Dr. Till on the Potential to Utilize CAR T-Cell Therapy Earlier in MCL

Brian Till, MD, physician, Seattle Cancer Care Alliance, associate professor, Division of Medical Oncology, University of Washington School of Medicine, associate professor, Clinical Research Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, discusses the potential to utilize CAR T-cell therapy earlier in the treatment of patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

For some, the toxicities associated with CAR T-cell therapy may limit its utility for patients with MCL, says Till. Moreover, those who are uncomfortable with CAR T-cell therapy may prefer to reserve the therapy for third- or later-line use, Till explains.

However, the emergence of improved management strategies for cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity, as well as less toxic CAR T-cell products, could offer a greater level of comfort to utilize CAR T-cell therapy in the second-line setting for patients with MCL, particularly if mature data suggest the responses are durable, Till concludes.