Polatuzumab vedotin plus rituximab and lenalidomide in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a cohort of a multicentre, single-arm, phase 1b/2 study.

BACKGROUND: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma comprises nearly 30% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases and patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who are ineligible for stem-cell transplantation have few treatment options and poor prognoses. We aimed to determine whether the novel combination of polatuzumab vedotin in combination with rituximab and lenalidomide (Pola+R+Len) would provide a tolerable treatment option with enhanced antitumour response in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. METHODS: This completed phase 1b/2, open-label, multicentre, single-arm study (GO29834) evaluated the safety and efficacy of Pola+R+Len in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma at 19 sites in three countries (USA, Spain, and UK). Patients (≥18 years old) were eligible for inclusion if they had histologically documented CD20-positive relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2 or lower, had received at least one previous line of chemoimmunotherapy, including an anti-CD20 agent, and were ineligible for stem-cell transplantation. The dose-escalation phase (1b) used escalating doses of lenalidomide to find the recommended phase 2 dose. Patients received six 28-day cycles of induction treatment with intravenous rituximab 375 mg/m2 and intravenous polatuzumab vedotin 1·8 mg/kg (all cohorts) plus oral lenalidomide at the following doses: 10 mg (cohort A); 15 mg (cohort B); and 20 mg (cohort C). Rituximab and polatuzumab vedotin were administered on day 1 and lenalidomide on days 1-21 of each 28-day cycle. During the dose-expansion phase (2), patients received six 28-day cycles of Pola+R+Len at the recommended phase 2 dose established during dose escalation. In both phases, patients with a complete response or partial response at the end of induction were eligible for post-induction therapy with rituximab 375 mg/m2 on day 1 and lenalidomide 10 mg/day on days 1-21 of each 28-day cycle for a maximum of 6 cycles. The primary safety objective of the dose-escalation phase was identification of the maximum tolerated dose through incidence of dose-limiting toxic effects. The primary efficacy outcome of the dose-expansion phase was Independent Review Committee-assessed complete response rate at end of induction, based on PET-CT. Analyses were conducted in the safety population, which included all patients who received at least one dose of any study drug, and the efficacy population, which included all patients who received at least one dose of any study drug at the recommended phase 2 dose. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02600897. FINDINGS: Between July 11, 2017 and Feb 3, 2020, 57 patients were enrolled (median age 71 years [IQR 60-75]; 38 [67%] were male and 19 (33%) were female; 47 [82%] were not Hispanic or Latino; and the median previous lines of therapy was 2 [IQR 1-3]). 18 participants were included in phase 1b and 39 were included in phase 2. Phase 1b confirmed a 20 mg recommended phase 2 dose for lenalidomide. After a median follow-up of 11·8 months (IQR 4·7-25·8), the complete response rate, as assessed by the Independent Review Committee, was 31% (90% CI 20-43). The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were neutropenia (35 [61%] of 57) and thrombocytopenia (eight [14%] of 57). Serious adverse events were reported in 23 (40%) of 57 patients and one patient died due to a treatment-related adverse event (neutropenic sepsis). INTERPRETATION: Although the combination of Pola+R+Len did not meet the prespecified activity threshold, some patients derived clinical benefit and the regimen had a tolerable safety profile in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. FUNDING: Genentech/F Hoffmann-La Roche.

Low-risk HPLLs/ABC score patients with splenic marginal zone lymphoma can be safely managed without treatment: Results from a prospective Spanish study.

The aims of our study were to analyse compliance with the 2014 GELTAMO SMZL Guidelines, in patients with splenic marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL), and to evaluate the outcome according to the HPLLs/ABC-adapted therapeutic strategy. Observational prospective multicenter study of 181 SMZL patients diagnosed between 2014 and 2020. Lymphoma-specific survival (LSS), composite event-free survival (CEFS) and response rates were assessed. 57% of the 168 patients included in the analysis followed the Guidelines. The overall response rate was higher in the rituximab chemotherapy and in the rituximab arms compared with the splenectomy arm (p < 0.001). The 5-year overall survival was 77% and the 5-year LSS of 93%. There were no differences in the 5-year LSS according to the treatment received (p = 0.68). The 5-year CEFS in the overall series was 45%, and there were significant differences between scores A and B (p = 0.036). There were no significant differences when comparing LSS and progression-free survival in patients treated with rituximab or rituximab chemotherapy at diagnosis or after observation. Our data support HPLLs/ABC score as a practical tool for the management of SMZL, observation as the best approach for patients in group A and rituximab as the best treatment for group B.

Mosunetuzumab monotherapy is active and tolerable in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

As part of a phase 1 or 2 study, this single-arm expansion cohort established the efficacy and safety of mosunetuzumab monotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (received ≥2 previous lines of therapy). Intravenous mosunetuzumab was administered with cycle (C) 1 step-up dosing for cytokine release syndrome (CRS) mitigation: C1 day (D) 1: 1 mg; C1D8 2 mg; C1D15 and C2D1: 60 mg; C3 + D1: 30 mg. Hospitalization was not mandatory. Patients with complete response (CR) completed treatment after C8; those with partial response or stable disease continued treatment for a total of 17 cycles. The primary end point was CR rate (best response), assessed against a historical control CR rate (20%) by independent review facility. Eighty-eight patients (73.9% de novo DLBCL; 26.1% transformed follicular lymphoma) were enrolled; all had received previous anthracycline and anti-CD20 therapy. Overall response and CR rates were 42.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 31.6-53.1) and 23.9% (95% CI, 15.4-34.1), respectively; CR rate did not reach statistical significance vs the historical control (P = .36). Median time to first response was 1.4 months. Median progression-free survival was 3.2 months (95% CI, 2.2-5.3). The CR rate in 26 patients who received previous chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy was 12%. CRS was one of the most common adverse events (26.1% of patients); predominantly grade 1 to 2 and primarily in C1. Four patients (4.5%) discontinued mosunetuzumab owing to adverse events. Mosunetuzumab demonstrated notable efficacy and a manageable safety profile in patients with R/R DLBCL, including those previously treated with CAR-Ts. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02500407.

Preclinical models for prediction of immunotherapy outcomes and immune evasion mechanisms in genetically heterogeneous multiple myeloma.

The historical lack of preclinical models reflecting the genetic heterogeneity of multiple myeloma (MM) hampers the advance of therapeutic discoveries. To circumvent this limitation, we screened mice engineered to carry eight MM lesions (NF-κB, KRAS, MYC, TP53, BCL2, cyclin D1, MMSET/NSD2 and c-MAF) combinatorially activated in B lymphocytes following T cell-driven immunization. Fifteen genetically diverse models developed bone marrow (BM) tumors fulfilling MM pathogenesis. Integrative analyses of ∼500 mice and ∼1,000 patients revealed a common MAPK-MYC genetic pathway that accelerated time to progression from precursor states across genetically heterogeneous MM. MYC-dependent time to progression conditioned immune evasion mechanisms that remodeled the BM microenvironment differently. Rapid MYC-driven progressors exhibited a high number of activated/exhausted CD8+ T cells with reduced immunosuppressive regulatory T (Treg) cells, while late MYC acquisition in slow progressors was associated with lower CD8+ T cell infiltration and more abundant Treg cells. Single-cell transcriptomics and functional assays defined a high ratio of CD8+ T cells versus Treg cells as a predictor of response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB). In clinical series, high CD8+ T/Treg cell ratios underlie early progression in untreated smoldering MM, and correlated with early relapse in newly diagnosed patients with MM under Len/Dex therapy. In ICB-refractory MM models, increasing CD8+ T cell cytotoxicity or depleting Treg cells reversed immunotherapy resistance and yielded prolonged MM control. Our experimental models enable the correlation of MM genetic and immunological traits with preclinical therapy responses, which may inform the next-generation immunotherapy trials.

Venetoclax improves CD20 immunotherapy in a mouse model of MYC/BCL2 double-expressor diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: Approximately one-third of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients exhibit co-expression of MYC and BCL2 (double-expressor lymphoma, DEL) and have a dismal prognosis. Targeted inhibition of the anti-apoptotic protein BCL2 with venetoclax (ABT-199) has been approved in multiple B-cell malignancies and is currently being investigated in clinical trials for DLBCL. Whether BCL2 anti-apoptotic function represents a multifaceted vulnerability for DEL-DLBCL, affecting both lymphoma B cells and T cells within the tumor microenvironment, remains to be elucidated. METHODS: Here, we present novel genetically engineered mice that preclinically recapitulate DEL-DLBCL lymphomagenesis, and evaluate their sensitivity ex vivo and in vivo to the promising combination of venetoclax with anti-CD20-based standard immunotherapy. RESULTS: Venetoclax treatment demonstrated specific killing of MYC+/BCL2+ lymphoma cells by licensing their intrinsically primed apoptosis, and showed previously unrecognized immunomodulatory activity by specifically enriching antigen-activated effector CD8 T cells infiltrating the tumors. Whereas DEL-DLBCL mice were refractory to venetoclax alone, inhibition of BCL2 significantly extended overall survival of mice that were simultaneously treated with a murine surrogate for anti-CD20 rituximab. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the combination of anti-CD20-based immunotherapy and BCL2 inhibition leads to cooperative immunomodulatory effects and improved preclinical responses, which may offer promising therapeutic opportunities for DEL-DLBCL patients.

Autologous stem-cell transplantation as consolidation of first-line chemotherapy in patients with peripheral T-cell lymphoma: a multicenter GELTAMO/FIL study.

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) are a heterogeneous group of rare lymphoid malignancies that mostly have poor prognoses with currently available treatments. Upfront consolidation with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is frequently carried out, but its efficacy has never been investigated in randomized trials. We designed a multicenter, international, retrospective study with the main objective of comparing progression-free survival and overall survival of patients with PTCL who underwent ASCT in complete remission (CR) after first-line chemotherapy with a control group who did not undergo ASCT. From the initial population of 286 registered patients, 174 patients with PTCL other than anaplastic large cell lymphoma, ALK-positive, deemed fit for ASCT at the time of diagnosis, and who were in CR or uncertain CR after induction therapy (CR1) were included in our analysis. one hundred and three patients underwent ASCT, whereas 71 did not, in most cases (n=53) because the physician decided against it. With a median follow-up of 65.5 months, progression-free survival was significantly better in the transplanted patients than in the non-transplanted group: 63% versus 48% at 5 years (P=0.042). Overall survival was significantly longer for ASCT patients in the subgroup with advanced stage at diagnosis (5-year overall survival: 70% vs. 50%, P=0.028). In the multivariate analysis, first-line ASCT was associated with significantly prolonged progression-free survival (HR=0.57, 95% CI: 0.35-0.93) and overall survival (HR=0.57, 95% CI: 0.33-0.99). In conclusion, our study supports the use of ASCT as a consolidation strategy for patients with PTCL in CR1. These results should be confirmed in a prospective randomized study.

Preneoplastic somatic mutations including MYD88L265P in lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma.

Normal cell counterparts of solid and myeloid tumors accumulate mutations years before disease onset; whether this occurs in B lymphocytes before lymphoma remains uncertain. We sequenced multiple stages of the B lineage in elderly individuals and patients with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, a singular disease for studying lymphomagenesis because of the high prevalence of mutated MYD88. We observed similar accumulation of random mutations in B lineages from both cohorts and unexpectedly found MYD88L265P in normal precursor and mature B lymphocytes from patients with lymphoma. We uncovered genetic and transcriptional pathways driving malignant transformation and leveraged these to model lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma in mice, based on mutated MYD88 in B cell precursors and BCL2 overexpression. Thus, MYD88L265P is a preneoplastic event, which challenges the current understanding of lymphomagenesis and may have implications for early detection of B cell lymphomas.

Phase 1/2 study of intratumoral G100 (TLR4 agonist) with or without pembrolizumab in follicular lymphoma.

Intratumoral injection of G100, a toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist, was shown pre-clinically to stimulate anti-tumor immune responses and tumor regression. This open-label, multicenter, phase 1/2 trial evaluated the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of intratumoral G100 injections following localized low-dose radiation in patients with follicular lymphoma (ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT02501473). The study was comprised of a G100 dose escalation (5 or 10 µg/dose, or 20 µg/dose for large tumors); a randomized component comparing G100 to G100 plus pembrolizumab; and G100 20 µg/dose expansion. Adverse events grade ≥3 were uncommon in patients treated with G100, and no unexpected toxicities were observed when combined with pembrolizumab. G100 20 µg (n = 18) resulted in an overall response rate of 33.3% and abscopal tumor regression in 72.2% of patients. This early-phase study provides a foundation for combining an intratumoral TLR4 agonist with agents to produce immune-mediated responses in follicular lymphoma with limited added toxicity.

A randomized phase II study comparing consolidation with a single dose of 90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan vs. maintenance with rituximab for two years in patients with newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma responding to R-CHOP. Long-term follow-up results.

This is a randomized phase-2 trial aimed to compare consolidation vs. maintenance in untreated patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) responding to induction. 146 patients were enrolled from 25 Spanish institutions (ZAR2007; ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00662948). Patients in PR or CR/CR[u] after R-CHOP were randomized 1:1 to 90Y-ibritumomab-tiuxetan 0.4 mCi/kg (arm A) vs. rituximab 375 mg/m2 every 8 weeks for 2 years (arm B). After a median follow-up of 10.55 years, 53 patients eventually progressed with a 10-year PFS of 50% vs. 56% for patients in arm A and B, respectively (HR = 1.42; p > 0.1). No significant differences were seen in OS (10-year OS 78% vs. 84.5%; HR = 1.39, p > .1). Patients receiving 90Y-ibritumomab-tiuxetan showed higher incidence of second neoplasms than those in arm B (10-year cumulative incidence 18.5 vs. 2%, respectively; p = .038). In conclusion, in FL patients responding to R-CHOP, no significant differences were found between consolidation and maintenance, although with higher late toxicity for consolidation.

Immune biomarkers to predict SARS-CoV-2 vaccine effectiveness in patients with hematological malignancies.

There is evidence of reduced SARS-CoV-2 vaccine effectiveness in patients with hematological malignancies. We hypothesized that tumor and treatment-related immunosuppression can be depicted in peripheral blood, and that immune profiling prior to vaccination can help predict immunogenicity. We performed a comprehensive immunological characterization of 83 hematological patients before vaccination and measured IgM, IgG, and IgA antibody response to four viral antigens at day +7 after second-dose COVID-19 vaccination using multidimensional and computational flow cytometry. Health care practitioners of similar age were the control group (n = 102). Forty-four out of 59 immune cell types were significantly altered in patients; those with monoclonal gammopathies showed greater immunosuppression than patients with B-cell disorders and Hodgkin lymphoma. Immune dysregulation emerged before treatment, peaked while on-therapy, and did not return to normalcy after stopping treatment. We identified an immunotype that was significantly associated with poor antibody response and uncovered that the frequency of neutrophils, classical monocytes, CD4, and CD8 effector memory CD127low T cells, as well as naive CD21+ and IgM+D+ memory B cells, were independently associated with immunogenicity. Thus, we provide novel immune biomarkers to predict COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness in hematological patients, which are complementary to treatment-related factors and may help tailoring possible vaccine boosters.

Long-term follow-up of a prospective phase 2 clinical trial of extended treatment with rituximab in patients with B cell post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease and validation in real world patients.

The purpose of this report is to provide long-term follow-up of 38 patients diagnosed of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) included in a phase 2 clinical trial of first line therapy with rituximab and to evaluate the same therapy in a real world cohort of 21 consecutive patients treated once the trial was closed. Eligible patients were ≥ 18 years of age with a biopsy-proven CD20 positive B cell PTLD and treatment naive except for reduction of immunosuppression. Treatment consisted in four weekly infusions of rituximab at the standard dose of 375 mg/m2. Patients in complete remission (CR) were followed without further treatment, and those in partial remission (PR) were treated with another four cycles of weekly rituximab. Median follow-up in the clinical trial was 13.0 years. Disease-specific survival (DSS) at 10 years was 64.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 48.2-81.2%]. For those patients who achieved CR (61%), DSS at 5 and 10 years was 94.4% (95% CI 83.8-100%) and 88.1% (95% CI 72.6-100%), respectively, and only 1 patient progressed beyond 5 years. The median follow-up of the real world patients was 6.5 years. DSS at 5 years was 75.2% (95% CI 56.4-94.0%). DSS at 5 years of patients who achieved CR (38%) was 87.5% (95% CI 64.6-100%). In conclusion, PTLD patients in CR after rituximab have an excellent long-term outcome. These results not only apply in the clinical trial setting but are also reproducible in the real world. However, those patients who do not respond represent an unmet clinical need and should be included in prospective clinical trials.

Endogenous Retroelement Activation by Epigenetic Therapy Reverses the Warburg Effect and Elicits Mitochondrial-Mediated Cancer Cell Death.

For millions of years, endogenous retroelements have remained transcriptionally silent within mammalian genomes by epigenetic mechanisms. Modern anticancer therapies targeting the epigenetic machinery awaken retroelement expression, inducing antiviral responses that eliminate tumors through mechanisms not completely understood. Here, we find that massive binding of epigenetically activated retroelements by RIG-I and MDA5 viral sensors promotes ATP hydrolysis and depletes intracellular energy, driving tumor killing independently of immune signaling. Energy depletion boosts compensatory ATP production by switching glycolysis to mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, thereby reversing the Warburg effect. However, hyperfunctional succinate dehydrogenase in mitochondrial electron transport chain generates excessive oxidative stress that unleashes RIP1-mediated necroptosis. To maintain ATP generation, hyperactive mitochondrial membrane blocks intrinsic apoptosis by increasing BCL2 dependency. Accordingly, drugs targeting BCL2 family proteins and epigenetic inhibitors yield synergistic responses in multiple cancer types. Thus, epigenetic therapy kills cancer cells by rewiring mitochondrial metabolism upon retroelement activation, which primes mitochondria to apoptosis by BH3-mimetics. SIGNIFICANCE: The state of viral mimicry induced by epigenetic therapies in cancer cells remodels mitochondrial metabolism and drives caspase-independent tumor cell death, which sensitizes to BCL2 inhibitor drugs. This novel mechanism underlies clinical efficacy of hypomethylating agents and venetoclax in acute myeloid leukemia, suggesting similar combination therapies for other incurable cancers.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 995.

Ibrutinib does not have clinically relevant interactions with oral contraceptives or substrates of CYP3A and CYP2B6.

Ibrutinib may inhibit intestinal CYP3A4 and induce CYP2B6 and/or CYP3A. Secondary to potential induction, ibrutinib may reduce the exposure and effectiveness of oral contraceptives (OCs). This phase I study evaluated the effect of ibrutinib on the pharmacokinetics of the CYP2B6 substrate bupropion, CYP3A substrate midazolam, and OCs ethinylestradiol (EE) and levonorgestrel (LN). Female patients (N = 22) with B-cell malignancies received single doses of EE/LN (30/150 µg) and bupropion/midazolam (75/2 mg) during a pretreatment phase on days 1 and 3, respectively (before starting ibrutinib on day 8), and again after ibrutinib 560 mg/day for ≥ 2 weeks. Intestinal CYP3A inhibition was assessed on day 8 (single-dose ibrutinib plus single-dose midazolam). Systemic induction was assessed at steady-state on days 22 (EE/LN plus ibrutinib) and 24 (bupropion/midazolam plus ibrutinib). The geometric mean ratios (GMRs; test/reference) for maximum plasma concentration (Cmax ) and area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) were derived using linear mixed-effects models (90% confidence interval within 80%-125% indicated no interaction). On day 8, the GMR for midazolam exposure with ibrutinib coadministration was ≤ 20% lower than the reference, indicating lack of intestinal CYP3A4 inhibition. At ibrutinib steady-state, the Cmax and AUC of EE were 33% higher than the reference, which was not considered clinically relevant. No substantial changes were noted for LN, midazolam, or bupropion. No unexpected safety findings were observed. A single dose of ibrutinib did not inhibit intestinal CYP3A4, and repeated administration did not induce CYP3A4/2B6, as assessed using EE, LN, midazolam, and bupropion.

Maintenance therapy with ex vivo expanded lymphokine-activated killer cells and rituximab in patients with follicular lymphoma is safe and may delay disease progression.

Anti-cluster of differentiation 20 (CD20) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have shown promise in follicular lymphoma (FL) as post-induction therapy, by enhancing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC). However, cytotoxic cells are reduced after this treatment. We hypothesised that ex vivo expanded lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells administered to FL-remission patients are safe and improve anti-CD20 efficacy. This open, prospective, phase II, single-arm study assessed safety and efficacy of ex vivo expanded LAK cells in 20 FL-remission patients following rituximab maintenance. Mononuclear cells were obtained in odd rituximab cycles and stimulated with interleukin 2 (IL-2) for 8 weeks, after which >5 × 108 LAK cells were injected. Patients were followed-up for 5 years. At the end of maintenance, peripheral blood cells phenotype had not changed markedly. Natural killer, LAK and ADCC activities of mononuclear cells increased significantly after recombinant human IL-2 (rhIL-2) stimulation in all cycles. Rituximab significantly enhanced cytotoxic activity. No patients discontinued treatment. There were no treatment-related serious adverse events. Three patients had progressed by the end of follow-up. After a median (interquartile range) follow-up of 59.4 (43.8-70.9) months, 85% of patients remained progression free. No deaths occurred. Quality-of-life improved throughout the study. Post-induction LAK cells with rituximab seem safe in the long term. Larger studies are warranted to confirm efficacy.

RELINF: prospective epidemiological registry of lymphoid neoplasms in Spain. A project from the GELTAMO group.

Lymphomas are a large, heterogeneous group of neoplasms with well-defined characteristics, and this heterogeneity highlights the importance of epidemiological data. Knowledge of local epidemiology is essential to optimise resources, design clinical trials, and identify minority entities. Given there are few published epidemiological data on lymphoma in Spain, the Spanish Lymphoma and Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant Group created the RELINF project. The aim of this project is to determine the frequencies and distribution of lymphoid neoplasms in Spain and to analyse survival. We developed an online platform for the prospective collection of data on newly diagnosed cases of lymphoma in Spain between January 2014 and July 2018; 11,400 patients were registered. Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL) were the most frequent lymphomas in our series. Marginal B cell lymphoma frequency was higher than that reported in other studies, representing more than 11% of mature B cell lymphomas. Peripheral T cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (PTCL-NOS) was the most common subtype of T cell lymphoma, and NK/T cell lymphomas were more frequent than expected (5.4% of total). Hodgkin's lymphoma accounted for 12% of lymphoproliferative syndromes. Overall survival was greater than 90% at 2 years for indolent B cell lymphomas, and approximately 60% for DLBCL, somewhat lower than that previously reported. Survival was poor for PTCL-NOS and angioimmunoblastic T cell lymphoma, as expected; however, it was somewhat better than that in other studies for anaplastic large cell anaplastic lymphoma kinase lymphomas. This is the first prospective registry to report the frequencies, distribution, and survival of lymphomas in Spain. The frequencies and survival data we report here are globally consistent with that reported in other Western countries. These updated frequencies and survival statistics are necessary for developing appropriate management strategies for neoplasias in the Spanish population.

Avadomide monotherapy in relapsed/refractory DLBCL: safety, efficacy, and a predictive gene classifier.

Treatment options for relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) are limited, with no standard of care; prognosis is poor, with 4- to 6-month median survival. Avadomide (CC-122) is a cereblon-modulating agent with immunomodulatory and direct antitumor activities. This phase 1 dose-expansion study assessed safety and clinical activity of avadomide monotherapy in patients with de novo R/R DLBCL and transformed lymphoma. Additionally, a novel gene expression classifier, which identifies tumors with a high immune cell infiltration, was shown to enrich for response to avadomide in R/R DLBCL. Ninety-seven patients with R/R DLBCL, including 12 patients with transformed lymphoma, received 3 to 5 mg avadomide administered on continuous or intermittent schedules until unacceptable toxicity, disease progression, or withdrawal. Eighty-two patients (85%) experienced ≥1 grade 3/4 treatment-emergent adverse events (AEs), most commonly neutropenia (51%), infections (24%), anemia (12%), and febrile neutropenia (10%). Discontinuations because of AEs occurred in 10% of patients. Introduction of an intermittent 5/7-day schedule improved tolerability and reduced frequency and severity of neutropenia, febrile neutropenia, and infections. Among 84 patients with de novo R/R DLBCL, overall response rate (ORR) was 29%, including 11% complete response (CR). Responses were cell-of-origin independent. Classifier-positive DLBCL patients (de novo) had an ORR of 44%, median progression-free survival (mPFS) of 6 months, and 16% CR vs an ORR of 19%, mPFS of 1.5 months, and 5% CR in classifier-negative patients (P = .0096). Avadomide is being evaluated in combination with other antilymphoma agents. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT01421524.

Safety of switching from intravenous to subcutaneous rituximab during first-line treatment of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma: the Spanish population of the MabRella study.

Rituximab is a standard treatment for non-Hodgkin diffuse large B-cell (DLBCL) and follicular (FL) lymphomas. A subcutaneous formulation was developed to improve the resource use of intravenous rituximab, with comparable efficacy and safety profiles except for increased administration-related reactions (ARRs). MabRella was a phase IIIb trial to assess the safety of switching from intravenous to subcutaneous administration of rituximab during first-line induction/maintenance for DLBCL or FL, focusing on ARRs. Efficacy, satisfaction and quality of life were also assessed. Patients received subcutaneous rituximab plus standard induction chemotherapy for DLBCL or FL for 4-7 cycles, and/or every 2 months maintenance monotherapy for FL for 6-12 cycles. The study included 140 patients: DLBCL, n = 29; FL, n = 111. Ninety-five percent of patients experienced adverse events, reaching grade ≥3 in 38·6% and were serious in 30·0%. AARs occurred in 48·6%, mostly (84·9%) at the injection site, with only 2·1% of patients reaching grade 3. The end-of-induction complete/unconfirmed complete response rate was 69·6%. After a median follow-up of 33·5 months, median disease-/event-/progression-free and overall survivals were not attained. The Rituximab Administration Satisfaction Questionnaire showed improvements in overall satisfaction and the EuroQoL-5D a good quality-of-life perception at induction/maintenance end. Therefore, switching to subcutaneous rituximab showed no new safety issues and maintained efficacy with improved satisfaction and quality of life.

Battle of Thermopylae: 300 Spartans (natural killer cells plus obinutuzumab) versus the immortal warriors (chronic lymphocytic leukemia cells) of Xerxes' army.

AIM: To analyze the effects of subcutaneous or intravenous rituximab + lymphokine-activated killer cells, obinutuzumab or ibrutinib on natural killer (NK) cell levels in chronic lymphocytic leukemia and follicular lymphoma patients. PATIENTS & METHODS: The distribution of peripheral blood NK cells of 31 patients was analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: We detected a decrease of NK cells in peripheral blood below normal range after obinutuzumab treatment. During maintenance treatment with subcutaneous rituximab, an NK cell reduction was less pronounced than after intravenous rituximab treatment, despite lymphokine-activated killer cell infusions. CONCLUSION: After one dose of obinutuzumab, each NK cell in peripheral blood destroys 25 leukemic cells.