Primary refractory or relapse within 12 months
CD19 CAR-T (axi-cel or liso-cel) preferred over salvage chemotherapy and transplant (ZUMA-7, TRANSFORM); bridging therapy while manufacturing; bispecific ± chemotherapy if CAR-T unavailable.
A CD19 CAR-T that cures about 40% of patients with large B-cell lymphoma who had failed everything, and beat transplant in second line.
A patient's T cells are removed, given a synthetic receptor that recognises the cancer, multiplied, and put back as a living drug.
- Single infusion, durable remissions
- MHC-independent recognition
- Large B-cell lymphoma refractory or relapsed within 12 months of frontline therapy: axi-cel vs salvage chemotherapy + autologous transplant
Show survival figures (1)
Averages across everyone diagnosed, often years ago. A median is the middle of a group: half the people counted lived longer than the figure shown, and some lived far longer. Your stage, subtype, age, fitness and the treatment you receive matter more than the average, and the numbers are improving quickly.
- EFS HR 0.40; OS HR 0.73; 4-year OS 54.6% vs 46.0%.
Event-free survival (median) (months): Axi-cel 8.3 (n=180) vs Standard care 2 (n=179) · HR 0.4 · source - Tests CAR-T cell therapyPrimary refractory or early-relapsed LBCL, transplant-eligible: liso-cel vs salvage + autologous transplant
EFS HR 0.36; CR 74% vs 43%.
Event-free survival (median) (months): Liso-cel 29.5 (n=92) vs Standard care 2.4 (n=92) · HR 0.36 · source
- Manufacturing time and cost (~$400k+)
- CRS, ICANS, cytopenias
- Solid-tumour antigen heterogeneity, trafficking, exhaustion
- Between Axicabtagene ciloleucel and CAR-T cell therapy, which do you recommend for me, and what about my case would make you choose differently?Why: Guidelines list several reasonable options; the choice turns on details of your tumour, your health and your priorities.
- What is each option trying to achieve: cure, long control, or relief of symptoms, and over what time?Why: The aim shapes how much side effect and disruption is worth accepting.
- How closely do I match the people in ZUMA-7 and TRANSFORM, and does that change what the results mean for me?Why: Trial populations are selected; age, fitness, prior treatment and biomarkers all affect how far results carry.
- What happens if I delay, or decline this step for now? Is the decision reversible?Why: Some decisions can wait for a second opinion or a trial slot; others cannot. Knowing which is part of the choice.
- Does your recommendation follow the current guideline (NCCN 2026), and if it departs from it, why?Why: Departures from guidelines are sometimes right for an individual; they should be explained.
- For my situation (primary refractory or relapse within 12 months), which of the standard options do you recommend and why?Why: Guideline options include: CD19 CAR-T (axi-cel or liso-cel) preferred over salvage chemotherapy and transplant (ZUMA-7, TRANSFORM); bridging therapy while manufacturing; bispecific ± chemotherapy if CAR-T unavailable.
- Am I a candidate for Axicabtagene ciloleucel, and what side effects should I expect?Why: Knowing the expected toxicities helps you plan work, family, and supportive care.
- How do the results of ZUMA-7 and TRANSFORM apply to someone like me?Why: Trial populations differ from individual patients; ask how closely you match.
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