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Introduction: Chimeric antigen receptor positive T cell (CAR-T cell) treatment became standard therapy for relapsed or refractory hematologic malignancies, such as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma. Owing to the rapidly progressing field of CAR-T cell therapy and the lack of generally accepted treatment guidelines, we hypothesized significant differences between centers in the prevention, diagnosis, and management of short- and long-term complications. Methods: To capture the current CAR-T cell management among German centers to determine the medical need and specific areas for future clinical research, the DAG-HSZT (Deutsche Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Hämatopoetische Stammzelltransplantation und Zelluläre Therapie; German Working Group for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy) performed a survey among 26 German CAR-T cell centers. Results: We received answers from 17 centers (65%). The survey documents the relevance of evidence in the CAR-T cell field with a homogeneity of practice in areas with existing clinical evidence. In contrast, in areas with no – or low quality – clinical evidence, we identified significant variety in management in between the centers: management of cytokine release syndrome, immune effector cell-related neurotoxicity syndrome, IgG substitution, autologous stem cell backups, anti-infective prophylaxis, and vaccinations. Conclusion: The results indicate the urgent need for better harmonization of supportive care in CAR-T cell therapies including clinical research to improve clinical outcome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Primary lymphomatoid granulomatosis of the CNS (CNS-LG) is a rare lymphoid neoplasia associated Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV) and often accompanied by immunodeficiencies. No treatment standards have been defined yet. However, due to often devastating neurologic sequelae and based on similarities to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, curative treatment requires intensive therapy protocols resembling protocols applied in CNS lymphoma. Here, the clinical courses and treatments of four primary CNS-LG patients in analogy to aggressive CNS-lymphomas including methotrexate, thiotepa, cytarabine, carmustine, and rituximab are presented. This is the first report on high-dose chemotherapy with CNS-directed drugs and autologous blood stem cell transplantation in primary CNS-LG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Treatment of relapsed or refractory primary CNS lymphoma (r/r PCNSL) is difficult, particularly in patients not eligible for high dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation (HDC-ASCT). No standard treatment has been defined for these patients yet. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed survival, prognostic factors, hospitalization time and Karnofsky performance score (KPS) before and after treatment in 54 r/r PCNSL patients with isolated cerebral relapse or progression (n = 23 refractory, n = 31 relapsed) not eligible for HDC-ASCT, who received heterogenous salvage treatments. Results: Treatments were temozolomide (+ rituximab) (n = 21), high dose methotrexate (HD-MTX)-based therapy (n = 11), whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT)/focal radiotherapy (n = 11), other systemic treatments (n = 2) and best supportive care (BSC, n = 9). Median progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 2.6 months (95% CI 1.0–4.2 months) and 4.8 months (95% CI 3.3–6.3 months), respectively. Eight patients survived for ≥ 3 years (13.1%, n = 3 received temozolomide, n = 3 WBRT, n = 2 HD-MTX-based treatment). Application of any salvage treatment (vs. BSC), younger age at relapse and asymptomatic (vs. symptomatic) relapse were positive prognostic factors. No significant differences in OS were found for the different salvage treatments. Median hospitalization time for treatment was 15/13 days for temozolomide (+ rituximab)/radiotherapy compared to 55 days for HD-MTX-based therapy. Median KPS in assessable patients (n = 41) was 60 (range 30–100) before treatment and 50 (range 20–90) after treatment. In patients with response to treatment (n = 16) KPS improved from 60 (range 40–90) before treatment to 70 (range 50–90) after treatment, while patients with PD (n = 25) deteriorated from 60 (range 30–100) to 40 (range 20–70). Conclusion: Survival for this cohort of r/r PCNSL patients with isolated cerebral relapse or progression was poor. Considering long hospital stays associated with HD-MTX-based chemotherapy and neurotoxicity associated with WBRT, temozolomide might be worth considering with a chance of prolonged survival and avoidance of long hospitalization. Novel therapeutic agents are urgently needed to improve survival in r/r PCNSL patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]