Analysis of Treatment Patterns and Outcomes Among Patients with Third-Line or Later (3L+) Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) with Multiple Qualifying Index Dates Treated in the United States.
4 affiliations
- 1Pfizer, Ltd., Walton Oaks, Tadworth KT20 7NS, UK.
- 2Pfizer, Inc., Collegeville, PA 19426, USA.
- 3Pfizer, Inc., Bothell, WA 98021, USA.
- 4Verana Health (Formerly COTA, Inc.), New York, NY 10014, USA.
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy with a defined, first-line (1L) standard of care (SOC). Several novel agents have been approved for the treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease in recent years, leading to a heterogeneous treatment landscape in later lines of therapy (LOTs). Our study aimed to characterize real-world treatment patterns for patients who received third-line or later (3L+) therapy using a multiple index date qualification methodology to enable a comparison to clinical trials. Methods: This observational, retrospective study identified eligible patients in the COTA (now Verana Health) electronic health record-based, DLBCL dataset. Patients were assessed for eligibility at the initiation of each 3L+ LOT. The results were summarized overall and by qualification methodology, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate real-world overall survival (rwOS). Results: Among 476 unique patients, 716 index-LOTs were identified, and 3L+ index therapies were variable. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score was 0-2 for 57% of qualifying-LOTs and missing/unknown (M/U) for 43%. The median rwOS among all-qualifying, first-qualifying, and last-qualifying index-LOTs was 8.0 (95% CI: 6.9, 10.6), 11.4 (95% CI: 9.7, 13.6), and 6.3 months (95% CI: 5.3, 8.0), respectively. Patients with M/U ECOG did not experience worse outcomes compared to those with ECOG 0-2. Conclusions: The outcomes in our study are similar to those from comparator arms of contemporary clinical trials, demonstrating a continued unmet need for effective, SOC therapy for patients with 3L+ DLBCL. Additionally, the variable outcomes based on qualifying index-LOTs underscores the criticality of appropriate patient identification and comparison for clinical trials.
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BibTeX
@article{wallington2026analysis,
title = {{Analysis of Treatment Patterns and Outcomes Among Patients with Third-Line or Later (3L+) Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) with Multiple Qualifying Index Dates Treated in the United States.}},
author = {Michael Wallington and Yong Chen and Fei Jie and Monica Patterson and Karen Repetny and Michelle Fanale and Simon Purcell and Jacob Ambrose and Christina M Zettler and Andrew J Belli and Laura L Fernandes and Ching-Kun Wang},
journal = {Journal of clinical medicine},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3390/jcm15197596},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42882057},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Analysis of Treatment Patterns and Outcomes Among Patients with Third-Line or Later (3L+) Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) with Multiple Qualifying Index Dates Treated in the United States.
AU - Michael Wallington
AU - Yong Chen
AU - Fei Jie
AU - Monica Patterson
AU - Karen Repetny
AU - Michelle Fanale
AU - Simon Purcell
AU - Jacob Ambrose
AU - Christina M Zettler
AU - Andrew J Belli
AU - Laura L Fernandes
AU - Ching-Kun Wang
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/30
JO - Journal of clinical medicine
DO - 10.3390/jcm15197596
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42882057
AB - Background/Objectives: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy with a defined, first-line (1L) standard of care (SOC). Several novel agents have been approved for the treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) disease in recent years, leading to a heterogeneous treatment landscape in later lines of therapy (LOTs). Our study aimed to characterize real-world treatment patterns for patients who received third-line or later (3L+) therapy using a multiple index date qualification methodology to enable a comparison to clinical trials. Methods: This observational, retrospective study identified eligible patients in the COTA (now Verana Health) electronic health record-based, DLBCL dataset. Patients were assessed for eligibility at the initiation of each 3L+ LOT. The results were summarized overall and by qualification methodology, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to evaluate real-world overall survival (rwOS). Results: Among 476 unique patients, 716 index-LOTs were identified, and 3L+ index therapies were variable. The Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score was 0-2 for 57% of qualifying-LOTs and missing/unknown (M/U) for 43%. The median rwOS among all-qualifying, first-qualifying, and last-qualifying index-LOTs was 8.0 (95% CI: 6.9, 10.6), 11.4 (95% CI: 9.7, 13.6), and 6.3 months (95% CI: 5.3, 8.0), respectively. Patients with M/U ECOG did not experience worse outcomes compared to those with ECOG 0-2. Conclusions: The outcomes in our study are similar to those from comparator arms of contemporary clinical trials, demonstrating a continued unmet need for effective, SOC therapy for patients with 3L+ DLBCL. Additionally, the variable outcomes based on qualifying index-LOTs underscores the criticality of appropriate patient identification and comparison for clinical trials.
SN - 2077-0383
ER -