Dr. Epperla on the Efficacy of Brexucabtagene Autoleucel in MCL

Narendranath Epperla, MD, MS, a hematologist specializing in the treatment of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphomas at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center—James, discusses the efficacy of brexucabtagene autoleucel (formerly KTE-X19; Tecartus) in patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

Brexucabtagene autoleucel, a CD19 directed CAR T-cell therapy, has yielded excellent response rates in patients with MCL who progressed on prior chemoimmunotherapy and BTK inhibitors, according to Epperla.

Prior to the availability of brexucabtagene autoleucel, patients who progressed on BTK inhibitors had dismal outcomes, Epperla explains. When the results from the pivotal ZUMA 2 were presented, it was pleasing to see that these patients (those who progressed on BTK inhibitors) now have another treatment strategy that could improve their outcomes, Epperla concludes.