR rate of 50% than 11.1% in the non-responder group (p = 0.004). There were no differences in any grade or grade ≥ 3 cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity rates in the two groups. On univariate analysis within the bridging group (n = 49), type of bridge (non-chemo) and response to bridge (PR+SD) were associated with a better EFS. In the MVA, only response to BT maintained significance for EFS (HR 0.34, p = 0.025). Conclusions: Having some control of lymphoma after BT was associated with better EFS and 6-month CR rate. Future studies need to prospectively evaluate the type and response to BT as a prognostic factor for improving outcomes in patients receiving CAR-T. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Wang: InnoCare: Research Funding; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; LOXO Oncology: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; MorphoSys: Research Funding; Eli Lilly: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; TG Therapeutics: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Paludo: Karyopharm: Research Funding. Bennani: Kymera: Other: Advisory Board; Vividion: Other: Advisory Board; Kyowa Kirin: Other: Advisory Board; Daichii Sankyo Inc: Other: Advisory Board; Purdue Pharma: Other: Advisory Board; Verastem: Other: Advisory Board. Ansell: Bristol Myers Squibb, ADC Therapeutics, Seattle Genetics, Regeneron, Affimed, AI Therapeutics, Pfizer, Trillium and Takeda: Research Funding. Lin: Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy, Research Funding; Juno: Consultancy; Legend: Consultancy; Sorrento: Consultancy; Gamida Cell: Consultancy; Vineti: Consultancy; Merck: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding.