Bridge the Gap to CAR: Bridging Therapy in CAR T-Cell Therapy for Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has fundamentally transformed the treatment paradigm for relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL). However, implementing this therapy faces logistical and biological hurdles, including the prolonged interval between lymphocyte apheresis, delivery of the final product and initiation of lymphodepleting chemotherapy. This waiting period, often four to eight weeks, creates a risk during which uncontrolled disease progression may render patients ineligible for the planned treatment or increase their risk of complications. Bridging therapy has become a temporary strategy to control the disease and maintain patient fitness while awaiting the return of manufactured autologous CAR T cells. This review discusses the current scientific understanding of bridging therapy in the context of CAR T-cell treatment for R/R DLBCL, including its rationale, approaches, clinical evidence and future prospects. PEER REVIEWED ARTICLE **Peer reviewers:** Prof. Dr Felicitas Hitz, Cantonal Hospital Münsterlingen, Münsterlingen, Switzerland One anonymous peer reviewer Received on November 20, 2025; accepted after peer review on February 10, 2026; published online on February 13, 2026.