# TALOs, Fill the Gap: Tafasitamab and Lenalidomide in Diffuse Large B‐Cell Lymphoma in the Real‐Life Patient Journey

## TL;DR

A study shows that combining tafasitamab and lenalidomide can be effective and safe for older patients with a type of lymphoma, with some experiencing long-term benefits.

## Contribution

This paper presents real-life data on tafasitamab and lenalidomide in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, highlighting efficacy and safety in elderly patients.

## Key findings

- The combination therapy achieved a 47% overall response rate with 28.9% complete remission in elderly patients.
- Patients with relapsed disease had better progression-free and overall survival compared to those with refractory disease.
- Neutropenia was the most common adverse event, primarily linked to lenalidomide.

## Abstract

The combination of tafasitamab and lenalidomide (tafa‐lena) has demonstrated efficacy in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL), as evidenced by the L‐MIND study. To investigate the therapeutic potential and safety profile of tafa‐lena in real‐life, we conducted a national multicentric retrospective study. Eighty‐three patients with median age of 74 years were enrolled. The 49.4% of patients had a disease refractory to the first line therapy while 63.9% were refractory to the most recent one. The best overall response rate was 47% (28.9% complete remission). With a median follow‐up of 16 months, the median overall survival (OS) was 8.6 months and the median progression‐free survival (PFS) was 4.5 months. Disease‐free survival and median duration of response were reached at 52.8 and at 52.1 months, respectively. Compared to refractory disease (N = 53, 63.9%), relapsed disease (N = 26, 31.3%) was associated with better outcome in term of PFS (median 2.8 vs. 12.4 months) and OS (median 5.4 months vs. not reached). Neutropenia (52.5%) was the most common adverse events, predominantly related to lenalidomide. Our findings align with other real‐world studies, supporting the regimen as effective and safe, and highlighting that one third of patients experiencing long‐lasting responses even with dose reduction.