Study Finds Gaps in Physician Skills for Managing Newer MCL Treatments

Compiled by MCLA Staff. Reviewed by Toby A. Eyre MBChB, DipMedEd, MRCP, FRCPath, MD (co-author of original paper).

As treatment options for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) have expanded, a new international study suggests that physician knowledge and experience have not always kept pace. Researchers found notable gaps in physicians’ ability to manage newer treatments — particularly CAR T-cell therapy — with some of the largest gaps reported outside academic cancer centers. The findings highlight opportunities to strengthen knowledge of newer MCL treatments in community health care settings, while also improving how patients are involved in treatment decisions.

Why is this important to you?

MCL treatment has become increasingly complex, with newer therapies offering patients more options but also bringing different risks and side effects. This makes it important for physicians to stay current as treatments evolve.

One of the study’s most striking findings involved CAR T-cell therapy. Among physicians treating MCL, 54% reported less-than-optimal skills in monitoring and managing CAR T-cell side effects, compared with 30% who reported gaps related to managing BTK inhibitor treatment. Gaps in CAR T-cell management were seen across countries and practice settings, although their size varied considerably. In addition, 42% reported difficulty balancing treatment guidelines with a patient’s preferences when side effects or tolerability became an issue.

Researchers surveyed 285 oncologists, hematologists, and hematologist-oncologists in the United States, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and Brazil. The study included physicians treating relapsed or refractory MCL and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), although the findings highlighted here focus on MCL. Gaps in CAR T-cell knowledge were particularly notable among community-based physicians in Germany and Brazil, where 72% and 77%, respectively, reported less-than-optimal skills in monitoring and managing side effects.

The study has important limitations. The findings were largely based on physicians rating their own skills rather than objective testing, and only a small percentage of physicians invited to participate completed the survey. The results therefore should not be interpreted to mean that MCL patients are receiving inadequate care.

Opportunities to Improve MCL Care

The findings point to an important opportunity to strengthen MCL care beyond major academic centers. Because MCL is rare and its treatment landscape continues to change, community physicians may have fewer opportunities to gain experience with newer therapies such as CAR T-cell therapy. Strengthening connections between community physicians and MCL specialists and expanding access to up-to-date treatment information could help bring advances in MCL care to more patients.

The differences observed across the five countries also suggest a need to better understand how MCL care varies around the world. Broader studies involving additional countries and healthcare settings could identify where knowledge and access gaps are greatest and help ensure that advances in MCL treatment reach patients regardless of where they receive care.

Where can I find more information?

Lazure P, Eyre TA, Niemann CU, et al. Treatment, monitoring, and management of patients with relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia and mantle cell lymphoma: evidence from a multi-country needs assessment. Cancer Reports. 2026;9(8):e70655. Published August 13, 2026. doi:10.1002/cnr2.70655. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cnr2.70655

Caffrey M. A multi-country needs assessment on MCL and CLL management. The American Journal of Managed Care. 2026. https://www.ajmc.com/view/a-multi-country-needs-assessment-on-mcl-and-cll-management