Inflammatory markers persist through LD chemotherapy and associate with NDR. (A) Serum ferritin levels at apheresis (3-4 weeks before infusion; n = 83), day −6 (pre-LD; LD fludarabine/cyclophosphamide chemotherapy; n = 88), and before axi-cel infusion (day 0; n = 93). (B) Correlation (Pearson R) between ferritin values measured both LD and before axi-cel infusion. (C) IL-6 levels measured at baseline (at apheresis or day −6; n = 54), day 0 (n = 70), and the peak level measured in the first 21 days after CAR T-cell therapy (n = 78). (D) Correlation between baseline and day 0 IL-6 levels. (E) Correlation between baseline IL-6 and day −6 ferritin levels. (F) Correlation matrix represented as a heatmap with positive Spearman R values indicated in blue and negative values indicated in red (scale). P values according to nonparametric t test.