User login
Bringing you the latest news, research and reviews, exclusive interviews, podcasts, quizzes, and more.
FDA approves rituximab + hyaluronidase human for FL, DLBCL, and CLL
The Food and Drug Administration has approved rituximab plus hyaluronidase human for adult patients with follicular lymphoma (FL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
The combination product, to be marketed as Rituxan Hycela, is administered subcutaneously, shortening administration time to 5 to 7 minutes as compared with the several hours needed for intravenous infusion, the FDA said in a statement.
Approval was based on noninferior rituximab trough concentrations for the subcutaneously administered combination, compared with intravenous rituximab, and comparable efficacy and safety results as shown in multiple randomized clinical trials.
The most common adverse events seen with the combination in patients with FL included infections, neutropenia, nausea, constipation, cough, and fatigue. In patients with DLBCL, the most common adverse events were infections, neutropenia, alopecia, nausea, and anemia; in CLL patients, infections, neutropenia, nausea, thrombocytopenia, pyrexia, vomiting, and injection site erythema occurred most commonly.
The combination is indicated for the following previously approved indications for rituximab:
- Relapsed or refractory FL as a single agent.
- Previously untreated FL in combination with first line chemotherapy and, in patients achieving a complete or partial response to rituximab in combination with chemotherapy, as single-agent maintenance therapy.
- Nonprogressing (including stable disease) FL as a single agent after first-line cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone chemotherapy.
- Previously untreated DLBCL in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone or other anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens.
- Previously untreated and previously treated CLL in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide.
The recommended doses are 1,400 mg rituximab and 23,400 units hyaluronidase human for FL and DLBCL and 1,600 mg rituximab and 26,800 units hyaluronidase human for CLL. The combination treatment should be initiated only after patients have received at least one full dose of a rituximab product by intravenous infusion, according to the prescribing information.
Rituxan Hycela is marketed by Genentech.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved rituximab plus hyaluronidase human for adult patients with follicular lymphoma (FL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
The combination product, to be marketed as Rituxan Hycela, is administered subcutaneously, shortening administration time to 5 to 7 minutes as compared with the several hours needed for intravenous infusion, the FDA said in a statement.
Approval was based on noninferior rituximab trough concentrations for the subcutaneously administered combination, compared with intravenous rituximab, and comparable efficacy and safety results as shown in multiple randomized clinical trials.
The most common adverse events seen with the combination in patients with FL included infections, neutropenia, nausea, constipation, cough, and fatigue. In patients with DLBCL, the most common adverse events were infections, neutropenia, alopecia, nausea, and anemia; in CLL patients, infections, neutropenia, nausea, thrombocytopenia, pyrexia, vomiting, and injection site erythema occurred most commonly.
The combination is indicated for the following previously approved indications for rituximab:
- Relapsed or refractory FL as a single agent.
- Previously untreated FL in combination with first line chemotherapy and, in patients achieving a complete or partial response to rituximab in combination with chemotherapy, as single-agent maintenance therapy.
- Nonprogressing (including stable disease) FL as a single agent after first-line cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone chemotherapy.
- Previously untreated DLBCL in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone or other anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens.
- Previously untreated and previously treated CLL in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide.
The recommended doses are 1,400 mg rituximab and 23,400 units hyaluronidase human for FL and DLBCL and 1,600 mg rituximab and 26,800 units hyaluronidase human for CLL. The combination treatment should be initiated only after patients have received at least one full dose of a rituximab product by intravenous infusion, according to the prescribing information.
Rituxan Hycela is marketed by Genentech.
The Food and Drug Administration has approved rituximab plus hyaluronidase human for adult patients with follicular lymphoma (FL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
The combination product, to be marketed as Rituxan Hycela, is administered subcutaneously, shortening administration time to 5 to 7 minutes as compared with the several hours needed for intravenous infusion, the FDA said in a statement.
Approval was based on noninferior rituximab trough concentrations for the subcutaneously administered combination, compared with intravenous rituximab, and comparable efficacy and safety results as shown in multiple randomized clinical trials.
The most common adverse events seen with the combination in patients with FL included infections, neutropenia, nausea, constipation, cough, and fatigue. In patients with DLBCL, the most common adverse events were infections, neutropenia, alopecia, nausea, and anemia; in CLL patients, infections, neutropenia, nausea, thrombocytopenia, pyrexia, vomiting, and injection site erythema occurred most commonly.
The combination is indicated for the following previously approved indications for rituximab:
- Relapsed or refractory FL as a single agent.
- Previously untreated FL in combination with first line chemotherapy and, in patients achieving a complete or partial response to rituximab in combination with chemotherapy, as single-agent maintenance therapy.
- Nonprogressing (including stable disease) FL as a single agent after first-line cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone chemotherapy.
- Previously untreated DLBCL in combination with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone or other anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens.
- Previously untreated and previously treated CLL in combination with fludarabine and cyclophosphamide.
The recommended doses are 1,400 mg rituximab and 23,400 units hyaluronidase human for FL and DLBCL and 1,600 mg rituximab and 26,800 units hyaluronidase human for CLL. The combination treatment should be initiated only after patients have received at least one full dose of a rituximab product by intravenous infusion, according to the prescribing information.
Rituxan Hycela is marketed by Genentech.
Bendamustine plus rituximab may have edge for treating indolent NHL, MCL
CHICAGO – Overall survival was comparable at 5 years of follow up for three regimens in treatment-naive patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) or mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), based on long-term results from the BRIGHT study.
While progression-free survival, event-free survival, and duration of response were significantly better with bendamustine plus rituximab (BR), overall survival at 5 years did not significantly differ in patients given this regimen and compared to patients given rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) or rituximab with cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone (R-CVP), Ian Flinn, MD, of Tennessee Oncology, Nashville, reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Quality of life was somewhat better for the patients given BR, but those patients were also at higher risk for secondary malignancies (42 vs. 24), most of which were squamous cell carcinomas, observed Dr. Kahl, professor of medicine at Washington University, St. Louis.
In BRIGHT, 224 treatment-naive patients with indolent NHL or MCL were randomized to receive BR and were compared to 223 similar patients who received either R-CHOP (104 patients) or R-CVP (119 patients). At least six cycles of therapy were completed by 203 patients in the BR group and by 196 in the R-CHOP/R-CVP group. Rituximab maintenance therapy was given to 43% of the BR group and to 45% of the R-CHOP/R-CVP group.
For BR and R-CHOP/R-CVP, the 5-year progression-free survival rate was 65.5% (95% CI, 58.5-71.6) and 55.8% (95% CI, 48.4-62.5), respectively. The overall survival rate for the entire patient group was 81.7% (75.7-86.3) and 85% (79.3-89.3) respectively. Comparing BR and R-CHOP/R-CVP, the hazard ratio (95% CI) for progression-free survival was 0.61 (0.45-0.85; P = .0025), the HR for event-free survival was 0.63 (0.46-0.84; P = .0020), the HR for duration of response was 0.66 (0.47-0.92; P = .0134), and the HR for overall survival was 1.15 (0.72-1.84; P = .5461).
Similar results were found in indolent NHL (progression-free survival 0.70 [0.49-1.01; P = .0582]) and MCL (progression-free survival 0.40 [0.21-0.75; P = .0035]), with the strongest effect in MCL, Dr. Flinn said.
Dr. Kahl noted that the advantages for the BR regimen include that it is not associated with alopecia, neuropathy, or steroid issues, and that it may extend progression-free survival and time to next treatment. On the other hand, R-CHOP is associated with less GI toxicity, rash, opportunistic infections, and prolonged cytopenia. Also, the BR regimen was associated with a higher risk of secondary cancers, primarily squamous cell carcinomas.
There were 42 secondary malignancies in the BR group and 24 in the R-CHOP/R-CVP group, Dr. Flinn reported.
It is theoretically possible that BR equals R-CHOP plus maintenance therapy from an efficacy perspective, Dr. Kahl said.
As virtually all excess adverse event fatalities occurred during maintenance therapy, it is possible that maintenance therapy after BR “does more harm than good.” This high priority issue “should be evaluated in the BRIGHT data set,” Dr. Kahl recommended.
Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products R&D sponsored the study. Dr. Flinn had no relationships to disclose; two of his fellow researchers are Teva employees. Dr. Kahl disclosed serving as an adviser or consultant to Abbvie, Acerta Pharma, Celgene, Cell Therapeutics, Genentech/Roche, Incyte, Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Juno Therapeutics, Millennium, Pharmacyclics, Sandoz, and Seattle Genetics.
[email protected]
On Twitter @maryjodales
CHICAGO – Overall survival was comparable at 5 years of follow up for three regimens in treatment-naive patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) or mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), based on long-term results from the BRIGHT study.
While progression-free survival, event-free survival, and duration of response were significantly better with bendamustine plus rituximab (BR), overall survival at 5 years did not significantly differ in patients given this regimen and compared to patients given rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) or rituximab with cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone (R-CVP), Ian Flinn, MD, of Tennessee Oncology, Nashville, reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Quality of life was somewhat better for the patients given BR, but those patients were also at higher risk for secondary malignancies (42 vs. 24), most of which were squamous cell carcinomas, observed Dr. Kahl, professor of medicine at Washington University, St. Louis.
In BRIGHT, 224 treatment-naive patients with indolent NHL or MCL were randomized to receive BR and were compared to 223 similar patients who received either R-CHOP (104 patients) or R-CVP (119 patients). At least six cycles of therapy were completed by 203 patients in the BR group and by 196 in the R-CHOP/R-CVP group. Rituximab maintenance therapy was given to 43% of the BR group and to 45% of the R-CHOP/R-CVP group.
For BR and R-CHOP/R-CVP, the 5-year progression-free survival rate was 65.5% (95% CI, 58.5-71.6) and 55.8% (95% CI, 48.4-62.5), respectively. The overall survival rate for the entire patient group was 81.7% (75.7-86.3) and 85% (79.3-89.3) respectively. Comparing BR and R-CHOP/R-CVP, the hazard ratio (95% CI) for progression-free survival was 0.61 (0.45-0.85; P = .0025), the HR for event-free survival was 0.63 (0.46-0.84; P = .0020), the HR for duration of response was 0.66 (0.47-0.92; P = .0134), and the HR for overall survival was 1.15 (0.72-1.84; P = .5461).
Similar results were found in indolent NHL (progression-free survival 0.70 [0.49-1.01; P = .0582]) and MCL (progression-free survival 0.40 [0.21-0.75; P = .0035]), with the strongest effect in MCL, Dr. Flinn said.
Dr. Kahl noted that the advantages for the BR regimen include that it is not associated with alopecia, neuropathy, or steroid issues, and that it may extend progression-free survival and time to next treatment. On the other hand, R-CHOP is associated with less GI toxicity, rash, opportunistic infections, and prolonged cytopenia. Also, the BR regimen was associated with a higher risk of secondary cancers, primarily squamous cell carcinomas.
There were 42 secondary malignancies in the BR group and 24 in the R-CHOP/R-CVP group, Dr. Flinn reported.
It is theoretically possible that BR equals R-CHOP plus maintenance therapy from an efficacy perspective, Dr. Kahl said.
As virtually all excess adverse event fatalities occurred during maintenance therapy, it is possible that maintenance therapy after BR “does more harm than good.” This high priority issue “should be evaluated in the BRIGHT data set,” Dr. Kahl recommended.
Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products R&D sponsored the study. Dr. Flinn had no relationships to disclose; two of his fellow researchers are Teva employees. Dr. Kahl disclosed serving as an adviser or consultant to Abbvie, Acerta Pharma, Celgene, Cell Therapeutics, Genentech/Roche, Incyte, Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Juno Therapeutics, Millennium, Pharmacyclics, Sandoz, and Seattle Genetics.
[email protected]
On Twitter @maryjodales
CHICAGO – Overall survival was comparable at 5 years of follow up for three regimens in treatment-naive patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) or mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), based on long-term results from the BRIGHT study.
While progression-free survival, event-free survival, and duration of response were significantly better with bendamustine plus rituximab (BR), overall survival at 5 years did not significantly differ in patients given this regimen and compared to patients given rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) or rituximab with cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone (R-CVP), Ian Flinn, MD, of Tennessee Oncology, Nashville, reported at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
Quality of life was somewhat better for the patients given BR, but those patients were also at higher risk for secondary malignancies (42 vs. 24), most of which were squamous cell carcinomas, observed Dr. Kahl, professor of medicine at Washington University, St. Louis.
In BRIGHT, 224 treatment-naive patients with indolent NHL or MCL were randomized to receive BR and were compared to 223 similar patients who received either R-CHOP (104 patients) or R-CVP (119 patients). At least six cycles of therapy were completed by 203 patients in the BR group and by 196 in the R-CHOP/R-CVP group. Rituximab maintenance therapy was given to 43% of the BR group and to 45% of the R-CHOP/R-CVP group.
For BR and R-CHOP/R-CVP, the 5-year progression-free survival rate was 65.5% (95% CI, 58.5-71.6) and 55.8% (95% CI, 48.4-62.5), respectively. The overall survival rate for the entire patient group was 81.7% (75.7-86.3) and 85% (79.3-89.3) respectively. Comparing BR and R-CHOP/R-CVP, the hazard ratio (95% CI) for progression-free survival was 0.61 (0.45-0.85; P = .0025), the HR for event-free survival was 0.63 (0.46-0.84; P = .0020), the HR for duration of response was 0.66 (0.47-0.92; P = .0134), and the HR for overall survival was 1.15 (0.72-1.84; P = .5461).
Similar results were found in indolent NHL (progression-free survival 0.70 [0.49-1.01; P = .0582]) and MCL (progression-free survival 0.40 [0.21-0.75; P = .0035]), with the strongest effect in MCL, Dr. Flinn said.
Dr. Kahl noted that the advantages for the BR regimen include that it is not associated with alopecia, neuropathy, or steroid issues, and that it may extend progression-free survival and time to next treatment. On the other hand, R-CHOP is associated with less GI toxicity, rash, opportunistic infections, and prolonged cytopenia. Also, the BR regimen was associated with a higher risk of secondary cancers, primarily squamous cell carcinomas.
There were 42 secondary malignancies in the BR group and 24 in the R-CHOP/R-CVP group, Dr. Flinn reported.
It is theoretically possible that BR equals R-CHOP plus maintenance therapy from an efficacy perspective, Dr. Kahl said.
As virtually all excess adverse event fatalities occurred during maintenance therapy, it is possible that maintenance therapy after BR “does more harm than good.” This high priority issue “should be evaluated in the BRIGHT data set,” Dr. Kahl recommended.
Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products R&D sponsored the study. Dr. Flinn had no relationships to disclose; two of his fellow researchers are Teva employees. Dr. Kahl disclosed serving as an adviser or consultant to Abbvie, Acerta Pharma, Celgene, Cell Therapeutics, Genentech/Roche, Incyte, Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Juno Therapeutics, Millennium, Pharmacyclics, Sandoz, and Seattle Genetics.
[email protected]
On Twitter @maryjodales
AT ASCO 2017
Key clinical point:
Major finding: For BR and R-CHOP/R-CVP, the 5-year progression-free survival rate was 65.5% (95% CI, 58.5-71.6) and 55.8% (95% CI, 48.4-62.5), respectively.
Data source: In BRIGHT, 224 treatment-naive patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma or mantle cell lymphoma were randomized to receive BR and were compared to 223 similar patients who received either R-CHOP (104 patients) or R-CVP (119 patients).
Disclosures: Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products R&D sponsored the study. Dr. Flinn had no relationships to disclose; two of his fellow researchers are Teva employees. Dr. Kahl disclosed serving as an adviser or consultant to Abbvie, Acerta Pharma, Celgene, Cell Therapeutics, Genentech/Roche, Incyte, Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Juno Therapeutics, Millennium, Pharmacyclics, Sandoz, and Seattle Genetics.
Lenalidomide-rituximab induces high CR rate in untreated follicular lymphoma
LUGANO, SWITZERLAND – The chemotherapy-free combination of lenalidomide (Revlimid) and rituximab was highly active as frontline therapy for patients with low- and intermediate-risk follicular lymphoma in a multicenter phase II trial.
Among 66 patients with previously untreated follicular lymphoma, the overall response rate to the combination was 95%, including complete responses in 72% of patients. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 70%, reported John P. Leonard, MD, of Weill Cornell Medicine, New York.
“I think this overall is a useful validation – confirmation of the single-center data that showed that this [combination] in a multicenter setting can be a highly effective and reasonably well-tolerated treatment approach for patients with untreated follicular lymphoma,” he said at the International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma, on behalf of colleagues in the National Cancer Institute Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology and Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) 50803 trial.
In the 50803 study, the investigators enrolled 66 treatment-naive patients. The median age was 53 years (range 32-79). Patients were eligible if they had grade 1-3a, stage 3-4 or bulky stage 2 untreated follicular lymphoma, with Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) scores of 0-2.
They received lenalidomide 20 mg/day on days 1 through 21 of each 28-day cycle for 12 cycles, plus rituximab administered once weekly for each week of cycle 1, and on the first day of cycles 4, 6, 8 and 10.
The investigators also evaluated polymorphisms in the Fc fragment of immunoglobulin G receptor IIa and IIIa (FcGR2A/FcGR3A).
One of the 66 patients never started treatment, leaving 65 for the response analysis.
As noted, the overall response rate was 95%, including 94% of 21 patients with FLIPI 0 or 1 disease, and 96% of 44 patients with FLIPI 2 or 3. There were no associations between FLIPI score and likelihood of achieving a complete response, and no associations between FcR polymorphism or change in angiogenic markers and either complete responses or PFS, Dr. Leonard said.
Complete responses, the primary endpoint, were seen in 15 of the 21 (71%) of patients with FLIPI 0-1, and in 32 of the 44 (73%) with FLIPI 2-3, for an overall complete response rate of 72%.
Partial responses occurred in 5 patients (23%) with FLIPI 0-1 and 10 patients (23%) with FLIPI 2-3, for an overall PR rate of 23%.
Respective rates of stable disease were 0, 2%, and 2%. One patient in each FLIPI group was not evaluated because of adverse events.
After a median follow-up of 5 years, the progression free survival rate was 70%.
The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events were neutropenia, seen in 21% of patients, and infections, seen in 40% (including one grade 3 febrile neutropenia).
Grade 1-2 fatigue was reported by 51 patients, and grade 3 fatigue was reported by 4.
Other grade 3 or 4 events seen in more than 5% of patients included rash in 9%, and hyperglycemia, hypophosphatemia, or hypertension, each in 6% of patients.
Celgene and Genentech supported the study. Dr. Leonard has served as an adviser/consultant to Celgene and other companies.
LUGANO, SWITZERLAND – The chemotherapy-free combination of lenalidomide (Revlimid) and rituximab was highly active as frontline therapy for patients with low- and intermediate-risk follicular lymphoma in a multicenter phase II trial.
Among 66 patients with previously untreated follicular lymphoma, the overall response rate to the combination was 95%, including complete responses in 72% of patients. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 70%, reported John P. Leonard, MD, of Weill Cornell Medicine, New York.
“I think this overall is a useful validation – confirmation of the single-center data that showed that this [combination] in a multicenter setting can be a highly effective and reasonably well-tolerated treatment approach for patients with untreated follicular lymphoma,” he said at the International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma, on behalf of colleagues in the National Cancer Institute Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology and Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) 50803 trial.
In the 50803 study, the investigators enrolled 66 treatment-naive patients. The median age was 53 years (range 32-79). Patients were eligible if they had grade 1-3a, stage 3-4 or bulky stage 2 untreated follicular lymphoma, with Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) scores of 0-2.
They received lenalidomide 20 mg/day on days 1 through 21 of each 28-day cycle for 12 cycles, plus rituximab administered once weekly for each week of cycle 1, and on the first day of cycles 4, 6, 8 and 10.
The investigators also evaluated polymorphisms in the Fc fragment of immunoglobulin G receptor IIa and IIIa (FcGR2A/FcGR3A).
One of the 66 patients never started treatment, leaving 65 for the response analysis.
As noted, the overall response rate was 95%, including 94% of 21 patients with FLIPI 0 or 1 disease, and 96% of 44 patients with FLIPI 2 or 3. There were no associations between FLIPI score and likelihood of achieving a complete response, and no associations between FcR polymorphism or change in angiogenic markers and either complete responses or PFS, Dr. Leonard said.
Complete responses, the primary endpoint, were seen in 15 of the 21 (71%) of patients with FLIPI 0-1, and in 32 of the 44 (73%) with FLIPI 2-3, for an overall complete response rate of 72%.
Partial responses occurred in 5 patients (23%) with FLIPI 0-1 and 10 patients (23%) with FLIPI 2-3, for an overall PR rate of 23%.
Respective rates of stable disease were 0, 2%, and 2%. One patient in each FLIPI group was not evaluated because of adverse events.
After a median follow-up of 5 years, the progression free survival rate was 70%.
The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events were neutropenia, seen in 21% of patients, and infections, seen in 40% (including one grade 3 febrile neutropenia).
Grade 1-2 fatigue was reported by 51 patients, and grade 3 fatigue was reported by 4.
Other grade 3 or 4 events seen in more than 5% of patients included rash in 9%, and hyperglycemia, hypophosphatemia, or hypertension, each in 6% of patients.
Celgene and Genentech supported the study. Dr. Leonard has served as an adviser/consultant to Celgene and other companies.
LUGANO, SWITZERLAND – The chemotherapy-free combination of lenalidomide (Revlimid) and rituximab was highly active as frontline therapy for patients with low- and intermediate-risk follicular lymphoma in a multicenter phase II trial.
Among 66 patients with previously untreated follicular lymphoma, the overall response rate to the combination was 95%, including complete responses in 72% of patients. The 5-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate was 70%, reported John P. Leonard, MD, of Weill Cornell Medicine, New York.
“I think this overall is a useful validation – confirmation of the single-center data that showed that this [combination] in a multicenter setting can be a highly effective and reasonably well-tolerated treatment approach for patients with untreated follicular lymphoma,” he said at the International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma, on behalf of colleagues in the National Cancer Institute Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology and Cancer and Leukemia Group B (CALGB) 50803 trial.
In the 50803 study, the investigators enrolled 66 treatment-naive patients. The median age was 53 years (range 32-79). Patients were eligible if they had grade 1-3a, stage 3-4 or bulky stage 2 untreated follicular lymphoma, with Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) scores of 0-2.
They received lenalidomide 20 mg/day on days 1 through 21 of each 28-day cycle for 12 cycles, plus rituximab administered once weekly for each week of cycle 1, and on the first day of cycles 4, 6, 8 and 10.
The investigators also evaluated polymorphisms in the Fc fragment of immunoglobulin G receptor IIa and IIIa (FcGR2A/FcGR3A).
One of the 66 patients never started treatment, leaving 65 for the response analysis.
As noted, the overall response rate was 95%, including 94% of 21 patients with FLIPI 0 or 1 disease, and 96% of 44 patients with FLIPI 2 or 3. There were no associations between FLIPI score and likelihood of achieving a complete response, and no associations between FcR polymorphism or change in angiogenic markers and either complete responses or PFS, Dr. Leonard said.
Complete responses, the primary endpoint, were seen in 15 of the 21 (71%) of patients with FLIPI 0-1, and in 32 of the 44 (73%) with FLIPI 2-3, for an overall complete response rate of 72%.
Partial responses occurred in 5 patients (23%) with FLIPI 0-1 and 10 patients (23%) with FLIPI 2-3, for an overall PR rate of 23%.
Respective rates of stable disease were 0, 2%, and 2%. One patient in each FLIPI group was not evaluated because of adverse events.
After a median follow-up of 5 years, the progression free survival rate was 70%.
The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events were neutropenia, seen in 21% of patients, and infections, seen in 40% (including one grade 3 febrile neutropenia).
Grade 1-2 fatigue was reported by 51 patients, and grade 3 fatigue was reported by 4.
Other grade 3 or 4 events seen in more than 5% of patients included rash in 9%, and hyperglycemia, hypophosphatemia, or hypertension, each in 6% of patients.
Celgene and Genentech supported the study. Dr. Leonard has served as an adviser/consultant to Celgene and other companies.
AT 14-ICML
Key clinical point: The combination of lenalidomide and rituximab was highly active against previously untreated follicular lymphoma.
Major finding: The overall response rate was 95%; 5-year progression-free survival was 70%.
Data source: Open-label prospective study of lenalidomide-rituximab in 66 patients with previously untreated follicular lymphoma.
Disclosures: Celgene and Genentech supported the study. Dr. Leonard has served as an adviser/consultant to Celgene and other companies.
GALEN safe and effective in relapsed and refractory follicular lymphoma
LUGANO, SWITZERLAND – For patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, a pairing of lenalidomide (Revlimid) and obinutuzumab (Gazyva) appeared to be especially useful among patients who had disease progression within 24 months, based on results from a Lymphoma Academic Research Organisation trial.
Among 86 patients who were enrolled in a phase II trial and were assessable for efficacy, overall response rates (ORR) with the combination therapy, nicknamed “GALEN,” were 80.2% by 1999 International Working Group criteria, and 74.4% according to the 2007 IWG criteria, reported Franck Morschhauser, MD, PhD, of the University of Lille, France.
The rationale for this combination is the known synergy between lenalidomide and rituximab in relapsed refractory non-Hodgkin lymphomas and in the frontline setting for patients with follicular lymphoma. Obinutuzumab, a follow-on to rituximab, is a unique type II glycoengineered monoclonal antibody directed against CD20, but with increased antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and increased direct cytotoxicity, compared with rituximab, he explained.
In the phase Ib part of the study, researchers settled on a dose of obinutuzumab 1000 mg and lenalidomide 20 mg. Obinutuzumab was administered on days 8, 15 and 22 and lenalidomide on days 1 to 21 of each 28 day cycle. Patients were evaluated for response after three cycles and at the end of induction (after completion of 4 to 6 cycles).
The maintenance phase consisted of obinutuzumab on day 1 of every other cycle beginning with cycle 1, and lenalidomide on days 1 through 22 for cycles 7 through 18. From cycles 19 through 24, obinutuzumab was given alone on the first day of every 56-day cycle.
The overall response rate (ORR) at the end of induction according to the IWG 1999 criteria, the primary endpoint, was 80.2%, including 39.5% complete or unconfirmed complete responses.
When the same patients were assessed according to 2007 IWG criteria, the ORR rate was slightly lower, at 74.4%, but the complete or unconfirmed complete response rate was slightly higher, at 44.2%.
An analysis of responses by time to relapse showed that the ORR among 24 patients with disease progression within 24 months was 70.8%, including 33.3% complete or unconfirmed complete responses by the 1999 criteria, and 66.7% with 54.2% complete or unconfirmed complete responses by the 2007 criteria.
ORR among the 64 patients with disease progression after more than 24 months was 83.9% with 41.9% complete or unconfirmed complete responses by 1999 criteria, and 77.4% with 40.3% complete or unconfirmed complete responses by 2007 criteria. The differences between the groups with disease progression within 24 months and later relapse groups were not significant.
A subanalysis by refractory status, however, showed that the 63 nonrefractory patients fared significantly better, with 87.3% ORR and 41.3% complete or unconfirmed complete responses by 1999 criteria, and 81.0% with 49.2% complete or unconfirmed complete response rate by 2007 determinations, compared with respective rates among 23 refractory patients of 60.9%/34.8% complete or unconfirmed complete response rate and 56.5% with 30.4% complete or unconfirmed complete responses (P = .0212 by 1999 criteria, and P = .022 by 2007 criteria).
After a median follow-up of 18 months, 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) among all patients was 75.5%, and 1-year overall survival (OS) was 88.8%.
There were no significant differences in either progression-free survival or overall survival by time to relapse. Although there appeared to be a nonsignificant trend toward worse outcomes among patients with refractory vs. nonrefractory disease, there was a significantly lower 1-year overall survival rate among refractory patients, at 71.5% compared with 95% for nonrefractory patients (censored logrank P = .0098).
Dr. Morschhauser said that the combination had no unexpected toxicities. Hematologic toxicities of grade 3 or greater included neutropenia in 28.4%, thrombocytopenia in 11.4%, and anemia and lymphopenia in 3.4% each.
The most common nonhematologic toxicities of all grades included infections in 62.5% of patients (grade 3 or greater in 6.8%), and asthenia in 52.3% of patients (grade 3 or greater in 2.3%). The only other grade 3 or greater toxicities were peripheral neuropathy in 1.1%, and infusion related rash in 3.4%.
Additional follow-up will be need for evaluation of the full impact of maintenance on outcomes, he added.
The study was funded by Celgene and Roche. Dr. Morschhauser disclosed receiving honoraria from and serving on advisory boards for both companies.
LUGANO, SWITZERLAND – For patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, a pairing of lenalidomide (Revlimid) and obinutuzumab (Gazyva) appeared to be especially useful among patients who had disease progression within 24 months, based on results from a Lymphoma Academic Research Organisation trial.
Among 86 patients who were enrolled in a phase II trial and were assessable for efficacy, overall response rates (ORR) with the combination therapy, nicknamed “GALEN,” were 80.2% by 1999 International Working Group criteria, and 74.4% according to the 2007 IWG criteria, reported Franck Morschhauser, MD, PhD, of the University of Lille, France.
The rationale for this combination is the known synergy between lenalidomide and rituximab in relapsed refractory non-Hodgkin lymphomas and in the frontline setting for patients with follicular lymphoma. Obinutuzumab, a follow-on to rituximab, is a unique type II glycoengineered monoclonal antibody directed against CD20, but with increased antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and increased direct cytotoxicity, compared with rituximab, he explained.
In the phase Ib part of the study, researchers settled on a dose of obinutuzumab 1000 mg and lenalidomide 20 mg. Obinutuzumab was administered on days 8, 15 and 22 and lenalidomide on days 1 to 21 of each 28 day cycle. Patients were evaluated for response after three cycles and at the end of induction (after completion of 4 to 6 cycles).
The maintenance phase consisted of obinutuzumab on day 1 of every other cycle beginning with cycle 1, and lenalidomide on days 1 through 22 for cycles 7 through 18. From cycles 19 through 24, obinutuzumab was given alone on the first day of every 56-day cycle.
The overall response rate (ORR) at the end of induction according to the IWG 1999 criteria, the primary endpoint, was 80.2%, including 39.5% complete or unconfirmed complete responses.
When the same patients were assessed according to 2007 IWG criteria, the ORR rate was slightly lower, at 74.4%, but the complete or unconfirmed complete response rate was slightly higher, at 44.2%.
An analysis of responses by time to relapse showed that the ORR among 24 patients with disease progression within 24 months was 70.8%, including 33.3% complete or unconfirmed complete responses by the 1999 criteria, and 66.7% with 54.2% complete or unconfirmed complete responses by the 2007 criteria.
ORR among the 64 patients with disease progression after more than 24 months was 83.9% with 41.9% complete or unconfirmed complete responses by 1999 criteria, and 77.4% with 40.3% complete or unconfirmed complete responses by 2007 criteria. The differences between the groups with disease progression within 24 months and later relapse groups were not significant.
A subanalysis by refractory status, however, showed that the 63 nonrefractory patients fared significantly better, with 87.3% ORR and 41.3% complete or unconfirmed complete responses by 1999 criteria, and 81.0% with 49.2% complete or unconfirmed complete response rate by 2007 determinations, compared with respective rates among 23 refractory patients of 60.9%/34.8% complete or unconfirmed complete response rate and 56.5% with 30.4% complete or unconfirmed complete responses (P = .0212 by 1999 criteria, and P = .022 by 2007 criteria).
After a median follow-up of 18 months, 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) among all patients was 75.5%, and 1-year overall survival (OS) was 88.8%.
There were no significant differences in either progression-free survival or overall survival by time to relapse. Although there appeared to be a nonsignificant trend toward worse outcomes among patients with refractory vs. nonrefractory disease, there was a significantly lower 1-year overall survival rate among refractory patients, at 71.5% compared with 95% for nonrefractory patients (censored logrank P = .0098).
Dr. Morschhauser said that the combination had no unexpected toxicities. Hematologic toxicities of grade 3 or greater included neutropenia in 28.4%, thrombocytopenia in 11.4%, and anemia and lymphopenia in 3.4% each.
The most common nonhematologic toxicities of all grades included infections in 62.5% of patients (grade 3 or greater in 6.8%), and asthenia in 52.3% of patients (grade 3 or greater in 2.3%). The only other grade 3 or greater toxicities were peripheral neuropathy in 1.1%, and infusion related rash in 3.4%.
Additional follow-up will be need for evaluation of the full impact of maintenance on outcomes, he added.
The study was funded by Celgene and Roche. Dr. Morschhauser disclosed receiving honoraria from and serving on advisory boards for both companies.
LUGANO, SWITZERLAND – For patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, a pairing of lenalidomide (Revlimid) and obinutuzumab (Gazyva) appeared to be especially useful among patients who had disease progression within 24 months, based on results from a Lymphoma Academic Research Organisation trial.
Among 86 patients who were enrolled in a phase II trial and were assessable for efficacy, overall response rates (ORR) with the combination therapy, nicknamed “GALEN,” were 80.2% by 1999 International Working Group criteria, and 74.4% according to the 2007 IWG criteria, reported Franck Morschhauser, MD, PhD, of the University of Lille, France.
The rationale for this combination is the known synergy between lenalidomide and rituximab in relapsed refractory non-Hodgkin lymphomas and in the frontline setting for patients with follicular lymphoma. Obinutuzumab, a follow-on to rituximab, is a unique type II glycoengineered monoclonal antibody directed against CD20, but with increased antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity and increased direct cytotoxicity, compared with rituximab, he explained.
In the phase Ib part of the study, researchers settled on a dose of obinutuzumab 1000 mg and lenalidomide 20 mg. Obinutuzumab was administered on days 8, 15 and 22 and lenalidomide on days 1 to 21 of each 28 day cycle. Patients were evaluated for response after three cycles and at the end of induction (after completion of 4 to 6 cycles).
The maintenance phase consisted of obinutuzumab on day 1 of every other cycle beginning with cycle 1, and lenalidomide on days 1 through 22 for cycles 7 through 18. From cycles 19 through 24, obinutuzumab was given alone on the first day of every 56-day cycle.
The overall response rate (ORR) at the end of induction according to the IWG 1999 criteria, the primary endpoint, was 80.2%, including 39.5% complete or unconfirmed complete responses.
When the same patients were assessed according to 2007 IWG criteria, the ORR rate was slightly lower, at 74.4%, but the complete or unconfirmed complete response rate was slightly higher, at 44.2%.
An analysis of responses by time to relapse showed that the ORR among 24 patients with disease progression within 24 months was 70.8%, including 33.3% complete or unconfirmed complete responses by the 1999 criteria, and 66.7% with 54.2% complete or unconfirmed complete responses by the 2007 criteria.
ORR among the 64 patients with disease progression after more than 24 months was 83.9% with 41.9% complete or unconfirmed complete responses by 1999 criteria, and 77.4% with 40.3% complete or unconfirmed complete responses by 2007 criteria. The differences between the groups with disease progression within 24 months and later relapse groups were not significant.
A subanalysis by refractory status, however, showed that the 63 nonrefractory patients fared significantly better, with 87.3% ORR and 41.3% complete or unconfirmed complete responses by 1999 criteria, and 81.0% with 49.2% complete or unconfirmed complete response rate by 2007 determinations, compared with respective rates among 23 refractory patients of 60.9%/34.8% complete or unconfirmed complete response rate and 56.5% with 30.4% complete or unconfirmed complete responses (P = .0212 by 1999 criteria, and P = .022 by 2007 criteria).
After a median follow-up of 18 months, 1-year progression-free survival (PFS) among all patients was 75.5%, and 1-year overall survival (OS) was 88.8%.
There were no significant differences in either progression-free survival or overall survival by time to relapse. Although there appeared to be a nonsignificant trend toward worse outcomes among patients with refractory vs. nonrefractory disease, there was a significantly lower 1-year overall survival rate among refractory patients, at 71.5% compared with 95% for nonrefractory patients (censored logrank P = .0098).
Dr. Morschhauser said that the combination had no unexpected toxicities. Hematologic toxicities of grade 3 or greater included neutropenia in 28.4%, thrombocytopenia in 11.4%, and anemia and lymphopenia in 3.4% each.
The most common nonhematologic toxicities of all grades included infections in 62.5% of patients (grade 3 or greater in 6.8%), and asthenia in 52.3% of patients (grade 3 or greater in 2.3%). The only other grade 3 or greater toxicities were peripheral neuropathy in 1.1%, and infusion related rash in 3.4%.
Additional follow-up will be need for evaluation of the full impact of maintenance on outcomes, he added.
The study was funded by Celgene and Roche. Dr. Morschhauser disclosed receiving honoraria from and serving on advisory boards for both companies.
AT 14-ICML
Key clinical point: A combination of lenalidomide and obinutuzumab was safe and effective in patients with relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma.
Major finding: The overall response rate according to 1999 International Working Group criteria was 80.2%, including 39.5% CR/CRu.
Data source: Single-arm phase II study with 86 patients evaluable for efficacy and 88 evaluable for safety.
Disclosures: The study was funded by Celgene and Roche. Dr. Morschhauser disclosed receiving honoraria from and serving on advisory boards for both companies.
Len plus anti-CD19 Mab MOR208 active against advanced DLBCL
LUGANO, SWITZERLAND – Combining lenalidomide (Revlimid) with an anti-CD19 monoclonal antibody labeled MOR208 showed promising activity in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who were ineligible for stem cell transplant and had poor prognosis, early interim results from a clinical study indicate.
Among 34 patients evaluable for response, the preliminary objective response rate (ORR) was 56%, including complete responses in 32% of patients, reported Gilles Salles, MD, PhD, of the University of Lyon, France.
MOR208 is a humanized anti-CD19 monoclonal antibody with the Fc-antibody region enhanced to improve cytotoxicity. Its mechanisms of action include natural killer cell–mediated antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis, and direct cytotoxicity.
In a preclinical study, a combination of MOR208 and lenalidomide showed synergistic antileukemic and antilymphoma activity both in vivo and in vitro, Dr. Salles said.
In addition, both lenalidomide and MOR208 have shown significant activity against relapsed, refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas.
In an ongoing phase II, open-label study, Dr. Salles and his colleagues are enrolling transplant-ineligible patients 18 years and older with relapsed/refractory DLBCL, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status 0-2, and adequate organ function who had disease progression after 1-3 prior lines of therapy.
Patients with primary refractory DLBCL, double-hit or triple-hit DLBCL (i.e., mutations in Myc, BCL2, and/or BCL6), other NHL histological subtypes, or central nervous system lymphoma involvement are excluded.
Patients receive MOR208 12 mg/kg intravenously on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 for cycles 1-3 and on days 1 and 15 of cycles 4-12. Lenalidomide 25 mg orally is delivered on days 1-21 of each cycle. Patients who have stable disease or better at the end of 12 cycles can be maintained on MOR208 at the same dose on days 1 and 15.
As of the data cutoff on March 6, 2017, 44 patients had been enrolled, and 34 were evaluable for response. The median patient age was 73 years (range, 47-82 years).
At the time of the data presentation, ORR, the primary endpoint, was 56%, consisting of 32% complete responses (11 patients), 24% partial responses (8), 12% stable disease (4), and 32% of patients who either had disease progression or had not yet had a postbaseline response assessment.
The median time to response was 1.8 months, with a median time to complete response of 3.4 months. Of 19 responders, 16 continue to have a response, including 10 of 11 patients with complete responses.
The most common grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicities were neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Nonhematologic toxicities of any grade included rashes in 20% of patients, pyrexia in 16%, diarrhea in 16%, asthenia in 14%, and pneumonia, bronchitis, and nausea in 11% each.
There were no reported infusion-related reactions with the antibody. In all, 27% of patients required a lenalidomide dose reduction – to 20 mg/day in 20% of patients and to 15 mg/day in 7%.
Study accrual, follow-up of patients on therapy, investigations of cell origin, and subgroup analyses are ongoing.
MorphoSys is sponsoring the study. Dr. Salles has received honoraria from Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Gilead, Janssen, Roche/Genentech, and Servier and is an advisor/consultant to many of the same companies.
LUGANO, SWITZERLAND – Combining lenalidomide (Revlimid) with an anti-CD19 monoclonal antibody labeled MOR208 showed promising activity in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who were ineligible for stem cell transplant and had poor prognosis, early interim results from a clinical study indicate.
Among 34 patients evaluable for response, the preliminary objective response rate (ORR) was 56%, including complete responses in 32% of patients, reported Gilles Salles, MD, PhD, of the University of Lyon, France.
MOR208 is a humanized anti-CD19 monoclonal antibody with the Fc-antibody region enhanced to improve cytotoxicity. Its mechanisms of action include natural killer cell–mediated antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis, and direct cytotoxicity.
In a preclinical study, a combination of MOR208 and lenalidomide showed synergistic antileukemic and antilymphoma activity both in vivo and in vitro, Dr. Salles said.
In addition, both lenalidomide and MOR208 have shown significant activity against relapsed, refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas.
In an ongoing phase II, open-label study, Dr. Salles and his colleagues are enrolling transplant-ineligible patients 18 years and older with relapsed/refractory DLBCL, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status 0-2, and adequate organ function who had disease progression after 1-3 prior lines of therapy.
Patients with primary refractory DLBCL, double-hit or triple-hit DLBCL (i.e., mutations in Myc, BCL2, and/or BCL6), other NHL histological subtypes, or central nervous system lymphoma involvement are excluded.
Patients receive MOR208 12 mg/kg intravenously on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 for cycles 1-3 and on days 1 and 15 of cycles 4-12. Lenalidomide 25 mg orally is delivered on days 1-21 of each cycle. Patients who have stable disease or better at the end of 12 cycles can be maintained on MOR208 at the same dose on days 1 and 15.
As of the data cutoff on March 6, 2017, 44 patients had been enrolled, and 34 were evaluable for response. The median patient age was 73 years (range, 47-82 years).
At the time of the data presentation, ORR, the primary endpoint, was 56%, consisting of 32% complete responses (11 patients), 24% partial responses (8), 12% stable disease (4), and 32% of patients who either had disease progression or had not yet had a postbaseline response assessment.
The median time to response was 1.8 months, with a median time to complete response of 3.4 months. Of 19 responders, 16 continue to have a response, including 10 of 11 patients with complete responses.
The most common grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicities were neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Nonhematologic toxicities of any grade included rashes in 20% of patients, pyrexia in 16%, diarrhea in 16%, asthenia in 14%, and pneumonia, bronchitis, and nausea in 11% each.
There were no reported infusion-related reactions with the antibody. In all, 27% of patients required a lenalidomide dose reduction – to 20 mg/day in 20% of patients and to 15 mg/day in 7%.
Study accrual, follow-up of patients on therapy, investigations of cell origin, and subgroup analyses are ongoing.
MorphoSys is sponsoring the study. Dr. Salles has received honoraria from Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Gilead, Janssen, Roche/Genentech, and Servier and is an advisor/consultant to many of the same companies.
LUGANO, SWITZERLAND – Combining lenalidomide (Revlimid) with an anti-CD19 monoclonal antibody labeled MOR208 showed promising activity in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who were ineligible for stem cell transplant and had poor prognosis, early interim results from a clinical study indicate.
Among 34 patients evaluable for response, the preliminary objective response rate (ORR) was 56%, including complete responses in 32% of patients, reported Gilles Salles, MD, PhD, of the University of Lyon, France.
MOR208 is a humanized anti-CD19 monoclonal antibody with the Fc-antibody region enhanced to improve cytotoxicity. Its mechanisms of action include natural killer cell–mediated antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular phagocytosis, and direct cytotoxicity.
In a preclinical study, a combination of MOR208 and lenalidomide showed synergistic antileukemic and antilymphoma activity both in vivo and in vitro, Dr. Salles said.
In addition, both lenalidomide and MOR208 have shown significant activity against relapsed, refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas.
In an ongoing phase II, open-label study, Dr. Salles and his colleagues are enrolling transplant-ineligible patients 18 years and older with relapsed/refractory DLBCL, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status 0-2, and adequate organ function who had disease progression after 1-3 prior lines of therapy.
Patients with primary refractory DLBCL, double-hit or triple-hit DLBCL (i.e., mutations in Myc, BCL2, and/or BCL6), other NHL histological subtypes, or central nervous system lymphoma involvement are excluded.
Patients receive MOR208 12 mg/kg intravenously on days 1, 8, 15, and 22 for cycles 1-3 and on days 1 and 15 of cycles 4-12. Lenalidomide 25 mg orally is delivered on days 1-21 of each cycle. Patients who have stable disease or better at the end of 12 cycles can be maintained on MOR208 at the same dose on days 1 and 15.
As of the data cutoff on March 6, 2017, 44 patients had been enrolled, and 34 were evaluable for response. The median patient age was 73 years (range, 47-82 years).
At the time of the data presentation, ORR, the primary endpoint, was 56%, consisting of 32% complete responses (11 patients), 24% partial responses (8), 12% stable disease (4), and 32% of patients who either had disease progression or had not yet had a postbaseline response assessment.
The median time to response was 1.8 months, with a median time to complete response of 3.4 months. Of 19 responders, 16 continue to have a response, including 10 of 11 patients with complete responses.
The most common grade 3 or 4 hematologic toxicities were neutropenia, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. Nonhematologic toxicities of any grade included rashes in 20% of patients, pyrexia in 16%, diarrhea in 16%, asthenia in 14%, and pneumonia, bronchitis, and nausea in 11% each.
There were no reported infusion-related reactions with the antibody. In all, 27% of patients required a lenalidomide dose reduction – to 20 mg/day in 20% of patients and to 15 mg/day in 7%.
Study accrual, follow-up of patients on therapy, investigations of cell origin, and subgroup analyses are ongoing.
MorphoSys is sponsoring the study. Dr. Salles has received honoraria from Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Gilead, Janssen, Roche/Genentech, and Servier and is an advisor/consultant to many of the same companies.
AT 14-ICML
Key clinical point: A combination of the anti-CD19 monoclonal antibody MOR208 and the immunomodulator lenalidomide has shown good activity against relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Major finding: The preliminary objective response rate was 56%, including 32% complete responses.
Data source: An ongoing open-label phase II study with 44 patients out of a planned 80 enrolled.
Disclosures: MorphoSys is sponsoring the study. Dr. Salles has received honoraria from Amgen, BMS, Celgene, Gilead, Janssen, Roche/Genentech, and Servier and is an advisor or consultant to many of the same companies.
Two SNPs linked to survival in R-CHOP–treated DLBCL
Two variations of the BCL2 gene are linked with the survival prospects of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are treated with the R-CHOP regimen, based on a study published in Haematologica.
In the population-based, case-control study of patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma across the British Columbia province, Morteza Bashash, PhD, of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, and researchers at the British Columbia Cancer Agency analyzed 217 germline DLBCL samples, excluding those with primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, specifically looking at nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
Patients receiving R-CHOP who had the AA genotype at rs7226979 had a risk of death that was four times higher than that of those with a G allele, researchers said (P less than .01). The same pattern was seen for PFS, with AA carriers having twice the risk of an event, compared with the other genotypes (P less than .05).
For those with rs4456611, patients with the GG genotype had a risk of death that was 3 times greater than that of those with an A allele (P less than .01), but there was no association with PFS for that SNP.
In an analysis of an independent cohort, only the associations that were seen with rs7226979 – and not those with rs4456611 – were able to be replicated.
The researchers noted that, while most predictive markers that are used to guide clinical treatment are drawn from actual tumor material, host-related factors could also be important.
“Compared to genetic analysis of the tumor, the patient’s constitutional genetic profile is relatively easy to obtain and can be assessed before treatment is started,” they wrote. “Our result has the potential to be useful as a complementary tool to predict the outcome of patients treated with R-CHOP and enhance clinical decision-making after confirmation by further studies.”
Two variations of the BCL2 gene are linked with the survival prospects of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are treated with the R-CHOP regimen, based on a study published in Haematologica.
In the population-based, case-control study of patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma across the British Columbia province, Morteza Bashash, PhD, of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, and researchers at the British Columbia Cancer Agency analyzed 217 germline DLBCL samples, excluding those with primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, specifically looking at nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
Patients receiving R-CHOP who had the AA genotype at rs7226979 had a risk of death that was four times higher than that of those with a G allele, researchers said (P less than .01). The same pattern was seen for PFS, with AA carriers having twice the risk of an event, compared with the other genotypes (P less than .05).
For those with rs4456611, patients with the GG genotype had a risk of death that was 3 times greater than that of those with an A allele (P less than .01), but there was no association with PFS for that SNP.
In an analysis of an independent cohort, only the associations that were seen with rs7226979 – and not those with rs4456611 – were able to be replicated.
The researchers noted that, while most predictive markers that are used to guide clinical treatment are drawn from actual tumor material, host-related factors could also be important.
“Compared to genetic analysis of the tumor, the patient’s constitutional genetic profile is relatively easy to obtain and can be assessed before treatment is started,” they wrote. “Our result has the potential to be useful as a complementary tool to predict the outcome of patients treated with R-CHOP and enhance clinical decision-making after confirmation by further studies.”
Two variations of the BCL2 gene are linked with the survival prospects of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who are treated with the R-CHOP regimen, based on a study published in Haematologica.
In the population-based, case-control study of patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma across the British Columbia province, Morteza Bashash, PhD, of the Dalla Lana School of Public Health, Toronto, and researchers at the British Columbia Cancer Agency analyzed 217 germline DLBCL samples, excluding those with primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma, specifically looking at nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs).
Patients receiving R-CHOP who had the AA genotype at rs7226979 had a risk of death that was four times higher than that of those with a G allele, researchers said (P less than .01). The same pattern was seen for PFS, with AA carriers having twice the risk of an event, compared with the other genotypes (P less than .05).
For those with rs4456611, patients with the GG genotype had a risk of death that was 3 times greater than that of those with an A allele (P less than .01), but there was no association with PFS for that SNP.
In an analysis of an independent cohort, only the associations that were seen with rs7226979 – and not those with rs4456611 – were able to be replicated.
The researchers noted that, while most predictive markers that are used to guide clinical treatment are drawn from actual tumor material, host-related factors could also be important.
“Compared to genetic analysis of the tumor, the patient’s constitutional genetic profile is relatively easy to obtain and can be assessed before treatment is started,” they wrote. “Our result has the potential to be useful as a complementary tool to predict the outcome of patients treated with R-CHOP and enhance clinical decision-making after confirmation by further studies.”
FROM HAEMATOLOGICA
Key clinical point: Two SNPs were found to be linked to survival prospects in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who receive primary R-CHOP therapy.
Major finding: For the rs7226979 SNP, those with the AA genotype had a four times higher risk of death than those with a G allele.
Data source: A population-based, case-control study of patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in British Columbia, with DNA samples analyzed for 9nine SNPs among the DLBCL patients, excluding those with primary mediastinal large B-cell lymphoma.
Disclosures: Some of the study authors reported institutional research funding from Roche; honoraria from Roche/Genentech, Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Celgene; and/or consultant or advisory roles with Roche/Genentech, Janssen Pharmaceuticals, Celgene, and NanoString Technologies.
Severe health conditions decline in childhood cancer survivors
CHICAGO – Severe health problems occurring 5 or more years after diagnosis of a childhood cancer have steadily declined, based on an analysis of 23,600 participants in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, funded by the National Institutes of Health.
For all childhood cancer survivors, the 15-year cumulative incidence of severe health conditions decreased from 12.7% in those diagnosed in the 1970s, to 10.1% in the 1980s, and to 8.8% among those diagnosed in the 1990s (per 10 years: hazard ratio, 0.84 [95% confidence interval, 0.80-0.89]), Todd M. Gibson, PhD, of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, reported at a press conference at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
The association with diagnosis decade was attenuated (HR, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.85-1.00]) when detailed treatment data were included in the model, indicating that treatment reductions mediated risk.
Changes in childhood cancer treatment protocols to reduce the intensity of therapy – along with improved screening and early detection – have not only extended lifespan for many survivors, but also have reduced the incidence of serious chronic morbidity, Dr. Gibson said.
As the data address children diagnosed over 15 years ago, it is likely that improvements since then in determining patient risk and targeting therapy might result in further incremental improvements, he said in an interview.
By cancer type, severe health problems by 15 years after diagnosis decreased from 13% to 5% among survivors of Wilms’ tumor, from 18% to 11% among survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma, from 15% to 9% among survivors of astrocytoma, from 10% to 6% among survivors of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and from 9% to 7% among survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The conclusions are based on the incidence of severe, disabling/life-threatening, or fatal chronic health conditions (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, grades 3-5) among 5-year survivors diagnosed prior to age 21 years from 1970 through 1999.
Adjusted for sex and attained age, significant reduction in risk over time was found among survivors of Wilms tumor (HR, 0.57 [95% CI, 0.46-0.70]), Hodgkin lymphoma (HR, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.65-0.85]), astrocytoma (HR, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.64-0.92]), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (HR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.63-0.99]), and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (HR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.76-0.98]).
The decreases in serious health conditions were largely driven by a reduced incidence of endocrine conditions (1970s: 4.0% vs. 1990s: 1.6%; HR, 0.66 [95% CI, 0.59-0.73]) and subsequent malignant neoplasms (1970s: 2.4% vs. 1990s: 1.6%; HR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.76-0.96]).
Gastrointestinal (HR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.66-0.97]) and neurological conditions (HR, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.65-0.91]) also were reduced, but cardiac and pulmonary conditions were not. Changes in childhood cancer treatment protocols have not only extended lifespan for many survivors, but also have reduced the incidence of serious chronic morbidity in this population, Dr. Gibson concluded.
[email protected]
On Twitter @maryjodales
CHICAGO – Severe health problems occurring 5 or more years after diagnosis of a childhood cancer have steadily declined, based on an analysis of 23,600 participants in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, funded by the National Institutes of Health.
For all childhood cancer survivors, the 15-year cumulative incidence of severe health conditions decreased from 12.7% in those diagnosed in the 1970s, to 10.1% in the 1980s, and to 8.8% among those diagnosed in the 1990s (per 10 years: hazard ratio, 0.84 [95% confidence interval, 0.80-0.89]), Todd M. Gibson, PhD, of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, reported at a press conference at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
The association with diagnosis decade was attenuated (HR, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.85-1.00]) when detailed treatment data were included in the model, indicating that treatment reductions mediated risk.
Changes in childhood cancer treatment protocols to reduce the intensity of therapy – along with improved screening and early detection – have not only extended lifespan for many survivors, but also have reduced the incidence of serious chronic morbidity, Dr. Gibson said.
As the data address children diagnosed over 15 years ago, it is likely that improvements since then in determining patient risk and targeting therapy might result in further incremental improvements, he said in an interview.
By cancer type, severe health problems by 15 years after diagnosis decreased from 13% to 5% among survivors of Wilms’ tumor, from 18% to 11% among survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma, from 15% to 9% among survivors of astrocytoma, from 10% to 6% among survivors of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and from 9% to 7% among survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The conclusions are based on the incidence of severe, disabling/life-threatening, or fatal chronic health conditions (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, grades 3-5) among 5-year survivors diagnosed prior to age 21 years from 1970 through 1999.
Adjusted for sex and attained age, significant reduction in risk over time was found among survivors of Wilms tumor (HR, 0.57 [95% CI, 0.46-0.70]), Hodgkin lymphoma (HR, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.65-0.85]), astrocytoma (HR, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.64-0.92]), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (HR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.63-0.99]), and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (HR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.76-0.98]).
The decreases in serious health conditions were largely driven by a reduced incidence of endocrine conditions (1970s: 4.0% vs. 1990s: 1.6%; HR, 0.66 [95% CI, 0.59-0.73]) and subsequent malignant neoplasms (1970s: 2.4% vs. 1990s: 1.6%; HR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.76-0.96]).
Gastrointestinal (HR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.66-0.97]) and neurological conditions (HR, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.65-0.91]) also were reduced, but cardiac and pulmonary conditions were not. Changes in childhood cancer treatment protocols have not only extended lifespan for many survivors, but also have reduced the incidence of serious chronic morbidity in this population, Dr. Gibson concluded.
[email protected]
On Twitter @maryjodales
CHICAGO – Severe health problems occurring 5 or more years after diagnosis of a childhood cancer have steadily declined, based on an analysis of 23,600 participants in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study, funded by the National Institutes of Health.
For all childhood cancer survivors, the 15-year cumulative incidence of severe health conditions decreased from 12.7% in those diagnosed in the 1970s, to 10.1% in the 1980s, and to 8.8% among those diagnosed in the 1990s (per 10 years: hazard ratio, 0.84 [95% confidence interval, 0.80-0.89]), Todd M. Gibson, PhD, of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, reported at a press conference at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.
The association with diagnosis decade was attenuated (HR, 0.92 [95% CI, 0.85-1.00]) when detailed treatment data were included in the model, indicating that treatment reductions mediated risk.
Changes in childhood cancer treatment protocols to reduce the intensity of therapy – along with improved screening and early detection – have not only extended lifespan for many survivors, but also have reduced the incidence of serious chronic morbidity, Dr. Gibson said.
As the data address children diagnosed over 15 years ago, it is likely that improvements since then in determining patient risk and targeting therapy might result in further incremental improvements, he said in an interview.
By cancer type, severe health problems by 15 years after diagnosis decreased from 13% to 5% among survivors of Wilms’ tumor, from 18% to 11% among survivors of Hodgkin lymphoma, from 15% to 9% among survivors of astrocytoma, from 10% to 6% among survivors of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and from 9% to 7% among survivors of acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The conclusions are based on the incidence of severe, disabling/life-threatening, or fatal chronic health conditions (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events, grades 3-5) among 5-year survivors diagnosed prior to age 21 years from 1970 through 1999.
Adjusted for sex and attained age, significant reduction in risk over time was found among survivors of Wilms tumor (HR, 0.57 [95% CI, 0.46-0.70]), Hodgkin lymphoma (HR, 0.75 [95% CI, 0.65-0.85]), astrocytoma (HR, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.64-0.92]), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (HR, 0.79 [95% CI, 0.63-0.99]), and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (HR, 0.86 [95% CI, 0.76-0.98]).
The decreases in serious health conditions were largely driven by a reduced incidence of endocrine conditions (1970s: 4.0% vs. 1990s: 1.6%; HR, 0.66 [95% CI, 0.59-0.73]) and subsequent malignant neoplasms (1970s: 2.4% vs. 1990s: 1.6%; HR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.76-0.96]).
Gastrointestinal (HR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.66-0.97]) and neurological conditions (HR, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.65-0.91]) also were reduced, but cardiac and pulmonary conditions were not. Changes in childhood cancer treatment protocols have not only extended lifespan for many survivors, but also have reduced the incidence of serious chronic morbidity in this population, Dr. Gibson concluded.
[email protected]
On Twitter @maryjodales
AT ASCO 2017
Key clinical point:
Major finding: For all childhood cancer survivors, the 15-year cumulative incidence of severe health conditions decreased from 12.7% in those diagnosed in the 1970s, to 10.1% in the 1980s, and to 8.8% among those diagnosed in the 1990s (per 10 years: HR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.80-0.89]).
Data source: An analysis of 23,600 participants in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.
Disclosures: The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health.
Subcutaneous rituximab safe, effective for follicular lymphoma
Efficacy and safety profiles were similar for subcutaneous and standard IV rituximab when given as first-line therapy to adults with follicular lymphoma, based on results of a phase III clinical trial published online in Lancet Haematology.
Administering rituximab by IV infusion can take up to 6 hours to complete and requires continuous monitoring. Subcutaneous delivery takes approximately 6 minutes using a new rituximab formulation that is 12 times more concentrated to reduce the administered volume. The new formulation is expected to reduce the burden of treatment for patients, as well as for the health care system, said Andrew Davies, PhD, of the Cancer Research UK Centre, Southampton, and his associates.
They compared the two agents in an international open-label trial funded by Hoffmann-La Roche, maker of the subcutaneous formulation. Adult patients at 113 medical centers in 30 countries were randomly assigned to receive either IV (205 patients) or subcutaneous (205 patients) rituximab during induction therapy with six to eight cycles of CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) or CVP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone). They continued with rituximab as maintenance therapy every 2 months for 2 years. The median duration of treatment was 27 months, and median follow-up was 37 months.
The primary efficacy end point – overall (complete or partial) response rate at the end of induction, based on investigator assessment confirmed by an independent review panel of radiologists – was 84.9% with IV and 84.4% with subcutaneous rituximab, a nonsignificant difference. Similarly, the overall response rate at the end of maintenance therapy was not significantly different between the two groups, at 78.1% and 77.9%, respectively.
Progression-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.84) and event-free survival (HR, 0.91) also did not differ significantly between the two study groups, the investigators said (Lancet Haematol. 2017 doi: 10.1016/S2352.3026(17)30078-9).
The rates of adverse events, grade 3 or higher adverse events, and serious adverse events also were similar for IV and subcutaneous formulations of rituximab. “Administration-related reactions were more common in the subcutaneous group but were predominantly mild-to-moderate local injection-site reactions, such as mild pain, swelling and erythema, reflecting the expected change in safety profile when switching to the subcutaneous route of administration,” Dr. Davies and his associates said.
These results indicate that subcutaneous administration of rituximab along with chemotherapy doesn’t compromise the agent’s antilymphoma activity, they added.
Efficacy and safety profiles were similar for subcutaneous and standard IV rituximab when given as first-line therapy to adults with follicular lymphoma, based on results of a phase III clinical trial published online in Lancet Haematology.
Administering rituximab by IV infusion can take up to 6 hours to complete and requires continuous monitoring. Subcutaneous delivery takes approximately 6 minutes using a new rituximab formulation that is 12 times more concentrated to reduce the administered volume. The new formulation is expected to reduce the burden of treatment for patients, as well as for the health care system, said Andrew Davies, PhD, of the Cancer Research UK Centre, Southampton, and his associates.
They compared the two agents in an international open-label trial funded by Hoffmann-La Roche, maker of the subcutaneous formulation. Adult patients at 113 medical centers in 30 countries were randomly assigned to receive either IV (205 patients) or subcutaneous (205 patients) rituximab during induction therapy with six to eight cycles of CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) or CVP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone). They continued with rituximab as maintenance therapy every 2 months for 2 years. The median duration of treatment was 27 months, and median follow-up was 37 months.
The primary efficacy end point – overall (complete or partial) response rate at the end of induction, based on investigator assessment confirmed by an independent review panel of radiologists – was 84.9% with IV and 84.4% with subcutaneous rituximab, a nonsignificant difference. Similarly, the overall response rate at the end of maintenance therapy was not significantly different between the two groups, at 78.1% and 77.9%, respectively.
Progression-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.84) and event-free survival (HR, 0.91) also did not differ significantly between the two study groups, the investigators said (Lancet Haematol. 2017 doi: 10.1016/S2352.3026(17)30078-9).
The rates of adverse events, grade 3 or higher adverse events, and serious adverse events also were similar for IV and subcutaneous formulations of rituximab. “Administration-related reactions were more common in the subcutaneous group but were predominantly mild-to-moderate local injection-site reactions, such as mild pain, swelling and erythema, reflecting the expected change in safety profile when switching to the subcutaneous route of administration,” Dr. Davies and his associates said.
These results indicate that subcutaneous administration of rituximab along with chemotherapy doesn’t compromise the agent’s antilymphoma activity, they added.
Efficacy and safety profiles were similar for subcutaneous and standard IV rituximab when given as first-line therapy to adults with follicular lymphoma, based on results of a phase III clinical trial published online in Lancet Haematology.
Administering rituximab by IV infusion can take up to 6 hours to complete and requires continuous monitoring. Subcutaneous delivery takes approximately 6 minutes using a new rituximab formulation that is 12 times more concentrated to reduce the administered volume. The new formulation is expected to reduce the burden of treatment for patients, as well as for the health care system, said Andrew Davies, PhD, of the Cancer Research UK Centre, Southampton, and his associates.
They compared the two agents in an international open-label trial funded by Hoffmann-La Roche, maker of the subcutaneous formulation. Adult patients at 113 medical centers in 30 countries were randomly assigned to receive either IV (205 patients) or subcutaneous (205 patients) rituximab during induction therapy with six to eight cycles of CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) or CVP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone). They continued with rituximab as maintenance therapy every 2 months for 2 years. The median duration of treatment was 27 months, and median follow-up was 37 months.
The primary efficacy end point – overall (complete or partial) response rate at the end of induction, based on investigator assessment confirmed by an independent review panel of radiologists – was 84.9% with IV and 84.4% with subcutaneous rituximab, a nonsignificant difference. Similarly, the overall response rate at the end of maintenance therapy was not significantly different between the two groups, at 78.1% and 77.9%, respectively.
Progression-free survival (hazard ratio, 0.84) and event-free survival (HR, 0.91) also did not differ significantly between the two study groups, the investigators said (Lancet Haematol. 2017 doi: 10.1016/S2352.3026(17)30078-9).
The rates of adverse events, grade 3 or higher adverse events, and serious adverse events also were similar for IV and subcutaneous formulations of rituximab. “Administration-related reactions were more common in the subcutaneous group but were predominantly mild-to-moderate local injection-site reactions, such as mild pain, swelling and erythema, reflecting the expected change in safety profile when switching to the subcutaneous route of administration,” Dr. Davies and his associates said.
These results indicate that subcutaneous administration of rituximab along with chemotherapy doesn’t compromise the agent’s antilymphoma activity, they added.
FROM LANCET HAEMATOLOGY
Key clinical point: Subcutaneous rituximab had efficacy and safety profiles similar to those of standard IV rituximab when given as first-line therapy to adults with follicular lymphoma.
Major finding: The primary efficacy end point – overall response rate at the end of induction – was 84.9% with IV and 84.4% with subcutaneous rituximab.
Data source: An international randomized controlled phase III trial involving 410 adults followed for 3 years.
Disclosures: This trial was funded by Hoffmann-La Roche, maker of the subcutaneous formulation of rituximab. The pharmaceutical company also was involved in the design and conduct of the trial, collection and interpretation of the data, and writing of the results. Dr. Davies reported ties to Hoffmann-La Roche and numerous other drug companies.
Cord blood/placental cell combo induces rapid immune recovery
MONTREAL – A combination of placenta-derived stem cells and umbilical cord blood was associated with early engraftment and high degrees of cord blood donor chimerism in the treatment of children with both malignant and nonmalignant hematologic conditions requiring stem cell transplantation, updated results of a pilot study show.
Among 16 children treated with the combination, the probability of neutrophil engraftment was 87.5%, and all patients who had neutrophil engraftment went on to have platelet engraftment. The probability of 12-month overall survival was 81.2%, reported Allyson Flower, MD, from Boston Children’s Health Physicians in Hawthorne, N.Y. “The probability of grade II-IV acute graft vs. host disease was 12.5%, compared with 32.5% seen with unrelated cord blood in our group’s previous studies. Cellular immune reconstitution was robust,” she said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
Augmenting cord blood
Although unrelated donor cord blood transplantation expands the donor pool, is rapidly available, and is associated with decreases in both severe acute graft vs. host disease (GVHD) and chronic GVHD, compared with other stem cell sources, the technique is hampered by limited cell doses, prolonged immune reconstitution time, delays in hematopoietic recovery, and a higher incidence of graft failure.
Early studies of myeloablative conditioning followed by unrelated umbilical or placental blood transplantation showed a median of 22-24 days to neutrophil engraftment (Blood 1996 88:795-802; N Engl J Med. 1996;335:157-66), Dr. Flower noted.
More recently, a multivariate analysis of patients who underwent reduced-intensity conditioning followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplant with unrelated cord blood showed that graft failure was an independent risk factor for worse overall survival (Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2013 Apr;19:4;552-61).
Multiple groups have shown that adding human placenta–derived stem cells (HPDSC) to cord blood transplantation can facilitate more rapid hematopoietic engraftment by increasing the number of stem cells, increasing the proportion of hematopoietic progenitor cells, and providing additional, immature CD34+/CD45– progenitor cells.
In a single-arm, nonrandomized study, the investigators enrolled 16 patients ranging in age from 0.3 to 15.7 years with inborn errors of metabolism, marrow failure syndromes, severe immunodeficiency states, or hematologic malignancies.
Malignant conditions included B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL; four patients), acute myeloid leukemia (AML; two), and T-cell ALL (one) in first complete remission, and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma following induction failure (one). Nonmalignant conditions included adrenoleukodystrophy (two patients), amegakaryotic thrombocytopenia (one), severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID; two), dyskeratosis congenita (one), chronic granulomatous disease (one), and severe congenital neutropenia (one).
The patients first underwent either myeloablative or reduced-intensity conditioning, followed 10 days later by infusion of unrelated cord blood and HPDSCs. Prior to HPDSC infusion, patients were medicated with diphenhydramine and hydrocortisone to prevent or reduce potential sensitivity reactions. HPDSCs were infused no sooner than 4 hours after the end of the cord blood infusion.
Patients received GVHD prophylaxis with either tacrolimus or cyclosporine, plus mycophenolate mofetil.
The combination appeared to be safe, with no cases of grade 3 or 4 toxicity secondary to HPDSC infusion.
The probability of neutrophil engraftment was 87.5%, with engraftment occurring at a median of 23 days (range 13-53). As noted before, all patients who had neutrophil engraftment had platelet engraftment, which was achieved at a median of 47 days (range, 20-98). In the group’s previous studies, median time to platelet engraftment was 53 days for patients who had undergone reduced-intensity conditioning, and 118 days for patients who had undergone myeloablation.
The probability of grade 2-4 acute GVHD within 100 days was 12.5%, and there were no cases of chronic GVHD.
Respective percentages of cord blood donor chimerism at days 30, 60, 100, and 180 were 88%, 98%, 99%, and 99%.
Immune reconstitution was strong, with normalization of mean CD3+, CD19+, and CD56+ cells occurring by day 100, CD8+ cells by day 180, and CD4+ cells by day 270.
There were three patient deaths: one from adenoviremia in a patient with B-ALL and CNS relapse, who had neutrophil engraftment at day 21; one in a patient with SCID, from adenoviremia and multiple system organ failure, who did not have engraftment before death; and one in a patient with severe congenital neutrophilia, who also did not have neutrophil engraftment.
None of the eight patients with malignant disease have experienced relapse to date, Dr. Flower noted.
The study was funded by a grant from Celgene Cellular Therapeutics. Dr. Flower reported having no conflicts of interest.
MONTREAL – A combination of placenta-derived stem cells and umbilical cord blood was associated with early engraftment and high degrees of cord blood donor chimerism in the treatment of children with both malignant and nonmalignant hematologic conditions requiring stem cell transplantation, updated results of a pilot study show.
Among 16 children treated with the combination, the probability of neutrophil engraftment was 87.5%, and all patients who had neutrophil engraftment went on to have platelet engraftment. The probability of 12-month overall survival was 81.2%, reported Allyson Flower, MD, from Boston Children’s Health Physicians in Hawthorne, N.Y. “The probability of grade II-IV acute graft vs. host disease was 12.5%, compared with 32.5% seen with unrelated cord blood in our group’s previous studies. Cellular immune reconstitution was robust,” she said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
Augmenting cord blood
Although unrelated donor cord blood transplantation expands the donor pool, is rapidly available, and is associated with decreases in both severe acute graft vs. host disease (GVHD) and chronic GVHD, compared with other stem cell sources, the technique is hampered by limited cell doses, prolonged immune reconstitution time, delays in hematopoietic recovery, and a higher incidence of graft failure.
Early studies of myeloablative conditioning followed by unrelated umbilical or placental blood transplantation showed a median of 22-24 days to neutrophil engraftment (Blood 1996 88:795-802; N Engl J Med. 1996;335:157-66), Dr. Flower noted.
More recently, a multivariate analysis of patients who underwent reduced-intensity conditioning followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplant with unrelated cord blood showed that graft failure was an independent risk factor for worse overall survival (Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2013 Apr;19:4;552-61).
Multiple groups have shown that adding human placenta–derived stem cells (HPDSC) to cord blood transplantation can facilitate more rapid hematopoietic engraftment by increasing the number of stem cells, increasing the proportion of hematopoietic progenitor cells, and providing additional, immature CD34+/CD45– progenitor cells.
In a single-arm, nonrandomized study, the investigators enrolled 16 patients ranging in age from 0.3 to 15.7 years with inborn errors of metabolism, marrow failure syndromes, severe immunodeficiency states, or hematologic malignancies.
Malignant conditions included B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL; four patients), acute myeloid leukemia (AML; two), and T-cell ALL (one) in first complete remission, and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma following induction failure (one). Nonmalignant conditions included adrenoleukodystrophy (two patients), amegakaryotic thrombocytopenia (one), severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID; two), dyskeratosis congenita (one), chronic granulomatous disease (one), and severe congenital neutropenia (one).
The patients first underwent either myeloablative or reduced-intensity conditioning, followed 10 days later by infusion of unrelated cord blood and HPDSCs. Prior to HPDSC infusion, patients were medicated with diphenhydramine and hydrocortisone to prevent or reduce potential sensitivity reactions. HPDSCs were infused no sooner than 4 hours after the end of the cord blood infusion.
Patients received GVHD prophylaxis with either tacrolimus or cyclosporine, plus mycophenolate mofetil.
The combination appeared to be safe, with no cases of grade 3 or 4 toxicity secondary to HPDSC infusion.
The probability of neutrophil engraftment was 87.5%, with engraftment occurring at a median of 23 days (range 13-53). As noted before, all patients who had neutrophil engraftment had platelet engraftment, which was achieved at a median of 47 days (range, 20-98). In the group’s previous studies, median time to platelet engraftment was 53 days for patients who had undergone reduced-intensity conditioning, and 118 days for patients who had undergone myeloablation.
The probability of grade 2-4 acute GVHD within 100 days was 12.5%, and there were no cases of chronic GVHD.
Respective percentages of cord blood donor chimerism at days 30, 60, 100, and 180 were 88%, 98%, 99%, and 99%.
Immune reconstitution was strong, with normalization of mean CD3+, CD19+, and CD56+ cells occurring by day 100, CD8+ cells by day 180, and CD4+ cells by day 270.
There were three patient deaths: one from adenoviremia in a patient with B-ALL and CNS relapse, who had neutrophil engraftment at day 21; one in a patient with SCID, from adenoviremia and multiple system organ failure, who did not have engraftment before death; and one in a patient with severe congenital neutrophilia, who also did not have neutrophil engraftment.
None of the eight patients with malignant disease have experienced relapse to date, Dr. Flower noted.
The study was funded by a grant from Celgene Cellular Therapeutics. Dr. Flower reported having no conflicts of interest.
MONTREAL – A combination of placenta-derived stem cells and umbilical cord blood was associated with early engraftment and high degrees of cord blood donor chimerism in the treatment of children with both malignant and nonmalignant hematologic conditions requiring stem cell transplantation, updated results of a pilot study show.
Among 16 children treated with the combination, the probability of neutrophil engraftment was 87.5%, and all patients who had neutrophil engraftment went on to have platelet engraftment. The probability of 12-month overall survival was 81.2%, reported Allyson Flower, MD, from Boston Children’s Health Physicians in Hawthorne, N.Y. “The probability of grade II-IV acute graft vs. host disease was 12.5%, compared with 32.5% seen with unrelated cord blood in our group’s previous studies. Cellular immune reconstitution was robust,” she said at the annual meeting of the American Society of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology.
Augmenting cord blood
Although unrelated donor cord blood transplantation expands the donor pool, is rapidly available, and is associated with decreases in both severe acute graft vs. host disease (GVHD) and chronic GVHD, compared with other stem cell sources, the technique is hampered by limited cell doses, prolonged immune reconstitution time, delays in hematopoietic recovery, and a higher incidence of graft failure.
Early studies of myeloablative conditioning followed by unrelated umbilical or placental blood transplantation showed a median of 22-24 days to neutrophil engraftment (Blood 1996 88:795-802; N Engl J Med. 1996;335:157-66), Dr. Flower noted.
More recently, a multivariate analysis of patients who underwent reduced-intensity conditioning followed by hematopoietic stem cell transplant with unrelated cord blood showed that graft failure was an independent risk factor for worse overall survival (Biol Blood Marrow Transplant. 2013 Apr;19:4;552-61).
Multiple groups have shown that adding human placenta–derived stem cells (HPDSC) to cord blood transplantation can facilitate more rapid hematopoietic engraftment by increasing the number of stem cells, increasing the proportion of hematopoietic progenitor cells, and providing additional, immature CD34+/CD45– progenitor cells.
In a single-arm, nonrandomized study, the investigators enrolled 16 patients ranging in age from 0.3 to 15.7 years with inborn errors of metabolism, marrow failure syndromes, severe immunodeficiency states, or hematologic malignancies.
Malignant conditions included B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL; four patients), acute myeloid leukemia (AML; two), and T-cell ALL (one) in first complete remission, and T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma following induction failure (one). Nonmalignant conditions included adrenoleukodystrophy (two patients), amegakaryotic thrombocytopenia (one), severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID; two), dyskeratosis congenita (one), chronic granulomatous disease (one), and severe congenital neutropenia (one).
The patients first underwent either myeloablative or reduced-intensity conditioning, followed 10 days later by infusion of unrelated cord blood and HPDSCs. Prior to HPDSC infusion, patients were medicated with diphenhydramine and hydrocortisone to prevent or reduce potential sensitivity reactions. HPDSCs were infused no sooner than 4 hours after the end of the cord blood infusion.
Patients received GVHD prophylaxis with either tacrolimus or cyclosporine, plus mycophenolate mofetil.
The combination appeared to be safe, with no cases of grade 3 or 4 toxicity secondary to HPDSC infusion.
The probability of neutrophil engraftment was 87.5%, with engraftment occurring at a median of 23 days (range 13-53). As noted before, all patients who had neutrophil engraftment had platelet engraftment, which was achieved at a median of 47 days (range, 20-98). In the group’s previous studies, median time to platelet engraftment was 53 days for patients who had undergone reduced-intensity conditioning, and 118 days for patients who had undergone myeloablation.
The probability of grade 2-4 acute GVHD within 100 days was 12.5%, and there were no cases of chronic GVHD.
Respective percentages of cord blood donor chimerism at days 30, 60, 100, and 180 were 88%, 98%, 99%, and 99%.
Immune reconstitution was strong, with normalization of mean CD3+, CD19+, and CD56+ cells occurring by day 100, CD8+ cells by day 180, and CD4+ cells by day 270.
There were three patient deaths: one from adenoviremia in a patient with B-ALL and CNS relapse, who had neutrophil engraftment at day 21; one in a patient with SCID, from adenoviremia and multiple system organ failure, who did not have engraftment before death; and one in a patient with severe congenital neutrophilia, who also did not have neutrophil engraftment.
None of the eight patients with malignant disease have experienced relapse to date, Dr. Flower noted.
The study was funded by a grant from Celgene Cellular Therapeutics. Dr. Flower reported having no conflicts of interest.
Key clinical point: A combination of donor cord blood and human placenta–derived stem cells induced more rapid engraftment than cord blood alone.
Major finding: The probability of 12-month overall survival was 81%.
Data source: Open-label single-arm study in 16 children with severe malignant and nonmalignant diseases requiring hematopoietic stem cell transplants.
Disclosures: The study was funded by a grant from Celgene Cellular Therapeutics. Dr. Flower reported having no conflicts of interest.
Ibrutinib monotherapy data in previously treated MZL is available
Ibrutinib is active in patients with previously treated marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) and has a good safety profile, the results of a multicenter, open-label phase II trial published in Blood suggest.
Nearly half of 63 patients responded to monotherapy with the once-daily oral inhibitor of Bruton tyrosine kinase, and ibrutinib was generally well tolerated, according to the study (Blood. 2017;129:2224-32). The results prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to grant accelerated approval of ibrutinib for patients with MZL who were previously treated with at least one prior anti-CD20–based therapy.
“MZL is frequently linked to chronic infection, which may induce B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling, resulting in aberrant B-cell survival and proliferation,” note the investigators, who were led by Ariela Noy, MD, a hematologic oncologist with the Lymphoma Service at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York. “Single-agent ibrutinib induced durable responses with a favorable benefit–risk profile in patients with previously treated MZL, confirming the role of BCR signaling in this malignancy.”
“As the only approved therapy, ibrutinib provides a treatment option without chemotherapy for MZL,” they maintain. “Future studies will investigate ibrutinib in treatment-naive patients or as combination strategies in relapsed/refractory MZL.”
In the trial, which was funded by Pharmacyclics, an AbbVie Company, patients with MZL of all subtypes who had received at least one prior therapy with an anti-CD20 antibody–containing regimen were treated with 560 mg ibrutinib (Imbruvica) orally once daily. The median number of prior systemic therapies was two, and 63% had received prior chemoimmunotherapy.
The overall response rate, as assessed by an independent review committee using 2007 International Working Group criteria – the trial’s primary endpoint – was 48%, according to the published results. Benefit was similar across patients who differed regarding MZL subtype, number of prior regimen, and previous receipt of chemoimmunotherapy
After a 19.4-month median follow-up, the median duration of response was not reached, and median progression-free survival was 14.2 months.
The most common grade 3 or worse adverse events were anemia (14%), pneumonia (8%), and fatigue (6%). Serious adverse events of any grade affected 44% of patients. The most common was grade 3 or 4 pneumonia. Adverse events led to treatment discontinuation in 17% of patients and dose reductions in 10%.
“Due to evidence of pseudoprogression in our trial … biopsies may be warranted to differentiate between true lymphoma progression and immune-mediated antitumor response,” the investigators note.
Dr. Noy disclosed that she has received research funding from Pharmacyclics.
Putting these results into context, the efficacy of ibrutinib seems similar to that of other single agents evaluated in patients with relapsed marginal zone lymphoma, including other agents that target molecules downstream of the B-cell receptor.
The observed response rate is “modest” compared with that seen when the drug is used to treat other conditions for which it is approved, he notes. Therefore, additional correlative studies to identify biomarkers predicting benefit in marginal zone lymphoma would have been helpful.
Nonetheless, the study team should be congratulated, as the trial demonstrates the ability to investigate rare disease subtypes in multicenter collaborations. The results justify ibrutinib as the first FDA-approved therapy for this disease and form the basis for subsequent trials that combine ibrutinib with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies and other targeted agents.
Paul M. Barr, MD, of the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester in New York made his remarks in an accompanying editorial (Blood. 2017;129:2207-08). Dr. Barr disclosed that he has consulted for and received research funding from Pharmacyclics and AbbVie.
Putting these results into context, the efficacy of ibrutinib seems similar to that of other single agents evaluated in patients with relapsed marginal zone lymphoma, including other agents that target molecules downstream of the B-cell receptor.
The observed response rate is “modest” compared with that seen when the drug is used to treat other conditions for which it is approved, he notes. Therefore, additional correlative studies to identify biomarkers predicting benefit in marginal zone lymphoma would have been helpful.
Nonetheless, the study team should be congratulated, as the trial demonstrates the ability to investigate rare disease subtypes in multicenter collaborations. The results justify ibrutinib as the first FDA-approved therapy for this disease and form the basis for subsequent trials that combine ibrutinib with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies and other targeted agents.
Paul M. Barr, MD, of the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester in New York made his remarks in an accompanying editorial (Blood. 2017;129:2207-08). Dr. Barr disclosed that he has consulted for and received research funding from Pharmacyclics and AbbVie.
Putting these results into context, the efficacy of ibrutinib seems similar to that of other single agents evaluated in patients with relapsed marginal zone lymphoma, including other agents that target molecules downstream of the B-cell receptor.
The observed response rate is “modest” compared with that seen when the drug is used to treat other conditions for which it is approved, he notes. Therefore, additional correlative studies to identify biomarkers predicting benefit in marginal zone lymphoma would have been helpful.
Nonetheless, the study team should be congratulated, as the trial demonstrates the ability to investigate rare disease subtypes in multicenter collaborations. The results justify ibrutinib as the first FDA-approved therapy for this disease and form the basis for subsequent trials that combine ibrutinib with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies and other targeted agents.
Paul M. Barr, MD, of the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester in New York made his remarks in an accompanying editorial (Blood. 2017;129:2207-08). Dr. Barr disclosed that he has consulted for and received research funding from Pharmacyclics and AbbVie.
Ibrutinib is active in patients with previously treated marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) and has a good safety profile, the results of a multicenter, open-label phase II trial published in Blood suggest.
Nearly half of 63 patients responded to monotherapy with the once-daily oral inhibitor of Bruton tyrosine kinase, and ibrutinib was generally well tolerated, according to the study (Blood. 2017;129:2224-32). The results prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to grant accelerated approval of ibrutinib for patients with MZL who were previously treated with at least one prior anti-CD20–based therapy.
“MZL is frequently linked to chronic infection, which may induce B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling, resulting in aberrant B-cell survival and proliferation,” note the investigators, who were led by Ariela Noy, MD, a hematologic oncologist with the Lymphoma Service at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York. “Single-agent ibrutinib induced durable responses with a favorable benefit–risk profile in patients with previously treated MZL, confirming the role of BCR signaling in this malignancy.”
“As the only approved therapy, ibrutinib provides a treatment option without chemotherapy for MZL,” they maintain. “Future studies will investigate ibrutinib in treatment-naive patients or as combination strategies in relapsed/refractory MZL.”
In the trial, which was funded by Pharmacyclics, an AbbVie Company, patients with MZL of all subtypes who had received at least one prior therapy with an anti-CD20 antibody–containing regimen were treated with 560 mg ibrutinib (Imbruvica) orally once daily. The median number of prior systemic therapies was two, and 63% had received prior chemoimmunotherapy.
The overall response rate, as assessed by an independent review committee using 2007 International Working Group criteria – the trial’s primary endpoint – was 48%, according to the published results. Benefit was similar across patients who differed regarding MZL subtype, number of prior regimen, and previous receipt of chemoimmunotherapy
After a 19.4-month median follow-up, the median duration of response was not reached, and median progression-free survival was 14.2 months.
The most common grade 3 or worse adverse events were anemia (14%), pneumonia (8%), and fatigue (6%). Serious adverse events of any grade affected 44% of patients. The most common was grade 3 or 4 pneumonia. Adverse events led to treatment discontinuation in 17% of patients and dose reductions in 10%.
“Due to evidence of pseudoprogression in our trial … biopsies may be warranted to differentiate between true lymphoma progression and immune-mediated antitumor response,” the investigators note.
Dr. Noy disclosed that she has received research funding from Pharmacyclics.
Ibrutinib is active in patients with previously treated marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) and has a good safety profile, the results of a multicenter, open-label phase II trial published in Blood suggest.
Nearly half of 63 patients responded to monotherapy with the once-daily oral inhibitor of Bruton tyrosine kinase, and ibrutinib was generally well tolerated, according to the study (Blood. 2017;129:2224-32). The results prompted the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to grant accelerated approval of ibrutinib for patients with MZL who were previously treated with at least one prior anti-CD20–based therapy.
“MZL is frequently linked to chronic infection, which may induce B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling, resulting in aberrant B-cell survival and proliferation,” note the investigators, who were led by Ariela Noy, MD, a hematologic oncologist with the Lymphoma Service at the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York. “Single-agent ibrutinib induced durable responses with a favorable benefit–risk profile in patients with previously treated MZL, confirming the role of BCR signaling in this malignancy.”
“As the only approved therapy, ibrutinib provides a treatment option without chemotherapy for MZL,” they maintain. “Future studies will investigate ibrutinib in treatment-naive patients or as combination strategies in relapsed/refractory MZL.”
In the trial, which was funded by Pharmacyclics, an AbbVie Company, patients with MZL of all subtypes who had received at least one prior therapy with an anti-CD20 antibody–containing regimen were treated with 560 mg ibrutinib (Imbruvica) orally once daily. The median number of prior systemic therapies was two, and 63% had received prior chemoimmunotherapy.
The overall response rate, as assessed by an independent review committee using 2007 International Working Group criteria – the trial’s primary endpoint – was 48%, according to the published results. Benefit was similar across patients who differed regarding MZL subtype, number of prior regimen, and previous receipt of chemoimmunotherapy
After a 19.4-month median follow-up, the median duration of response was not reached, and median progression-free survival was 14.2 months.
The most common grade 3 or worse adverse events were anemia (14%), pneumonia (8%), and fatigue (6%). Serious adverse events of any grade affected 44% of patients. The most common was grade 3 or 4 pneumonia. Adverse events led to treatment discontinuation in 17% of patients and dose reductions in 10%.
“Due to evidence of pseudoprogression in our trial … biopsies may be warranted to differentiate between true lymphoma progression and immune-mediated antitumor response,” the investigators note.
Dr. Noy disclosed that she has received research funding from Pharmacyclics.
Key clinical point:
Major finding: The overall response rate was 48%, and the drug was well tolerated.
Data source: A multicenter, open-label phase II trial of ibrutinib in 63 patients with previously treated marginal zone lymphoma.
Disclosures: Dr. Noy disclosed that she has received research funding from Pharmacyclics. The trial was funded by Pharmacyclics, an AbbVie Company.