Zanubrutinib Delivers High Response Rates And Survival Benefits Across Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Patient Groups In This Meta-Analysis

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Critical reviews in oncology/hematology Published June 1, 2026 Medically reviewed June 1, 2026 Study authors: Sun Peng, Yang Hang, Li Biao, Wang Yu, Liu Panpan, Li Zhiming PubMed ↗ DOI ↗ By Dr. Amelia Tan, PhD · Internal Medicine & Chronic Disease

Key Takeaway

Zanubrutinib shows high response rates and durable survival benefits in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, including elderly and relapsed patients.

This comprehensive review evaluates the efficacy of zanubrutinib in treating diffuse large B-cell lymphoma across diverse patient populations. The analysis encompasses 1,346 individuals, providing robust data on treatment outcomes for both previously untreated and relapsed or refractory cases. Key metrics include overall response rates, complete response rates, progression-free survival, and overall survival.

In patients who had not received prior therapy, zanubrutinib demonstrated exceptional efficacy. The overall response rate reached 95.0%, with a complete response rate of 79.7%. Median progression-free survival was 31.2 months, while median overall survival had not been reached at the time of the analysis.

For patients with relapsed or refractory disease, the drug still provided meaningful benefits. The overall response rate was 67.5%, and the complete response rate stood at 44.7%. Median progression-free survival was 5.9 months, with a median overall survival of 21.8 months.

Subgroup analyses highlighted consistent performance in specific demographics. Elderly patients achieved an overall response rate of 90.7%, and those with extranodal involvement saw a rate of 82.3%. These findings underscore the drug's broad applicability across different clinical scenarios.

Study Details

Study typeMeta analysis

Sample sizen = 1,346

EvidenceLevel 1

Follow-up31.2 mo

PublishedJun 2026

PMID41786108

View Original Abstract ↓

BACKGROUND: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) represents the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and previous studies have indicated the potential of zanubrutinib in the treatment of DLBCL. This meta-analysis aims to evaluate the efficacy of zanubrutinib in DLBCL patients and further explore potential differences in treatment effects across diverse patient subgroups. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted using two major databases (PubMed and Embase) and four key conference websites to ensure comprehensive coverage of relevant studies. Key outcomes included overall response rate (ORR), complete response rate (CRR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). RESULTS: A total of 47 studies involving 1346 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Zanubrutinib in previously untreated patients with DLBCL showed a pooled CRR of 79.7% (95% CI 72.7%-86.7%) and a pooled ORR of 95.0% (95% CI 92.6%-97.4%), while the pooled CRR was 44.7% (95% CI 32.4%-56.9%) and the pooled ORR was 67.5% (95% CI 58.0%-77.0%) for the relapsed/refractory patients. For patients with extranodal involvement and elderly patients, the pooled ORRs were 82.3% (95% CI 75.7%-88.9%) and 90.7% (95% CI 85.7%-95.7%), respectively. Pooled analysis of survival curves showed that among previously untreated patients, the median PFS was 31.2 months and median OS was not reached, while the median PFS and OS were 5.9 months and 21.8 months among relapsed/refractory patients, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Zanubrutinib-based regimen achieved encouraging treatment response, especially in specific subtypes of DLBCL, including double expressor, elderly, extranodal involvement, and non-GCB DLBCL.