Citations

Summary The prognosis of relapsed/refractory (R/R) anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) is poor. Large studies evaluating outcomes of allogeneic haematopoietic cell transplantation (allo‐HCT) in systemic R/R ALCL are not available. Using the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) database, we evaluated outcomes of 182 adults (aged ≥18 years) with R/R ALCL undergoing allo‐HCT between 2008 and 2019. Non‐relapse mortality (NRM), disease relapse/progression (REL), progression‐free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were modelled using Cox proportional hazards models. The median (range) follow‐up of survivors was 62 (3–148) months. The 1‐year NRM was 18%. The 5‐year REL, PFS and OS were 32%, 41% and 56% respectively. On multivariable regression analysis African American race (hazard ratio [HR] 2.7, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6–4.8; p < 0.001) and refractory disease at allo‐HCT (HR 3.2, 95% CI 1.6–6.2; p < 0.001) were predictive of inferior OS. Similarly, African‐American race (HR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3–3.4; p = 0.003), other minority race (HR 2.5, 95% CI 1.2–5.3; p = 0.02) and refractory disease (HR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2–4.3; p = 0.01) were predictive of inferior PFS. These data, demonstrate that allo‐HCT can result in durable disease control in a sizable proportion of patients with R/R ALCL. Refractory disease and racial minority status predicted inferior allo‐HCT outcomes. Whether the inferior outcomes of racial minorities with R/R ALCL after allo‐HCT are driven by differences in disease biology or disparities in post allo‐HCT care, or both, requires further investigation.

Abstract The relative efficacy of autologous hematopoietic cell transplant (auto-HCT) vs chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who achieve a partial remission (PR) after salvage chemotherapy is not known. Using the Center for International Blood & Marrow Transplant Research registry database, we identified adult patients with DLBCL who received either an auto-HCT (2013-2019) or CAR-T treatment with axicabtagene ciloleucel (2018-2019) while in a PR by computed tomography or positron emission tomography scan. We compared the clinical outcomes between the 2 cohorts using univariable and multivariable regression models after adjustment for relevant baseline and clinical factors. In the univariable analysis, the 2-year progression-free survival (52% vs 42%; P = .1) and the rate of 100-day nonrelapse mortality (4% vs 2%; P = .3) were not different between the 2 cohorts, but consolidation with auto-HCT was associated with a lower rate of relapse/progression (40% vs 53%; P = .05) and a superior overall survival (OS) (69% vs 47%; P = .004) at 2 years. In the multivariable regression analysis, treatment with auto-HCT was associated with a significantly lower risk of relapse/progression rate (hazard ratio = 1.49; P = .01) and a superior OS (hazard ratio = 1.63; P = .008). In patients with DLBCL in a PR after salvage therapy, treatment with auto-HCT was associated with a lower incidence of relapse and a superior OS compared with CAR-T. These data support the role of auto-HCT as the standard of care in transplant-eligible patients with relapsed DLBCL in PR after salvage therapy.