Outcomes of CD19 CAR-T therapy in central nervous system lymphoma: Insights from a multicentre experience

  • Giulio Cassanello
  • , Efrat Luttwak
  • , Samantha Brown
  • , Sean M. Devlin
  • , Brandon Imber
  • , Andrew Ip
  • , Lori A. Leslie
  • , Noa Golan Accav
  • , Abraham Avigdor
  • , Ronit Marcus
  • , Ofrat Beyar-Katz
  • , Magdalena Corona
  • , Alejandro Luna De Abia
  • , Jacopo Calabrese De Feo
  • , Alfredo Rivas Delgado
  • , Jennifer K. Lue
  • , Christian Grommes
  • , Gunjan L. Shah
  • , Jae Park
  • , Miguel Angel Perales
  • Gilles Salles, Roni Shouval, Michael Scordo, M. Lia Palomba

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has reshaped the treatment paradigm for relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, its role in central nervous system lymphoma (CNSL) remains uncertain. We conducted a multicentre, retrospective study on 54 adult R/R CNSL patients treated at four international institutions with commercial (axi-cel, tisa-cel, liso-cel) or a point of care (POC) CD19-CAR T-cell products. At day 100 post CAR-T infusion, 65% of patients attained a complete response as their best response in both systemic and central nervous system compartments. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.5 months, with a 1-year PFS of 35%. The median overall survival (OS) was 19 months, with a 1-year OS of 63%. In multivariable analyses, CAR-T product was significantly associated with PFS (p = 0.009) and OS (p = 0.013), with patients receiving tisa-cel exhibiting poorer outcomes than axi-cel and patients receiving liso-cel or POC CAR-T product demonstrating better outcomes than axi-cel. Toxicity profiles were consistent with pivotal trials in R/R DLBCL. Grade ≥3 cytokine release syndrome occurred in 11% of patients, while grade ≥3 immune-effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome was observed in 28%. Our study supports the feasibility and safety of anti-CD19 CAR-T therapy in CNSL. The specific CAR-T product infused emerged as a factor influencing outcomes.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)525-534
Number of pages10
JournalBritish Journal of Haematology
Volume207
Issue number2
Early online date1 Jul 2025
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2025
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2025 British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Keywords

  • cellular therapies
  • haematological oncology
  • immunotherapy
  • lymphoma

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