Outcomes of relapsed/refractory diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma and influence of chimaeric antigen receptor T trial eligibility criteria in second line—A population‐based study of 736 patients

Several recently published trials investigate novel therapies for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL). To estimate the benefit of these therapies in the real‐world setting, comprehensive data on patients treated in clinical routine are needed. We report outcomes for 736 R/R DLBCL patients identified among all curatively treated DLBCL patients in Sweden in the period 2007–2014. Survival and associations with disease characteristics, second‐line treatment and fulfilment of chimaeric antigen receptor (CAR) T‐cell trial criteria were assessed. Median overall survival (OS) was 6.6 months (≤70 years 9.6 months, >70 years 4.9 months). Early relapse (≤12 months) was strongly associated with selection of less intensive treatment and poor survival. Among patients of at most 70 years of age, 63% started intensive second‐line treatment and 34% received autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Two‐year OS among transplanted patients was 56% (early relapse ≤12 months 40%, late relapse >12 months 66%). A minority of patients 76 years (n = 178/506, 35%) fitted CAR T trial criteria. Median progression‐free survival (PFS) for patients with early relapse fitting trial criteria was 4.8 months. In conclusion, most R/R DLBCL manifest early and are often ineligible for or cannot complete intensive regimens resulting in dismal survival. Real‐world patients eligible for CAR T trials also did poorly, providing a benchmark for efficacy of novel therapies.