Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma — Proceedings from a Session Held in Conjunction with the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting on the Roles of CAR T-Cell Therapy and Bispecific Antibodies

CAR T-cell therapy has fundamentally shifted the treatment landscape for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, effectively replacing autologous stem cell transplant as the standard of care for second-line therapy. While CAR T-cell constructs provide curative potential, bispecific antibodies—such as glofitamab and epcoritamab—have emerged as highly effective, versatile alternatives, especially for frail patients or those requiring non-chemotherapy regimens. Clinical success hinges on early referral, proactive management of toxicities like cytokine release syndrome, and diligent infection prophylaxis, particularly given the risk of prolonged cytopenias. Although these immunotherapies present unique challenges, including potential infections and rare neurotoxicities, they offer durable remission rates previously unattainable in heavily pretreated populations. Ongoing clinical trials continue to refine these approaches, moving toward combination strategies and earlier intervention to optimize long-term survival outcomes across various lymphoma subtypes.