ASTCT Pharmacy SIG Journal Club - September 2026

The ASTCT Pharmacy SIG September 2026 Journal Club will air on Wednesday, September 23 at 2 p.m. CT/3 p.m. ET. The webinar consists of two, 30-minute journal club presentations, which include 20 minutes for the presentation and 10 minutes for discussion and a Q & A session. In the September Journal Club session, Drs. Albuquerque and Bazaco will present two articles related to:

• B-cell depletion for prevention of corticosteroid-requiring cGVHD
• Fludarabine vs Bendamustine as a lymphodepleting chemotherapy prior to CAR-T for large cell lymphoma 

Presenters & Articles:

Esther Albuquerque, PharmD

PGY-2 Pharmacy Resident

The James Cancer Hospital at the Ohio State University 

Article: Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial of B-Cell Depletion for Prevention of Corticosteroid-Requiring Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease

Christopher Bazaco, PharmD

PGY-2 Pharmacy Resident

Inova Health

Article: Comparison of Fludarabine Versus Bendamustine as a Lymphodepleting Chemotherapy Prior to CAR-T for Large Cell Lymphoma

Session Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of the activity, participants should be able to:

• Review the role of B cells in the development of chronic graft-versus-host disease (cGVHD) following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
• Analyze the efficacy and safety of prophylactic obinutuzumab for the prevention of corticosteroid-requiring cGVHD
• Discuss the utility of B-cell depletion as a cGVHD prevention strategy and the potential role of H-Y antibody status in identifying patients that will most likely benefit
• Compare efficacy outcomes between fludarabine-based and bendamustine-based lymphodepletion (LD) prior to CD19 CAR-T therapy in large B-cell lymphoma
• Evaluate the toxicity profiles associated with each LD regimen, including rates of cytokine release syndrome (CRS), immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), prolonged cytopenia, and treatment-related mortality
• Identify clinical factors influencing CAR-T outcomes such as CAR-T product type, disease status, KPA, bridging therapy, and patient age
• Recognize when bendamustine may serve as a practical alternative LD regimen for DLBCL patients

ACCREDITED PROVIDER

This activity is jointly provided by The France Foundation and American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT).

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by The France Foundation and American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT). The France Foundation is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

CREDIT DESIGNATION

Pharmacists

This knowledge-based activity qualifies for 1.0 contact hour (0.10 CEU) of continuing pharmacy education credit. Please submit all evaluations and credit requests no later than 30 days after you complete this activity to ensure your credit fulfillment, as CE credit cannot be awarded past 60 days from the activity date. Your CE credits will be electronically submitted to the NABP upon successful completion of the activity. Pharmacists with questions can contact NABP customer service ([email protected]). 

All other healthcare professionals completing this course will be issued a statement of participation.

The full accreditation information for this session will be available soon.