Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy in T Cell/Histiocyte-Rich Large B-Cell Lymphoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
In brief
CAR T-cell therapy achieves complete remission in 30% of relapsed lymphoma patients
In a review of seven studies involving 157 people with relapsed or treatment-resistant T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma, CAR T-cell therapy produced complete remission in about 3 in 10; about half had any response. Median progression-free survival was 3.4 months, and serious immune side effects occurred. Responses lasted for a subset, but how to improve their durability remains unclear.
- Journal
- European journal of haematology (Q1)
- Published
- 16 October 2026
- Study design
- Systematic review of cohort studies
- Evidence level
- Level 2, Moderate (CEBM 2a)
- Authors
- Stefan Koeck, Michael Leisch, Bernd Schöpf, Josia Fauser, Normann Steiner, Nina Worel, et al.
- PMID
- 42885507
- DOI
- 10.1111/ejh.70340
Why clinicians should know about it
- Picked for Hematology (paper of the day, 17 October 2026): CAR‑T therapy outcomes in THRLBCL patients
Abstract
T-cell/histiocyte-rich large B-cell lymphoma (THRLBCL) is a rare subtype of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma with an aggressive clinical course and poor prognosis in the case of relapsed or refractory (r/r) disease. Recently, anti-CD19 chimeric antigen-receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has been approved for the treatment of large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL), but subgroup-specific outcomes in these patients have never been reported. Therefore, only limited retrospective data on the safety and efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy in r/r THRLBCL is available. To comprehensively evaluate outcomes of CAR T-cell recipients with r/r THRLBCL, we performed a systematic literature review (SLR) and meta-analysis (MA). The SLR identified seven studies including 157 patients with r/r THRLBCL. Pooled overall response rates and complete remission rates were 48.3% and 30.4%, respectively. Median progression-free survival was 3.4 months, with a 12-month rate of 29.1% and median overall survival was 15.0 months, with a 12-month rate of 57.4%. Low- and high-grade cytokine release syndrome occurred in 68.3% and 4.5% of patients while low- and high-grade immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome was seen in 23.1% and 12.9% of the patients. Overall, no unexpected safety signals were identified in r/r THRLBCL patients receiving CAR T-cell therapy but durable responses were only achieved in a subset of patients.
Abstract as published, via PubMed.
For healthcare professionals. The summary is generated by AI from the published abstract, and the evidence level is assigned automatically from the study design on the Oxford CEBM hierarchy. Neither is medical advice. Read the full paper before changing practice.