Haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and CD19-targeted chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are potentially curative therapies for relapsed and/or refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL); however, many patients are unable to receive or have further relapse following these treatments. New data from the phase III ECHELON-3 trial demonstrate the promise of a novel combination regimen incorporating the anti-CD30 antibody–drug conjugate brentuximab vedotin (BV) for such patients.

In ECHELON-3, 230 patients with R/R DLBCL who had received ≥2 prior lines of therapy and were ineligible for HSCT or CAR T cell therapy were randomly assigned (1:1) to received lenalidomide and rituximab plus either BV or placebo. The primary end point was overall survival (OS).