Targeted Treatment of Adults with Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL): Tafasitamab in Context

Abstract

The outcomes of Relapsed/Refractory (R/R) Diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma have been historically poor. The recent development of several novel therapies including CD19 directed agents has improved the prognosis of this disease significantly. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has drastically changed the treatment of R/R DLBCL, but it is still associated with significant barriers and limited access. Tafasitamab (an anti-CD19 engineered monoclonal antibody), in addition to lenalidomide, has shown significant efficacy with exceptionally durable responses in patients with R/R DLBCL who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Tafasitamab-lenalidomide and certain other therapies (ie, antibody-drug conjugates and bispecific antibodies) are important treatment options for patients who are ineligible for CAR-T due to co-morbidities or lack of access, and patients with rapid progression of disease who are unable to wait for manufacturing of CAR-T. This review will thus discuss currently approved and recently studied targeted treatment options for patients with R/R DLBCL with an emphasis on CAR-T alternative options, particularly Tafasitamab-lenalidomide.

Keywords:

• DLBCL
• tafasitamab
• lenalidomide

Disclosure

Dr Haifaa Abdulhaq reports grants, personal fees from Morphosys, personal fees from Novartis, personal fees from BMS, grants from Genentech, personal fees from Amgen, personal fees from AbbVie, outside the submitted work. The authors report no other conflicts of interest in this work.