# Sequencing Cellular Therapies in the Management of Follicular Lymphoma

**Authors:** Ádám Jóna, Árpád Illés

PMC · DOI: 10.3390/cells14211671 · Cells · 2025-10-25

## TL;DR

This paper reviews the best ways to sequence advanced cell-based treatments for a type of lymphoma that doesn't respond well to standard therapies.

## Contribution

The paper provides a comprehensive review of optimal therapy sequencing and highlights the emerging role of bispecific antibodies in follicular lymphoma.

## Key findings

- CAR T-cell therapy achieves high response rates and durable remissions in relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma.
- Bispecific antibodies offer convenient off-the-shelf treatment options with strong efficacy and safety profiles.
- Allogeneic stem cell transplantation is a potential cure but is reserved for high-risk cases due to its significant risks.

## Abstract

What are the main findings?
This article thoroughly reviews the current landscape and optimal sequencing of advanced cellular therapies, including autologous stem cell transplantation, allogeneic stem cell transplantation, and CAR T-cell therapy, for managing relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma.It highlights the significant efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy in achieving high response rates and durable remissions, potentially serving as a bridge between transplant modalities, and discusses the role of newer bispecific antibodies as convenient off-the-shelf options.

This article thoroughly reviews the current landscape and optimal sequencing of advanced cellular therapies, including autologous stem cell transplantation, allogeneic stem cell transplantation, and CAR T-cell therapy, for managing relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma.

It highlights the significant efficacy of CAR T-cell therapy in achieving high response rates and durable remissions, potentially serving as a bridge between transplant modalities, and discusses the role of newer bispecific antibodies as convenient off-the-shelf options.

What is the implication of the main finding?
3.The evolving treatment paradigm for follicular lymphoma necessitates highly individualized decisions that consider patient characteristics, disease features, and the complex interplay of various cellular and novel immunotherapies.4.Further research into predictive biomarkers, refined treatment algorithms, and the impact of sequential therapies (e.g., bispecific antibodies before CAR-T) is crucial to optimizing patient outcomes and integrating these powerful new options effectively into clinical practice.

The evolving treatment paradigm for follicular lymphoma necessitates highly individualized decisions that consider patient characteristics, disease features, and the complex interplay of various cellular and novel immunotherapies.

Further research into predictive biomarkers, refined treatment algorithms, and the impact of sequential therapies (e.g., bispecific antibodies before CAR-T) is crucial to optimizing patient outcomes and integrating these powerful new options effectively into clinical practice.

Follicular lymphoma management is rapidly evolving with advanced cellular therapies. This review examines the optimal sequencing of autologous stem cell transplantation (autoSCT), allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT), and CAR T-cell therapy. AutoSCT is a crucial intervention for chemosensitive relapsed FL, prolonging progression-free survival, though not typically curative. AlloSCT, offering a potential cure via a graft-versus-lymphoma effect, carries significant risks like graft-versus-host disease and non-relapse mortality, thus primarily serving as a salvage option for high-risk or treatment-refractory cases after other modalities, including autoSCT. CAR T-cell therapy, utilizing genetically modified T cells targeting CD19, has revolutionized relapsed/refractory FL. Products like axicabtagene ciloleucel, tisagenlecleucel, and lisocabtagene maraleucel have demonstrated high response rates and durable remissions even in heavily pretreated patients with high-risk features. This potent therapy is increasingly considered a bridge between autoSCT and alloSCT, expanding treatment options. Additionally, bispecific antibodies such as mosunetuzumab, epcoritamab and odrenextamab provide convenient off-the-shelf options, exhibiting strong efficacy and favorable safety. However, their impact on subsequent CAR-T outcomes, especially with CD19-targeting bispecifics, remains an area of ongoing investigation and uncertainty. The complex interplay of these therapies necessitates individualized decisions, emphasizing patient characteristics and disease-specific factors to optimize outcomes in FL. Further research into predictive biomarkers and refined treatment algorithms is crucial for future management.

## Linked entities

- **Proteins:** CD19 (CD19 molecule)
- **Diseases:** follicular lymphoma (MONDO:0018906), graft-versus-host disease (MONDO:0013730)

## Full-text entities

- **Genes:** CD19 (CD19 molecule) [NCBI Gene 930] {aka B4, CVID3}
- **Diseases:** lymphoma (MESH:D008223), graft-versus-host disease (MESH:D006086), Follicular Lymphoma (MESH:D008224)
- **Chemicals:** epcoritamab (-)
- **Species:** Homo sapiens (human, species) [taxon 9606]

## Full text

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## Figures

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## References

40 references — full list in the complete paper: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12610798/full.md

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Source: https://tomesphere.com/paper/PMC12610798