BACKGROUND: Autologous stem cell transplantation (autoSCT) can extend remission of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), but the management of subsequent relapse is challenging. METHODS: We examined consecutive patients with MCL who underwent autoSCT at Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System between 2009 and 2017 (N=37). RESULTS: Ten patients experienced disease progression after autoSCT and were included in this analysis. Median progression free survival after autoSCT was 1.8 years (range, 0.3–7.1) and median overall survival after progression was only 0.7 years (range, 0.1 to not reached). The 3 patients who survived more than 1 year after progression were treated with ibrutinib. CONCLUSION Our findings suggest that ibrutinib can achieve relatively prolonged control of MCL progressing after autoSCT.