Bristol Myers Squibb's lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel), a CAR T-cell therapy, has demonstrated a statistically significant and clinically meaningful overall response rate (ORR) in a Phase 2 trial cohort of patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). The data, presented at the 2025 Tandem Meetings, signal a potential new treatment avenue for this difficult-to-treat patient population.
The study evaluated the efficacy and safety of liso-cel in patients with R/R MZL who had failed prior lines of therapy. Marginal zone lymphoma is a slow-growing B-cell lymphoma, and while initial treatment can be effective, many patients relapse, necessitating further interventions. The trial's primary endpoint was ORR, a measure of the proportion of patients achieving a complete or partial response to the therapy.
Liso-cel works by genetically modifying a patient's own T cells to target the CD19 protein found on lymphoma cells. These modified T cells, now equipped to recognize and destroy cancer cells, are infused back into the patient. This approach has shown promise in other B-cell lymphomas, leading to its investigation in MZL.
The results indicated a notable ORR, suggesting that liso-cel could offer a valuable option for patients with R/R MZL who have limited treatment alternatives. Further details from the trial, including the duration of response and safety profile, are anticipated to provide a more complete picture of liso-cel's potential in this setting. The full data set will be submitted for presentation at an upcoming medical meeting and will be discussed with regulatory agencies.
The development of CAR T-cell therapies like liso-cel represents a significant advancement in the treatment of hematological malignancies, offering the potential for durable remissions in patients who have exhausted other treatment options. The results of this Phase 2 trial support further investigation of liso-cel in MZL and other B-cell lymphomas.
