Impact of spleen volume and volume change in non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated with chimeric antigen receptor t-cell therapy

Quell, Christina; Kunz, Wolfgang G.; Blumenberg, Viktoria; Rejeski, Kai; Bücklein, Veit L.; Ingenerf, Maria; Schmidt, Christian; Sheikh, Gabriel T.; Brendel, Matthias; Ricke, Jens; von Bergwelt-Baildon, Michael; Subklewe, Marion; Winkelmann, Michael (2026): Impact of spleen volume and volume change in non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated with chimeric antigen receptor t-cell therapy. Cancer Treatment and Research Communications, 46: 101080. ISSN 2468-2942

Abstract

Purpose

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CART) therapy targeting CD19 is effective for relapsed/refractory (r/r) lymphoma. As part of the lymphatic system, the spleen might influence CART outcomes. We examined how spleen volume (SV) and its changes affect progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS).

Methods

Patients with baseline (BL) and 30-day follow-up (FU1) (PET)/CT scans were included. Spleens were 3D-segmented, and volume change (SVC) from BL to FU1 was calculated. Treatment response, overall response rate, and PFS were evaluated by Lugano criteria.

Results

Among 68 patients, responders had a significantly greater SVC decrease from BL to FU1 than non-responders (p = 0.001). Those with baseline splenic involvement (SIBL) showed a smaller, non-significant SVCBL to FU1 decrease (p = 0.056). Survival analysis showed significant differences in OS (167 vs. 390 days, p = 0.040) and PFS (79 vs. 327 days, p = 0.008) based on median SVCBL to FU1. In combination with SIBL, SVC was significantly associated with PFS (p = 0.049), but not OS.

Conclusion

This study demonstrated that the early change in SV is associated with PFS and OS, regardless of splenic involvement and should be explored as a potential novel dynamic biomarker in the context of lymphoma patients receiving CART.

• Dokumententyp: Artikel (Klinikum der LMU)
• Organisationseinheit (Fakultäten): 07 Medizin > Klinikum der LMU München > Klinik und Poliklinik für Radiologie
• DFG-Fachsystematik der Wissenschaftsbereiche: Lebenswissenschaften
• DFG: Gefördert durch die Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - 491502892