Dr. Dean on Remaining Challenges in DLBCL

Robert M. Dean, MD, assistant professor, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, member, Hematopoietic and Immune Cancer Biology Program, Case Comprehensive Cancer Center, physician, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Taussig Cancer Institute, Cleveland Clinic, discusses remaining challenges in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

The recent approvals of polatuzumab vedotin-piiq (Polivy), selinexor (Xpovio), and the combination of tafasitamab-cxix (Monjuvi) and lenalidomide (Revlimid) have left the question of optimal sequencing unanswered for patients with DLBCL, Dean explains. Additionally, the generalizability of the results of the phase 2 trials that led to the approvals remains largely unknown, Dean says.

Patients who have relapsed after an autologous stem cell transplant and CAR T-cell therapy and who are still eligible for additional therapy may be candidates for these newer regimens, Dean explains. However, treatment selection depends on the goals of the patient and the toxicity profiles of the agents.

Generating additional data to inform treatment selection beyond patient assessment may alleviate sequencing challenges in DLBCL, concludes Dean.