An open-label, single-arm phase 2 trial of valemetostat for relapsed or refractory adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma.

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is an aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma with poor prognosis and few treatment options for patients with relapsed, recurrent, or refractory disease. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of valemetostat, a potent enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and EZH1 inhibitor, in treating relapsed or refractory (R/R) ATL. This multicenter phase 2 trial enrolled patients with R/R aggressive ATL (acute, lymphoma, unfavorable chronic type). Patients received valemetostat 200 mg/day orally until progressive disease or unacceptable toxicity. The primary end point was overall response rate (ORR) centrally assessed by an independent efficacy assessment committee (IEAC). Secondary end points included best response in disease compartments, duration of response (DOR), pharmacokinetics, and safety. Twenty-five patients (median age, 69.0 years) with a median of 3 prior lines of therapy were enrolled; 24 had prior mogamulizumab treatment. The primary end point was met with a centrally reviewed ORR of 48.0% (90% confidence interval [CI], 30.5-65.9), including 5 complete and 7 partial remissions. Patients pretreated with mogamulizumab had an ORR of 45.8% (4 complete and 7 partial remissions). IEAC-assessed median DOR was not reached (NR) (95% CI, 1.87 to NR; months). Treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were manageable. TEAEs that occurred in ≥20% of patients included thrombocytopenia, anemia, alopecia, dysgeusia, neutropenia, lymphopenia, leukopenia, decreased appetite, and pyrexia. Grade ≥3 TEAEs included thrombocytopenia, anemia, lymphopenia, leukopenia, and neutropenia. Valemetostat demonstrated promising efficacy and tolerability in heavily pretreated patients, warranting further investigation in treating R/R ATL. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT04102150.

Valemetostat monotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a first-in-human, multicentre, open-label, single-arm, phase 1 study.

BACKGROUND: Few treatment options exist for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and outcomes remain poor for relapsed or refractory disease. We evaluated the safety and preliminary clinical activity of valemetostat, a novel inhibitor of EZH2 and EZH1, in patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphomas. METHODS: This first-in-human, multicentre, open-label, single-arm, phase 1, dose-escalation and dose-expansion trial was done in 19 hospitals across Japan and the USA. Patients were included if they were aged 18 years or older in the USA or 20 years or older in Japan with a primary diagnosis of relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma and an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1. In the dose-escalation part, patients received oral valemetostat at doses of 150 mg per day, 200 mg per day, 250 mg per day, and 300 mg per day continuously in 28-day cycles until progressive disease or unacceptable toxicities. All patients received 200 mg per day in the dose-expansion part. The primary endpoints were safety, pharmacokinetics, and the recommended phase 2 dose; the secondary endpoints were the maximum tolerated dose and the antitumour activity of valemetostat. Responses were assessed in patients who received at least one dose, with measurable lesions at baseline according to the International Working Group 2007 revised criteria for malignant lymphoma (peripheral T-cell lymphoma and B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma) and the modified 2009 criteria for adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02732275, and is currently active, but not recruiting. FINDINGS: Between April 7, 2016, and June 10, 2021, 90 patients (53 [59%] males and 37 [41%] females; 49 [54%] Asian, 33 [37%] White, and eight [9%] Black) were enrolled and treated with valemetostat and included in the safety analysis set. 57 (63%) patients had peripheral T-cell lymphoma, 14 (16%) had adult T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma, and 19 (21%) had B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Seven (8%) patients received valemetostat 150 mg per day, 74 (82%) received 200 mg per day, seven received 250 mg per day, and two received 300 mg per day. Median follow-up was 7·4 months (IQR 3·4-17·6). All patients had at least one treatment-emergent adverse event; the most common treatment-emergent adverse events of any grade were decreased platelet count (52 [58%] of 90 patients), dysgeusia (45 [50%]), and anaemia (38 [42%]). The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were decreased neutrophil count (21 [23%]), decreased platelet count (18 [20%]), and decreased lymphocyte count (17 [19%]). The most common serious adverse event of any grade was Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (four [4%]). No treatment-related deaths occurred. The overall response rate was 54·5% (48 of 88; 95% CI 43·6-65·2) for patients in the efficacy analysis set. The maximum tolerated dose was not reached; the recommended phase 2 dose of 200 mg per day was determined. Valemetostat exposure was variable between patients and was overlapped over the dose range of 150-250 mg per day. INTERPRETATION: The safety profile of valemetostat monotherapy was acceptable in these patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Favourable clinical activity was observed. These findings support a new indication for valemetostat in this setting. FUNDING: Daiichi Sankyo.

Interim PET-guided ABVD or ABVD/escalated BEACOPP for newly diagnosed advanced-stage classic Hodgkin lymphoma (JCOG1305).

This single-arm confirmatory study (JCOG1305) aimed to evaluate the utility of interim positron emission tomography (iPET)-guided therapy for newly diagnosed advanced-stage classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). Patients aged 16-60 years with cHL received two cycles of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) and then underwent an iPET scan (PET2), which was centrally reviewed using a five-point Deauville scale. PET2-negative patients continued an additional four cycles of ABVD, whereas PET2-positive patients switched to six cycles of escalated bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (eBEACOPP). The co-primary endpoints were 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) among all eligible and PET2-positive patients. Ninety-three patients were enrolled between January 2016 and December 2019. One patient was ineligible because of a diagnostic error. The median age of the 92 eligible patients was 35 (interquartile range, 28-48) years. Forty (43%) patients had stage III disease, and 43 (47%) had stage IV disease. The remaining nine (10%) patients had stage IIB disease with risk factors. Nineteen PET2-positive (21%) patients received eBEACOPP, 18 completed six cycles of eBEACOPP, 73 PET2-negative (79%) patients continued ABVD, and 70 completed an additional four cycles of ABVD. With a median follow-up period of 41.1 months, the 2-year PFS of 92 eligible patients and 19 PET2-positive patients were 84.8% (80% confidence interval [CI], 79.2-88.9) and 84.2% (80% CI, 69.7-92.1), respectively. Both primary endpoints were met at the prespecified threshold. This study demonstrates that iPET-guided therapy is a useful treatment option for younger patients with newly diagnosed advanced-stage cHL. Registration number: jRCTs031180218.

R-CHOP treatment for patients with advanced follicular lymphoma: Over 15-year follow-up of JCOG0203.

Anti-CD20 antibody in combination with chemotherapy extends overall survival (OS) in untreated advanced-stage follicular lymphoma (FL), yet the optimal associated therapy is unclear. Data on the cumulative incidence of secondary malignancies postrelapse after conventional immunochemotherapy are scarce. A long-term analysis of rituximab combined with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone (R-CHOP) as first-line treatment was conducted in a randomised clinical trial. A six-cycle R-CHOP regimen was administered every 2 or 3 weeks without rituximab maintenance. A prespecified evaluation was conducted 15 years after the completion of enrolment, following initial analysis results that showed no significant differences in outcomes at the 3-year mark. In-depth analyses were performed on the cohort of 248 patients with FL who were allocated to the two treatment arms. With a median follow-up period of 15.9 years, the 15-year OS was 76.2%. There were no protocol treatment-related deaths, nor were there any fatal infections attributable to subsequent lymphoma treatment. At 15 years, the cumulative incidence of non-haematological and haematological malignancies was 12.8% and 3.7% respectively. Histological transformation appeared after a median of 8 years. R-CHOP maintains safety and efficacy in patients with advanced FL over extended follow-up, making it a viable first-line option for patients with advanced-stage FL.

Analyzing the risk factors for disease progression within 2 years and histological transformation in patients treated with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone as first-line treatment: A 15-year follow-up of patients with advanced follicular lymphoma in JCOG0203.

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an indolent lymphoma that becomes aggressive due to histological transformation (HT), leading to reduced survival. Patients with FL have different clinical courses and various treatment options. Some patients exhibit shorter survival and experience disease progression within 24 months of diagnosis/treatment (POD24); the optimal treatment remains an unmet needs. Thus, identifying factors that predict shorter survival is essential to stratify treatment and prolong the survival of patients with FL. To analyze risk factors for POD24 and HT in patients treated with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) as first-line treatment, we performed this post-hoc analysis of patients with advanced indolent B-cell lymphoma in a randomized clinical trial wherein six cycles of R-CHOP were administered every 2-3 weeks. The primary analysis showed no differences in outcomes, which enabled the analysis of 248 patients with FL, assigned to two arms. All histopathological specimens from the 300 enrolled patients were reviewed by three expert hematopathologists. Multivariable analysis implicated Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) intermediate (odds ratio [OR] 2.531, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.676-9.466) and high- (OR 2.236, 95% CI 0.160-31.226) risks, B symptoms (OR 2.091, 95% CI 0.747-5.851), and grade 3A (G3A) (OR 1.833, 95% CI 0.634-5.299) as risk factors for POD24. Furthermore, multivariable analysis through a median follow-up of 15.9 years implicated G3A (OR 2.628, 95% CI 0.806-8.575) and high-risk FLIPI (OR 4.401, 95% CI 0.186-104.377) as risk factors for HT. However, an analysis limited to the first 10 years revealed that the prognostic factors elucidated from the longer-term analysis had a greater impact on HT. G3A and high-risk FLIPI may independently predict POD24 and HT, thereby informing treatment stratification of patients with untreated advanced-stage FL in future trials, particularly to address the unmet needs of patients with POD24.

Secondary central nervous system involvement in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with rituximab combined CHOP therapy - a supplementary analysis of JCOG0601.

Secondary central nervous system involvement (sCNSi) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is fatal. However, its features in patients with sCNSi who are categorized as lower risk by international prognostic index (IPI) or CNS-IPI are not yet fully understood. In the present analysis, we evaluated DLBCL patients who developed sCNSi at their first progression and who participated in JCOG0601, most of whom were lower risk by IPI. Of 409 patients, 21 (5.1%) developed sCNSi during a median follow-up of 4.9 years. Five-year cumulative incidence of sCNSi were 5.1%; and 4.0%, 5.3%, and 11.5% at low, intermediate, and high risk of CNS-IPI, respectively. The most common locations of extranodal lesions at the time of registration in patients with sCNSi were the stomach (n = 4), paranasal cavity (n = 3), and bone marrow (n = 2). In univariable analysis, paranasal cavity lesion was a high-risk factor for sCNSi (subdistribution hazard ratio, 4.34 [95% confidence interval 1.28-14.73]). Median overall survival after sCNSi was 1.3 years, with a 2-year overall survival rate of 39.3%. The incidence of sCNSi in DLBCL patients at lower risk of CNS-IPI was low, as previously reported, but paranasal cavity lesion might indicate high risk for organ involvement. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: JCOG0601 was registered in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000000929, date of registration; December 04, 2007) and the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCTs031180139, date of registration; February 20, 2019).

Genome wide association study of HTLV-1-associated myelopathy/tropical spastic paraparesis in the Japanese population.

HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM/TSP) is a chronic and progressive inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. The aim of our study was to identify genetic determinants related to the onset of HAM/TSP in the Japanese population. We conducted a genome-wide association study comprising 753 HAM/TSP patients and 899 asymptomatic HTLV-1 carriers. We also performed comprehensive genotyping of HLA-A, -B, -C, -DPB1, -DQB1, and -DRB1 genes using next-generation sequencing technology for 651 HAM/TSP patients and 804 carriers. A strong association was observed in HLA class I (P = 1.54 × 10-9) and class II (P = 1.21 × 10-8) loci with HAM/TSP. Association analysis using HLA genotyping results showed that HLA-C*07:02 (P = 2.61 × 10-5), HLA-B*07:02 (P = 4.97 × 10-10), HLA-DRB1*01:01 (P = 1.15 × 10-9) and HLA-DQB1*05:01 (P = 2.30 × 10-9) were associated with disease risk, while HLA-B*40:06 (P = 3.03 × 10-5), HLA-DRB1*15:01 (P = 1.06 × 10-5) and HLA-DQB1*06:02 (P = 1.78 × 10-6) worked protectively. Logistic regression analysis identified amino acid position 7 in the G-BETA domain of HLA-DRB1 as strongly associated with HAM/TSP (P = 9.52 × 10-10); individuals homozygous for leucine had an associated increased risk of HAM/TSP (odds ratio, 9.57), and proline was protective (odds ratio, 0.65). Both associations were independent of the known risk associated with proviral load. DRB1-GB-7-Leu was not significantly associated with proviral load. We have identified DRB1-GB-7-Leu as a genetic risk factor for HAM/TSP development independent of proviral load. This suggests that the amino acid residue may serve as a specific marker to identify the risk of HAM/TSP even without knowledge of proviral load. In light of its allele frequency worldwide, this biomarker will likely prove useful in HTLV-1 endemic areas across the globe.

Long-term follow-up after R-High CHOP/CHASER/LEED with Auto-PBSCT in untreated mantle cell lymphoma-Final analysis of JCOG0406.

Progression-free survival after R-High CHOP/CHASER/LEED with auto-PBSCT in untreated mantle cell lymphoma in JCOG0406 study. A continuous pattern of relapse was observed.

Oral HDAC inhibitor tucidinostat in patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma: phase IIb results.

Tucidinostat (formerly known as chidamide) is an orally available, novel benzamide class of histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor that selectively blocks class I and class IIb HDAC. This multicenter phase IIb study aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of tucidinostat, 40 mg twice per week (BIW), in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). The primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR) assessed by an independent overall efficacy review committee. Between March 2017 and March 2019, 55 patients were treated, and 46 and 55 were evaluated for efficacy and safety, respectively. Twenty-one of 46 patients achieved objective responses with an ORR of 46% (95% confidence interval : 30.9-61.0), including five patients with complete response (CR). Responses were observed across various PTCL subtypes. In angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, there were two CR and five partial responses (PR) among eight patients, achieving an ORR of 88%. The disease control rate (CR + PR + stable disease) was 72% (33/46). The median progression-free survival, duration of response, and overall survival were 5.6 months, 11.5 months, 22.8 months, respectively. The most common adverse events (AE) (all grades) were thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, leukopenia, anemia, and diarrhea. The grade ≥3 AE emerging in ≥20% of patients included thrombocytopenia (51%), neutropenia (36%), lymphopenia (22%), and leukopenia (20%). Importantly, most of the AE were manageable by supportive care and dose modification. In conclusion, the favorable efficacy and safety profiles indicate that tucidinostat could be a new therapeutic option in patients with R/R PTCL (clinicaltrials gov. Identifier: NCT02953652).

[Thoracic SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated tumor resembling malignant lymphoma].

We present a case of thoracic SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated tumor that needed to be differentiated from malignant lymphoma owing to multiple lymph node swelling and marrow involvement. A 52-year-old man developed multiple lymphadenopathies along with anorexia, general fatigue, fever, and sweating 2 months prior to admission. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scan revealed a mass lesion on the right upper lung, generalized lymph node swelling, and bone metastasis, indicating the presence of suspicious lung cancer; therefore, he was referred to our hospital. Malignant lymphoma was suspected at the time of admission because of elevated levels of lactate dehydrogenase (11,977 U/l) and soluble interleukin 2 receptor (2,152 U/ml) as well as marrow infiltration of large abnormal cells. On day 11, the patient died from rapid respiratory failure. Histological and immunohistochemical features of the pleural effusion cell block led to the diagnosis of thoracic SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated tumor. Thoracic SMARCA4-deficient undifferentiated tumor was recently introduced in the 2021 World Health Organization classification of lung tumors, with most patients being young adults with a history of heavy smoking and poor prognosis. Because of the multiple lymph node swelling and marrow involvement, this undifferentiated tumor should be distinguished from malignant lymphoma.

Oral histone deacetylase inhibitor tucidinostat (HBI-8000) in patients with relapsed or refractory adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma: Phase IIb results.

This multicenter, prospective phase IIb trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of tucidinostat (HBI-8000) in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL) was undertaken in Japan. Eligible patients had R/R ATLL and had failed standard of care treatment with chemotherapy and with mogamulizumab. Twenty-three patients received tucidinostat 40 mg orally twice per week and were included in efficacy and safety analyses. The primary end-point was objective response rate (ORR) assessed by an independent committee. The ORR was 30.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 13.2, 52.9]. Median progression-free survival was 1.7 months (95% CI, 0.8, 7.4), median duration of response was 9.2 months (95% CI, 2.6, not reached), and median overall survival was 7.9 months (95% CI, 2.3, 18.0). All patients experienced adverse events (AEs), which were predominantly hematologic and gastrointestinal. Incidence of grade 3 or higher AEs was 78.3%; most were laboratory abnormalities (decreases in platelets, neutrophils, white blood cells, and hemoglobin). Tucidinostat was well tolerated with AEs that could be mostly managed with supportive care and dose modifications. Tucidinostat is a meaningful treatment option for R/R ATLL patients; further investigation is warranted.

Diagnostic utility of the aberrant immunohistochemical expression of CD3 molecules for peripheral T-cell lymphomas.

The histological diagnosis of peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) is often challenging. Flow cytometry (FCM) sometimes shows the loss of pan-T-cell markers for PTCLs, suggesting the neoplastic nature of these cells. Immunohistochemically, the total loss of pan-T-cell markers has been demonstrated in PTCLs. Furthermore, except for the total loss, the aberrant immunohistochemical expressions of pan-T-cell markers have also been empirically observed in PTCLs, but the details remain unexamined. Therefore, the present study semi-quantitatively evaluated the aberrant expression of cytoplasmic CD3ε (cCD3ε), the most common immunohistochemical pan-T-cell marker, in 91 PTCL cases. The expressions of the other CD3 molecules, CD3δ, CD3γ, and CD3ζ were also examined. Frequencies of the total immunohistochemical loss of CD3 molecules and loss of surface CD3ε (sCD3ε) in FCM were analyzed for comparison. The results showed atypical, aberrant expression patterns for immunohistochemical CD3 molecules: perinuclear, cytoplasmic, membranous, and partial negative. The frequency of each molecule was as follows: cCD3ε 40.7 %, CD3δ 26.4 %, CD3γ 53.8 %, and CD3ζ 54.9 %, especially the latter two showed high frequency in peripheral T-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified, angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, and adult T-cell lymphoma/leukemia. Immunohistochemical total loss was less than aberrant expression in all CD3 molecules, with the frequency of cCD3ε being the lowest (6.6 %). The loss of sCD3ε in FCM was observed in 43.3 % of cases, with a similar frequency to the aberrant expression of cCD3ε. In conclusion, the aberrant immunohistochemical expression of cCD3ε was a useful finding as is sCD3ε loss in FCM, but CD3γ and CD3ζ were more useful, facilitating the diagnosis of PTCLs.

Epidemiology of adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma in Japan: An updated analysis, 2012-2013.

Adult T-cell leukemia-lymphoma (ATL) is a T-cell malignancy that is endemic to Japan. In this latest nationwide study of ATL, we collected the data from 4 nationwide registries of patients diagnosed in 2012-2013; the Hematology Blood Disease, the Skin Cancer Society, the Hospital-Based Cancer Registries, and information from the hospitals that participated in the Japanese nationwide survey of ATL in 2010-2011. In the present study, 2614 patients with ATL were diagnosed based on the registries, and 117 departments registered 1042 patients. Among these patients, 984 were eligible for analysis. The median age at diagnosis was 69 y. A larger proportion of patients with ATL older than 70 y was diagnosed with the lymphoma subtype, and more than half of the patients with ATL in the metropolitan areas were born in the human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-1)-endemic areas of Kyushu/Okinawa, which are almost identical to the findings in our 2010-2011 study. Additionally, we identified that patients with ATL migrated from the endemic areas for HTLV-1 to the non-endemic metropolitan areas. The present study was able to reduce the burden of searching each hospital and to update the clinico-epidemiological characteristics of a large number of patients with ATL in Japan, suggesting the usefulness and feasibility of the novel data collection method. The establishment of a more sophisticated database management system for ATL is necessary for future continuous surveys.

HLA genotyping in Japanese patients with multiple myeloma receiving bortezomib: An exploratory biomarker study of JCOG1105 (JCOG1105A1).

Bortezomib (Btz) shows robust efficacy in patients with multiple myeloma (MM); however, some patients experience suboptimal responses and show specific toxicities. Therefore, we attempted to identify specific HLA alleles associated with Btz-related toxicities and response to treatment. Eighty-two transplant-ineligible patients with newly diagnosed MM enrolled in a phase II study (JCOG1105) comparing two less intensive melphalan, prednisolone, plus Btz (MPB) regimens were subjected to HLA typing. The frequency of each allele was compared between the groups, categorized based on toxicity grades and responses to MPB therapy. Among 82 patients, the numbers of patients with severe peripheral neuropathy (PN; grade 2 or higher), skin disorders (SD; grade 2 or higher), and pneumonitis were 16 (19.5%), 15 (18.3%), and 6 (7.3%), respectively. Complete response was achieved in 10 (12.2%) patients. Although no significant HLA allele was identified by multiple comparisons, several candidates were identified. HLA-B*40:06 was more prevalent in patients with severe PN than in those with less severe PN (odds ratio [OR] = 6.76). HLA-B*40:06 and HLA-DRB1*12:01 were more prevalent in patients with SD than in those with less severe SD (OR = 7.47 and OR = 5.55, respectively). HLA-DRB1*08:02 clustered in the group of patients with pneumonitis (OR = 11.34). Complete response was achieved in patients carrying HLA-DQB1*03:02, HLA-DQB1*05:01, and HLA-DRB1*01:01 class II alleles. HLA genotyping could help predict Btz-induced toxicity and treatment efficacy in patients with MM, although this needs further validation.

Randomised phase II study to optimise melphalan, prednisolone, and bortezomib in untreated multiple myeloma (JCOG1105).

We conducted a randomised phase II study to determine the optimal dose and schedule of melphalan, prednisone, and bortezomib (MPB) (jRCTs031180097). Transplant-ineligible untreated multiple myeloma patients were randomised to Arm A (twice weekly bortezomib in one six-week cycle followed by eight five-week cycles of four times once weekly bortezomib with melphalan and prednisolone on days 1-4) or Arm B (nine four-week cycles of three times once weekly bortezomib with melphalan and prednisolone on days 1-4). The primary end-point was complete response (CR) rate. Of 91 patients randomised to two arms, 88 were eligible. The median cumulative bortezomib doses were 45·8 and 35·1 mg/m2 , CR rate was 18·6% [95% confidence interval (CI) 8·4-33·4] and 6·7% (95% CI 1·4-18·3), and the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 2·5 and 1·4 years in Arms A and B [hazard ratio (HR) 1·93 (95% CI 1·09-3·42)], respectively. Frequent grade ≥3 haematologic toxicities in Arms A and B were neutropenia (64·4% vs. 28·3%) and thrombocytopenia (35·6% vs. 10·9%). Grade 2/3 peripheral neuropathy was observed in 24·4/2·2% in Arm A and 8·7/0% in Arm B. In conclusion, Arm A was the more promising regimen, suggesting that the twice weekly schedule of bortezomib in the first cycle and higher cumulative dose of both bortezomib and melphalan influences the efficacy of modified MPB.

Comparison of the International Workshop Criteria and the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors for indolent B-cell lymphoma.

BACKGROUND: [18F] fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography is incorporated in response criteria currently used for lymphoma; however, the primary endpoint in earlier phase study is an overall response, which includes the partial response of 50% shrinkage in two dimensions. Therefore, the measurement of target lesions is still prerequisite to determine the destiny of new, promising agents. Since required is calculating the sum of the product of bidimensional diameters of maximal six target lesions, the International Workshop Criteria (IWC) used as response evaluation in lymphoma is more time-consuming than the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST). This study aimed to examine whether the RECIST could replace the IWC using data from a phase II/III study of R-CHOP-21 versus R-CHOP-14 for advanced-stage indolent B-cell lymphoma, JCOG0203. METHODS: To evaluate the degree of agreement between them, the Kappa coefficient (KC) was calculated. Excluding patients without target lesions for the RECIST following central pathological review, 269 patients were evaluable. We determined which criterion was more predictive for progression-free survival. The criterion showing the lower point estimate of the hazard ratio (HR) of a complete response (CR) vs. a non-CR was defined as more useful. RESULTS: The KC between them was 0.34 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.26-0.42); namely, indicating poor agreement. The HR of the IWC (0.47: 95% CI 0.33-0.68, log-rank test p < 0.001) was lower than that of the RECIST (0.64: 95% CI 0.45-0.89, p = 0.0075). CONCLUSION: We conclude that unidimensional measurements cannot be substituted for the bidimensional ones for indolent lymphoma.

Rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone combined with high-dose methotrexate plus intrathecal chemotherapy for newly diagnosed intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (PRIMEUR-IVL): a multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 trial.

BACKGROUND: Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a rare disease for which there is no available standard treatment. We aimed to ascertain the safety and activity of R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone) with high-dose methotrexate and intrathecal chemotherapy as CNS-oriented therapy for patients with previously untreated IVLBCL. METHODS: PRIMEUR-IVL is a multicentre, single-arm, phase 2 trial at 22 hospitals in Japan. Eligible patients had untreated histologically confirmed IVLBCL, were aged 20-79 years, had an Eastern Cooperative Group performance status of 0-3, and had no apparent CNS involvement at diagnosis. Patients received three cycles of R-CHOP (rituximab 375 mg/m2 intravenously on day 1 [except cycle one, which was on day 8]; cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2, doxorubicin 50 mg/m2, and vincristine 1·4 mg/m2 [maximum 2·0 mg] intravenously on day 1 of cycle one and day 2 of cycles two and three; and prednisolone 100 mg/day orally on days 1-5 of cycle one and days 2-6 of cycles two and three) followed by two cycles of rituximab with high-dose methotrexate (3·5 g/m2 intravenously on day 2 of cycles four and five) every 2 weeks and three additional cycles of R-CHOP. Intrathecal chemotherapy (methotrexate 15 mg, cytarabine 40 mg, and prednisolone 10 mg) was administered four times during the R-CHOP phase. The primary endpoint was 2-year progression-free survival. Efficacy analyses were done in all enrolled patients; safety analyses were done in all enrolled and treated patients. The trial is registered in the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000005707) and the Japan Registry of Clinical Trials (jRCTs041180165); the trial is ongoing for long-term follow-up. FINDINGS: Between June 16, 2011, and July 21, 2016, 38 patients were enrolled, of whom 37 were eligible; one patient was excluded because of a history of testicular lymphoma. Median follow-up was 3·9 years (IQR 2·5-5·5). 2-year progression-free survival was 76% (95% CI 58-87). The most frequent adverse events of grade 3-4 were neutropenia and leucocytopenia, which were reported in all 38 (100%) patients. Serious adverse events were hypokalaemia, febrile neutropenia with hypotension, hypertension, and intracerebral haemorrhage (reported in one [3%] patient each). No treatment-related deaths occurred during protocol treatment. INTERPRETATION: R-CHOP combined with rituximab and high-dose methotrexate plus intrathecal chemotherapy is a safe and active treatment for patients with IVLBCL without apparent CNS involvement at diagnosis, and this regimen warrants future investigation. FUNDING: The Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, the Center for Supporting Hematology-Oncology Trials, and the National Cancer Center.

Prognosis of patients with adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma in Japan: A nationwide hospital-based study.

Adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is a mature T-cell neoplasm and is classified into four subtypes (acute, lymphoma, chronic, and smoldering) according to the Shimoyama classification, established in 1991 through several nationwide surveys based on the clinical diversity of patients diagnosed in 1983-1987 in Japan. Thereafter, no such studies have been conducted. Recently, we conducted a nationwide hospital survey using the method of the 1980s studies, collected baseline data on 996 ATL patients diagnosed in 2010-2011 from 126 hospitals, and reported their unique epidemiological characteristics. Here, we report the follow-up results of registered ATL patients with the goal of evaluating current prognoses and treatment modalities as of 2016-2017. Of 770 evaluable patients, 391 (50.8%) had acute-type, 192 (24.9%) had lymphoma-type, 106 (13.8%) had chronic-type, and 81 (10.5%) had smoldering-type ATL. The initial therapy regimens used for acute/lymphoma-type ATL were vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone, followed by doxorubicin, ranimustine, and prednisone and then by vindesine, etoposide, carboplatin, and prednisone (VCAP-AMP-VECP)-like in 38.5/41.7% and cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP)-like in 14.6/13.7% of patients. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation was used to treat 15.9/10.4% of acute/lymphoma-type ATL patients. The 4-year survival rates (the median survival time, days) for acute-, lymphoma-, unfavorable chronic-, favorable chronic-, and smoldering-type ATL were 16.8% (252), 19.6% (305), 26.6% (572), 62.1% (1937), and 59.8% (1851), respectively. The 4-year survival rates for acute- and lymphoma-type ATL improved compared with those reported in 1991, but those for chronic- and smoldering-type ATL were not. Further efforts are warranted to develop more efficient therapeutic strategies to improve the prognosis of ATL in Japan.

R-CHOP-14 versus R-CHOP-14/CHASER for upfront autologous transplantation in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: JCOG0908 study.

The efficiency of upfront consolidation with high-dose chemotherapy/autologous stem-cell transplantation (HDCT/ASCT) for newly diagnosed high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) may be influenced by induction chemotherapy. To select better induction chemotherapy regimens for HDCT/ASCT, a randomized phase II study was conducted in high-risk DLBCL patients having an age-adjusted International Prognostic Index (aaIPI) score of 2 or 3. As induction chemotherapy, 6 cycles of R-CHOP-14 (arm A) or 3 cycles of R-CHOP-14 followed by 3 cycles of CHASER (arm B) were planned, and patients who responded proceeded to HDCT with LEED and ASCT. The primary endpoint was 2-y progression-free survival (PFS), and the main secondary endpoints included overall survival, overall response rate, and adverse events (AEs). In total, 71 patients were enrolled. With a median follow-up of 40.3 mo, 2-y PFS in arms A and B were 68.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 50.5%-81.2%) and 66.7% (95% CI: 48.8%-79.5%), respectively. Overall survival at 2 y in arms A and B was 74.3% (95% CI: 56.4%-85.7%) and 83.3% (95% CI: 66.6%-92.1%). Overall response rates were 82.9% in arm A and 69.4% in arm B. During induction chemotherapy, 45.7% and 75.0% of patients in arms A and B, respectively, had grade ≥ 3 non-hematologic toxicities. One patient in arm A and 6 in arm B discontinued induction chemotherapy due to AEs. In conclusion, R-CHOP-14 showed higher 2-y PFS and less toxicity compared with R-CHOP-14/CHASER in patients with high-risk DLBCL, suggesting the former to be a more promising induction regimen for further investigations (UMIN-CTR, UMIN000003823).

Brentuximab vedotin with chemotherapy for CD30-positive peripheral T-cell lymphoma (ECHELON-2): a global, double-blind, randomised, phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Based on the encouraging activity and manageable safety profile observed in a phase 1 study, the ECHELON-2 trial was initiated to compare the efficacy and safety of brentuximab vedotin, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (A+CHP) versus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) for the treatment of CD30-positive peripheral T-cell lymphomas. METHODS: ECHELON-2 is a double-blind, double-dummy, randomised, placebo-controlled, active-comparator phase 3 study. Eligible adults from 132 sites in 17 countries with previously untreated CD30-positive peripheral T-cell lymphomas (targeting 75% with systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma) were randomly assigned 1:1 to receive either A+CHP or CHOP for six or eight 21-day cycles. Randomisation was stratified by histological subtype according to local pathology assessment and by international prognostic index score. All patients received cyclophosphamide 750 mg/m2 and doxorubicin 50 mg/m2 on day 1 of each cycle intravenously and prednisone 100 mg once daily on days 1 to 5 of each cycle orally, followed by either brentuximab vedotin 1·8 mg/kg and a placebo form of vincristine intravenously (A+CHP group) or vincristine 1·4 mg/m2 and a placebo form of brentuximab vedotin intravenously (CHOP group) on day 1 of each cycle. The primary endpoint, progression-free survival according to blinded independent central review, was analysed by intent-to-treat. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01777152. FINDINGS: Between Jan 24, 2013, and Nov 7, 2016, 601 patients assessed for eligibility, of whom 452 patients were enrolled and 226 were randomly assigned to both the A+CHP group and the CHOP group. Median progression-free survival was 48·2 months (95% CI 35·2-not evaluable) in the A+CHP group and 20·8 months (12·7-47·6) in the CHOP group (hazard ratio 0·71 [95% CI 0·54-0·93], p=0·0110). Adverse events, including incidence and severity of febrile neutropenia (41 [18%] patients in the A+CHP group and 33 [15%] in the CHOP group) and peripheral neuropathy (117 [52%] in the A+CHP group and 124 [55%] in the CHOP group), were similar between groups. Fatal adverse events occurred in seven (3%) patients in the A+CHP group and nine (4%) in the CHOP group. INTERPRETATION: Front-line treatment with A+CHP is superior to CHOP for patients with CD30-positive peripheral T-cell lymphomas as shown by a significant improvement in progression-free survival and overall survival with a manageable safety profile. FUNDING: Seattle Genetics Inc, Millennium Pharmaceuticals Inc, a wholly owned subsidiary of Takeda Pharmacuetical Company Limited, and National Institutes of Health National Cancer Institute Cancer Center.