A New Era in DLBCL Treatment

Published on Feb 12, 2025 Share

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), accounting for 30-40% of cases globally. While treatments like chemotherapy, including the R-CHOP regimen, can lead to remission in many patients, relapsed or refractory cases remain challenging, with limited long-term options.

CAR T cell therapy transforms the treatment of DLBCL, providing renewed hope to patients by harnessing the body’s immune system to eliminate cancerous cells. Akadeum Life Sciences supports this groundbreaking approach with advanced cell isolation technologies, such as the Alerion™ Microbubble Cell Separation System, which provides a gentle solution for T cell isolation that is critical for the development of high-quality CAR T cells essential for these therapies.

What Is Diffuse Large B cell Lymphoma?

DLBCL is an aggressive lymphoma that manifests in B cells, a crucial part of the immune system. The disease arises when B cells mutate and grow uncontrollably, forming tumors in lymph nodes and other tissues. Most cases occur in older adults (>65 years of age), but DLBCL can affect individuals of all ages.

Some patients may notice swollen lymph nodes, unexplained weight loss, or recurring fevers, which can prompt further evaluation by healthcare providers. However, the disease’s aggressive nature often means swift intervention is necessary for effective treatment.

DLBCL’s aggressive nature and relapse rates have driven the development of advanced therapies like CAR T to address the needs of patients who do not respond to conventional treatments.

Challenges in Treating DLBCL

Standard treatments such as chemotherapy and monoclonal antibodies, including rituximab, achieve remission in 60-70% of patients. However, 30-40% of cases relapse or are refractory, leaving patients with limited options and poorer prognoses.

CAR T cell therapy has emerged as a life-changing option for these patients. By engineering T cells to recognize and destroy malignant B cells, CAR T therapy has achieved durable remissions in previously incurable cases. The success of this treatment depends on efficient manufacturing processes, starting with the isolation of high-quality T cells—a challenge Akadeum Life Sciences helps solve through its innovative technologies.

CAR T Therapy: A Game-Changer for DLBCL

CAR T cell therapy has transformed the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma, offering renewed hope to patients with limited options. This innovative approach involves collecting white blood cells from the patient’s blood through leukapheresis, isolating the T cells, and genetically modifying them to express chimeric antigen receptors (CARs). These engineered receptors enable T cells to identify and bind to specific proteins on cancerous B cells. Once modified in the lab, the T cells are reinfused into the patient, where they precisely target and destroy malignant cells.

Approved CAR T Therapies for DLBCL

The FDA has approved several CAR T cell therapies for relapsed or refractory DLBCL, including:

• Axicabtagene Ciloleucel (Yescarta®)
• Tisagenlecleucel (Kymriah®)
• Lisocabtagene Maraleucel (Breyanzi®)

Before CAR T therapy, the median overall survival for relapsed DLBCL was about six months. With CAR T intervention, survival often extends beyond 12 months, with over 40% of patients achieving durable remission.

Akadeum’s Role in Revolutionizing CAR T Manufacturing

Akadeum’s Alerion™ Microbubble Cell Separation System provides a gentle, buoyancy-based approach to isolating cells, preserving T cell viability and functionality throughout manufacturing. Unlike harsh mechanical or magnetic methods, this technology minimizes cell stress while delivering high purity and recovery rates.

Specialized T Cell Kits

• Human T Cell Leukopak Isolation Kit. This kit streamlines the isolation of T cells from leukapheresis samples, ensuring high recovery rates and reduced processing time.
• Human T Cell Depletion Kit. Designed to remove CD3+ cells efficiently, this kit ensures the removal of unedited T cell populations, critical for the success of CAR T cell therapy .

Together, these tools simplify workflows, enhance cell viability, and provide scalability for research and clinical-scale production. Akadeum’s solutions are tailored to meet the demands of cutting-edge therapies like CAR T, empowering researchers and clinicians to deliver better outcomes.

Advancing DLBCL Treatment With Akadeum

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma remains a formidable challenge, but CAR T cell therapy offers a transformative solution for patients with relapsed or refractory disease. Akadeum Life Sciences supports these advancements with the Alerion™ Microbubble Cell Separation System and specialized T cell kits that ensure high purity, viable cells for CAR T manufacturing.

With scalable, efficient, and innovative solutions, Akadeum empowers researchers to improve patient outcomes and expand access to life-saving therapies. 

Explore our full range of cell isolation products and see how Akadeum can optimize your CAR T workflows today.