Frontiers in Immunology (May 2023)

Prognostic value of prelymphodepletion absolute lymphocyte counts in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients treated with chimeric antigen receptor T cells

  • Yanyan Lu,
  • Yanyan Lu,
  • Yanyan Lu,
  • Hong Zhu,
  • Hong Zhu,
  • Hong Zhu,
  • Yang Liu,
  • Yang Liu,
  • Yang Liu,
  • Ying Wang,
  • Ying Wang,
  • Ying Wang,
  • Yinxiang Sun,
  • Yinxiang Sun,
  • Yinxiang Sun,
  • Hai Cheng,
  • Hai Cheng,
  • Hai Cheng,
  • Zhiling Yan,
  • Zhiling Yan,
  • Zhiling Yan,
  • Jiang Cao,
  • Jiang Cao,
  • Jiang Cao,
  • Wei Sang,
  • Wei Sang,
  • Wei Sang,
  • Feng Zhu,
  • Feng Zhu,
  • Feng Zhu,
  • Depeng Li,
  • Depeng Li,
  • Depeng Li,
  • Haiying Sun,
  • Haiying Sun,
  • Haiying Sun,
  • Junnian Zheng,
  • Junnian Zheng,
  • Junnian Zheng,
  • Kailin Xu,
  • Kailin Xu,
  • Kailin Xu,
  • Zhenyu Li,
  • Zhenyu Li,
  • Zhenyu Li

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3389/fimmu.2023.1155216
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 14

Abstract

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IntroductionChimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy has achieved unprecedented efficacy recently. However, the factors related to responses and durable remission are elusive. This study was to investigate the impact of pre-lymphodepletion (pre-LD) absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) on CAR T cell therapy outcomes.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective study of 84 patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL) who underwent CAR T cell treatment at the Affiliated Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University between March 1,2016 and December 31, 2021. The enrolled patients were divided into high group and low group according to the optimal cutoff value of pre-LD ALC. The Kaplan-Meier analyses was used to calculate survival curves. The Cox proportional hazards model was used for univariate and multivariate analysis to assess the prognostic factors.ResultsThe ROC showed that the optimal cutoff value of pre-LD ALC was 1.05 x 109/L. The overall response (defined as partial response or complete response) rate was significantly higher in patients with a high pre-LD ALC (75% versus 52.08%; P=0.032). Patients with a low pre-LD ALC had significantly inferior overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) compared with those having a high pre-LD ALC (median OS, 9.6 months versus 45.17 months [P=0.008]; median PFS, 4.07 months versus 45.17 months [P= 0.030]). Meanwhile, low pre-LD ALC is an independent risk factor for PFS and OS.DiscussionThe data suggested that pre-LD ALC may serve as a helpful indicator to predict the outcomes of CAR T cell therapy in patients with R/R DLBCL.

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