Long-term analysis of the RiBVD phase II trial reveals the unfavorable impact of TP53 mutations and hypoalbuminemia in older adults with mantle cell lymphoma; for the LYSA group.

Between 2011 and 2012, a phase II trial evaluated the use of the RiBVD (Rituximab, Bendamustine, Velcade and Dexamethasone) combination as first-line treatment for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) patients aged over 65. We have now re-examined the classic prognostic factors, adding an assessment of the mutation status of TP53. Patients (n=74; median age 73 years) were treated with the RiBVD combination. Median Progression Free Survival (mPFS) was 79 months, and median Overall Survival (mOS) was 111 months. TP53 mutation status was available for 54/74 (73%) patients. TP53 mutations (TP53mt) were found in 12 patients (22.2%). In multivariate analysis, among the prognostic factors (PF) evaluated, only TP53mt and an albumin level below 3.6 g/dL (Alb<3.6 g/dL) were independently associated with a shorter mPFS. A hazard ratio (HR) of 3.16 (1.3-9.9, p=0.014) was obtained for TP53mt versus TP53wt, and 3.6 (1.39-9.5, p=0.009) for Alb<3.6 g/dL vs Alb≥3.6 g/dL. In terms of mOS, multivariate analysis identified three PFs: TP53mt (HR: 5.9 (1.77-19.5, p=0.004)), Alb<3.6 g/dL (HR: 5.2 (1.46-18.5, p=0.011)), and ECOG=2 (HR: 3.7 (1.31-10.6, p=0.014)). Finally, a score combining TP53 status and albumin level distinguished three populations based on the presence of 0, 1, or 2 PF. For these populations, mPFS was 7.8 years, 28 months and 2.5 months, respectively. Our prolonged follow-up confirmed the efficacy of the RiBVD regimen, comparing it favorably to other regimens. TP53mt and hypoalbuminemia emerge as strong PF that can be easily integrated into prognostic scores for older adult patients with MCL.

Commercial anti-CD19 CAR T cell therapy for patients with relapsed/refractory aggressive B cell lymphoma in a European center.

Two autologous anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptors (CAR) T cells (axicabtagene ciloleucel [axi-cel] and tisagenlecleucel [tisa-cel]) are commercially approved in Europe for relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We performed a retrospective study to evaluate patterns of use, efficacy and safety for axi-cel and tisa-cel. Data from 70 patients who underwent apheresis for commercial CAR T cells between January 2018 and November 2019 in our institution were retrospectively collected. Sixty-one patients were infused. The median age at infusion was 59 years old (range 27-75 years). The median number of prior therapies was 3 (range, 2-6). The overall response rates (ORRs) at 1 month and 3 months were 63% and 45%, respectively, with 48% and 39% achieving a complete response (CR), respectively. After a median follow-up after infusion of 5.7 months, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.0 months (95% CI, 2.8-8.8 months), and the median overall survival (OS) was 11.8 months (95% CI, 6.0-12.6 months). In multivariate analysis, factors associated with poor PFS were the number of previous lines of treatment before CAR T cells (≥4) (P = .010) and a C reactive protein (CRP) value >30 mg/L at the time of lymphodepletion (P < .001). Likewise, the only factor associated with a shorter OS was CRP >30 mg/L (P = .009). Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) of any grade occurred in 85% of patients, including 8% of patients with CRS of grade 3 or higher. Immune cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) of any grade occurred in 28% of patients, including 10% of patients with ICANS of grade 3 or higher. Regarding efficacy and safety, no significant difference was found between axi-cel and tisa-cel. This analysis describes one of the largest real-life cohorts of patients treated with axi-cel and tisa-cel for R/R aggressive B cell lymphoma in Europe.

A phase 2 study of rituximab, bendamustine, bortezomib and dexamethasone for first-line treatment of older patients with mantle cell lymphoma.

We present results of a prospective, multicenter, phase II study evaluating rituximab, bendamustine, bortezomib and dexamethasone as first-line treatment for patients with mantle cell lymphoma aged 65 years or older. A total of 74 patients were enrolled (median age, 73 years). Patients received a maximum of six cycles of treatment at 28-day intervals. The primary objective was to achieve an 18-month progression-free survival rate of 65% or higher. Secondary objectives were to evaluate toxicity and the prognostic impact of mantle cell lymphoma prognostic index, Ki67 expression, [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography and molecular minimal residual disease, in peripheral blood or bone marrow. With a median follow-up of 52 months, the 24-month progression-free survival rate was 70%, hence the primary objective was reached. After six cycles of treatment, 91% (54/59) of responding patients were analyzed for peripheral blood residual disease and 87% of these (47/54) were negative. Four-year overall survival rates of the patients who did not have or had detectable molecular residual disease in the blood at completion of treatment were 86.6% and 28.6%, respectively (P<0.0001). Neither the mantle cell lymphoma index, nor fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography nor Ki67 positivity (cut off of ≥30%) showed a prognostic impact for survival. Hematologic grade 3-4 toxicities were mainly neutropenia (51%), thrombocytopenia (35%) and lymphopenia (65%). Grade 3-4 non-hematologic toxicities were mainly fatigue (18.5%), neuropathy (15%) and infections. In conclusion, the tested treatment regimen is active as frontline therapy in older patients with mantle cell lymphoma, with manageable toxicity. Minimal residual disease status after induction could serve as an early predictor of survival in mantle cell lymphoma. ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT 01457144.

Long-term outcome of imatinib 400 mg compared to imatinib 600 mg or imatinib 400 mg daily in combination with cytarabine or pegylated interferon alpha 2a for chronic myeloid leukaemia: results from the French SPIRIT phase III randomised trial.

The STI571 prospective randomised trial (SPIRIT) French trial is a four-arm study comparing imatinib (IM) 400 mg versus IM 600 mg, IM 400 mg + cytarabine (AraC), and IM 400 mg + pegylated interferon alpha2a (PegIFN-α2a) for the front-line treatment of chronic-phase chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). Long-term analyses included overall and progression-free survival, molecular responses to treatment, and severe adverse events. Starting in 2003, the trial included 787 evaluable patients. The median overall follow-up of the patients was 13.5 years (range 3 months to 16.7 years). Based on intention-to-treat analyses, at 15 years, overall and progression-free survival were similar across arms: 85%, 83%, 80%, and 82% and 84%, 87%, 79%, and 79% for the IM 400 mg (N = 223), IM 600 mg (N = 171), IM 400 mg + AraC (N = 172), and IM 400 mg + PegIFN-α2a (N = 221) arms, respectively. The rate of major molecular response at 12 months and deep molecular response (MR4) over time were significantly higher with the combination IM 400 mg + PegIFN-α2a than with IM 400 mg: p = 0.0001 and p = 0.0035, respectively. Progression to advanced phases and secondary malignancies were the most frequent causes of death. Toxicity was the main reason for stopping AraC or PegIFN-α2a treatment.

Long-term benefit of intracardiac delivery of autologous granulocyte-colony-stimulating factor-mobilized blood CD34+ cells containing cardiac progenitors on regional heart structure and function after myocardial infarct.

BACKGROUND AIMS: Starting from experimental data proposing hematopoietic stem cells as candidates for cardiac repair, we postulated that human peripheral blood (PB) CD34+ cells mobilized by hematopoietic growth-factor (G-CSF) would contain cell subpopulations capable of regenerating post-ischemic myocardial damages. METHODS: In a phase I clinical assay enrolling seven patients with acute myocardial infarct, we directly delivered to the injured myocardium autologous PB CD34+ cells previously mobilized by G-CSF, collected by leukapheresis and purified by immunoselection. In parallel, we looked for the eventual presence of cardiomyocytic and endothelial progenitor cells in leukapheresis products of these patients and controls, using flow cytometry, reverse transcription-quantitative (RTQ)-polymerase chain reaction (PCR), cell cultures and immunofluorescence analyzes. RESULTS: The whole clinical process was feasible and safe. All patients were alive at an average follow-up of 49 months (range 24-76 months). Improvement of heart function parameters became obvious from the third month following cell reinjection. Left ventricular ejection fraction values progressively and dramatically increased with time, associated with PetScan demonstration of myocardial structure regeneration and revascularization and New York Heart Association (NYHA) grade improvement. Furthermore, we identified PB CD34+ cell subpopulations expressing characteristics of both immature and mature endothelial and cardiomyocyte progenitor cells. In vitro CD34+ cell cultures on a specific medium induced development of adherent cells featuring morphologies, gene expression and immunocytochemistry characteristics of endothelial and cardiac muscle cells. CONCLUSIONS: Mobilized CD34+ cells contain stem cells committed along endothelial and cardiac differentiation pathways, which could play a key role in a proposed two-phase mechanism of myocardial regeneration after direct intracardiac delivery, probably being responsible for the long-term clinical benefit observed.

Relapsed chronic lymphocytic leukemia retreated with rituximab: interim results of the PERLE study.

This prospective non-interventional study assessed the management of relapsed/refractory CLL after one or two treatments with rituximab, and retreatment with a rituximab-based regimen. An interim analysis was performed at the end of the induction period in 192 evaluable patients. Median age was 72 years [35-89], first relapse (55%), and second relapse (45%). Rituximab administered during first (68%), second (92%), or both treatment lines (20%). R-bendamustine administered in 56% of patients, R-purine analogs (21%), and R-alkylating agents (19%). The overall response rate (ORR) was 74.6%, in favor of R-purine analogs (90%), R-bendamustine (75%), and R-alkylating agents (69%). Lower ORR in Del 17p patients (43%) and third time rituximab (31%). Most frequent adverse events were hematological (23% patients) including neutropenia (11%) and infections (12%); grade 3/4 AEs (23% patients), mainly hematological (18%); death during induction treatment (7%). This first large study focusing on relapsed/refractory CLL patients retreated with rituximab-based regimens is still ongoing.