A study published in Blood found that the success of the T-cell engager glofitamab in relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) depends heavily on the health and strength of a patient’s T cells.
Researchers analyzed patients from the Phase 1/2 NP30179 trial and discovered that patients who responded well to treatment maintained higher levels of “naïve-like” T cells, which are younger and more flexible immune cells capable of strong anti-cancer activity. Patients who did not respond showed more signs of T-cell exhaustion, where immune cells lose their ability to fight cancer effectively.
Glofitamab works by linking T cells to lymphoma cells, helping the immune system attack tumors. The study showed that the drug activates a broad range of T cells rather than only a few specific cancer-fighting clones.
Researchers also tested combining glofitamab with englumafusp alfa, a CD19-targeted immune costimulator. In preclinical models, the combination increased T-cell activity inside tumors, promoted healthier “naïve-like” T cells, and improved tumor shrinkage compared with glofitamab alone.
The findings suggest that boosting T-cell fitness may help improve outcomes for more lymphoma patients receiving immunotherapy.