A phase 2 study of pembrolizumab after autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is often used as consolidation for several subtypes of peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) in first remission. However, many patients relapse after ASCT and have a very poor prognosis. There are no approved treatment options for posttransplantation maintenance or consolidation in PTCL. PD-1 blockade has demonstrated some efficacy for patients with PTCL. We, therefore, conducted a phase 2 multicenter study of the anti-PD-1 monoclonal antibody pembrolizumab after ASCT in patients with PTCL in first remission. Pembrolizumab was administered at 200 mg IV every 3 weeks for up to 8 cycles within 21 days from post-ASCT discharge (and within 60 days of stem cell infusion). The primary end point was progression-free survival (PFS) at 18 months after ASCT. Twenty-one patients were treated in this study and 67% (n = 14) completed 8 cycles of treatment. Among all patients who were evaluable, 13 of 21 were alive and achieved PFS at 18 months after ASCT, meeting the study's primary end point. The estimated 18-month PFS was 83.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 68-100), and overall survival 94.4% (95% CI, 84-100). The toxicity profile was consistent with the known toxicity profile of pembrolizumab, with no grade 5 toxicities. In conclusion, PD-1 blockade after ASCT with pembrolizumab is feasible with a favorable safety profile and promising activity, supporting further confirmatory studies. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02362997.

Venetoclax plus dose-adjusted R-EPOCH for Richter syndrome.

Richter syndrome (RS) of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is typically chemoresistant, with a poor prognosis. We hypothesized that the oral Bcl-2 inhibitor venetoclax could sensitize RS to chemoimmunotherapy and improve outcomes. We conducted a single-arm, investigator-sponsored, phase 2 trial of venetoclax plus dose-adjusted rituximab, etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin (VR-EPOCH) to determine the rate of complete response (CR). Patients received R-EPOCH for 1 cycle, then after count recovery, accelerated daily venetoclax ramp-up to 400 mg, then VR-EPOCH for up to 5 more 21-day cycles. Responders received venetoclax maintenance or cellular therapy off-study. Twenty-six patients were treated, and 13 of 26 (50%) achieved CR, with 11 achieving undetectable bone marrow minimal residual disease for CLL. Three additional patients achieved partial response (overall response rate, 62%). Median progression-free survival was 10.1 months, and median overall survival was 19.6 months. Hematologic toxicity included grade ≥3 neutropenia (65%) and thrombocytopenia (50%), with febrile neutropenia in 38%. No patients experienced tumor lysis syndrome with daily venetoclax ramp-up. VR-EPOCH is active in RS, with deeper, more durable responses than historical regimens. Toxicities from intensive chemoimmunotherapy and venetoclax were observed. Our data suggest that studies comparing venetoclax with chemoimmunotherapy to chemoimmunotherapy alone are warranted. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03054896.

A multi-cohort phase 1b trial of rituximab in combination with immunotherapy doublets in relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma.

Antibodies targeting PD-1 or 4-1BB achieve objective responses in follicular lymphoma (FL), but only in a minority of patients. We hypothesized that targeting multiple immune receptors could overcome immune resistance and increase response rates in patients with relapsed/refractory FL. We therefore conducted a phase 1b trial testing time-limited therapy with different immunotherapy doublets targeting 4-1BB (utomilumab), OX-40 (ivuxolimab), and PD-L1 (avelumab) in combination with rituximab among patients with relapsed/refractory grade 1-3A FL. Patients were enrolled onto 2 of 3 planned cohorts (cohort 1 - rituximab/utomilumab/avelumab; cohort 2 - rituximab/ivuxolimab/utomilumab). 3+3 dose escalation was followed by dose expansion at the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D). Twenty-four patients were enrolled (16 in cohort 1 and 9 in cohort 2, with one treated in both cohorts). No patients discontinued treatment due to adverse events and the RP2D was the highest dose level tested in both cohorts. In cohort 1, the objective and complete response rates were 44% and 19%, respectively (50% and 30%, respectively, at RP2D). In cohort 2, no responses were observed. The median progression-free survivals in cohorts 1 and 2 were 6.9 and 3.2 months, respectively. In cohort 1, higher density of PD-1+ tumor-infiltrating T-cells on baseline biopsies and lower density of 4-1BB+ and TIGIT+ T-cells in on-treatment biopsies were associated with response. Abundance of Akkermansia in stool samples was also associated with response. Our results support a possible role for 4-1BB agonist therapy in FL and suggest that features of the tumor microenvironment and stool microbiome may be associated with clinical outcomes (NCT03636503).

Primary cutaneous EBV+ extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma of gamma/delta T-cell lineage in the posttransplantation setting.

Posttransplantation primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (PT-CTCL) are a rare complication of sustained immunosuppression in the posttransplant setting. When present, PT-CTCLs are typically EBV- and exhibit features of mycosis fungoides/Sézary syndrome or CD30+ lymphoproliferative disorders. We present a case of a 75-year-old individual who developed skin lesions 30 years after liver transplantation. Pathologic evaluation of the skin biopsy revealed involvement by a clonal, EBV+ T-cell population of gamma/delta lineage with no evidence of systemic disease. Comprehensive genomic profiling was performed, confirming focal one-copy loss of 6q23.3, altogether consistent with the extremely rare and unusual diagnosis of primary cutaneous EBV+ extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma of gamma/delta T-cell lineage in the posttransplantation setting.

Clinical efficacy and safety of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for mantle cell lymphoma with secondary central nervous system involvement.

Data describing outcomes of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy in patients with secondary central nervous system (SCNS) involvement of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) are limited. We identified 10 patients with MCL and SCNS involvement treated with anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy at three US academic centres. Frequent objective responses were observed in the CNS (86%) and systemically (90%), and the 1-year progression-free survival was 47%. Seven patients developed immune-effector-cell-associated-neurotoxicity-syndrome (n = 2 Grade 1, n = 5 Grade 3). Our results suggest that anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy in this setting is feasible and additional data regarding neurotoxicity in this population may be warranted.

Mogamulizumab-Associated Myositis With and Without Myasthenia Gravis and/or Myocarditis in Patients With T-Cell Lymphoma.

Mogamulizumab is being increasingly prescribed for the treatment of T-cell lymphomas (MF/SS/ATLL). We conducted a retrospective cohort study to identify muscular immune-related adverse events (irAEs) associated with mogamulizumab in patients with T-cell lymphoma followed at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute from January 2015 to June 2022. We identified 5 cases of mogamulizumab-associated myositis and/or myocarditis (MAM/Mc), 2 additionally affected by myasthenia gravis, among 42 patients with T-cell lymphoma. Three cases experienced -mogamulizumab-associated rash (MAR) prior to developing MAM/Mc. The incidence (n = 5/42, 11.9%) of muscular mogamulizumab-associated irAEs may be higher than has been previously reported in clinical trials and may be of late onset (a median of 5 cycles and as late as 100 days from the last infusion). We highlight the utility of IVIG, together with systemic corticosteroids, for the treatment of these potentially fatal side effects associated with mogamulizumab therapy.

Small lymphocytic lymphoma presenting as chronic diffuse lip swelling.

Although rare, small lymphocytic lymphoma can present as chronic lip swelling and papules, thus mimicking the features of orofacial granulomatosis, a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by subepithelial noncaseating granulomas, or papular mucinosis, characterized by localized dermal mucin deposition of mucin. When assessing lip swelling, one must carefully consider the clinical clues and have a low threshold to perform a diagnostic tissue biopsy, preventing delays in treatment or progression of the lymphoma.

Acalabrutinib, venetoclax, and obinutuzumab as frontline treatment for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia: a single-arm, open-label, phase 2 study.

BACKGROUND: Both continuous therapy with acalabrutinib and fixed-duration therapy with venetoclax-obinutuzumab are effective for previously untreated chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. We hypothesised that frontline time-limited, minimal residual disease (MRD)-guided triplet therapy with acalabrutinib, venetoclax, and obinutuzumab would induce deep (ie, more patients with undetectable MRD) and durable remissions. METHODS: In this open-label, single-arm, investigator-sponsored, phase 2 study, patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia or small lymphocytic lymphoma were recruited from two academic hospitals in Boston, MA, USA. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older, with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2, and were treatment naive. Patients were treated in 28 day cycles. Acalabrutinib monotherapy was given orally at 100 mg twice daily for cycle 1, then combined for six cycles with intravenous obinutuzumab (100 mg on cycle 2 day 1, 900 mg on day 2, 1000 mg on day 8, and 1000 mg on day 15 and on day 1 of cycles 3-7); and from the beginning of cycle 4, oral venetoclax was dosed daily using an accelerated ramp-up from 20 mg on day 1 to 400 mg by day 22 and continued at this dose thereafter. Patients continued on acalabrutinib 100 mg twice daily and venetoclax 400 mg once daily until day 1 of cycle 16 or day 1 of cycle 25. If the patient had undetectable MRD in the bone marrow they were given the option to discontinue therapy at the start of cycle 16 (if also in complete remission) or at the start of cycle 25 (if at least in partial remission). The primary endpoint was complete remission with undetectable MRD in the bone marrow (defined as <1 chronic lymphocytic leukaemia cell per 10 000 leucocytes as measured by four-colour flow cytometry), at cycle 16 day 1. Safety and activity endpoints were assessed in all patients who received at least one dose of any study drug. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03580928, and is ongoing. FINDINGS: Between Aug 2, 2018, and May 23, 2019, 37 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia were enrolled and all received at least one dose of any study drug. The median age of patients was 63 years (IQR 57-70), and ten (27%) were female and 27 (73%) were male. Median follow-up was 27·6 months (IQR 25·1-28·2). At cycle 16 day 1, 14 (38% [95% CI 22-55]) of 37 participants had a complete remission with undetectable MRD in the bone marrow. The most common grade 3 or 4 haematological adverse event was neutropenia (16 [43%] of 37 patients). The most common grade 3-4 non-haematological adverse events were hyperglycaemia (three [8%]) and hypophosphataemia (three [8%]). Serious adverse events occurred in nine (24%) patients; the most common was neutropenia in three (8%) patients. There have been no deaths on study. INTERPRETATION: Acalabrutinib, venetoclax, and obinutuzumab is a highly active and well tolerated frontline therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Although the primary endpoint of this study was not met, the high proportion of patients who had undetectable MRD in the bone marrow supports further investigation of this regimen, which is being tested against acalabrutinib-venetoclax and chemoimmunotherapy in an ongoing phase 3 study (NCT03836261). FUNDING: AstraZeneca and a Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Collaborative Award.

PD-1 blockade with pembrolizumab for classical Hodgkin lymphoma after autologous stem cell transplantation.

Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) remains the standard of care for patients with relapsed/refractory (RR) classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) who respond to salvage chemotherapy. However, relapse after ASCT remains a frequent cause of treatment failure, with poor subsequent prognosis. Because cHL is uniquely vulnerable to programmed cell death-1 (PD-1) blockade, PD-1 blockade given as consolidation after ASCT could improve ASCT outcomes. We therefore conducted a multicohort phase 2 study of pembrolizumab in patients with RR cHL after ASCT, hypothesizing that it would improve the progression-free survival (PFS) at 18 months after ASCT (primary end point) from 60% to 80%. Pembrolizumab was administered at 200 mg IV every 3 weeks for up to 8 cycles, starting within 21 days of post-ASCT discharge. Thirty patients were treated on this study. The median age was 33 years, and 90% were high-risk by clinical criteria. Seventy-seven percent completed all 8 cycles. Toxicity was manageable, with 30% of patients experiencing at least 1 grade 3 or higher adverse event (AE), and 40% at least 1 grade 2 or higher immune-related AE. Two patients were lost to follow-up in complete remission at 12 months. The PFS at 18 months for the 28 evaluable patients was 82%, meeting the primary end point. The 18-month overall survival was 100%. In conclusion, pembrolizumab was successfully administered as post-ASCT consolidation in patients with RR cHL, and resulted in a promising PFS in a high-risk patient cohort, supporting the testing of this strategy in a randomized trial. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02362997.

Mogamulizumab versus vorinostat in previously treated cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (MAVORIC): an international, open-label, randomised, controlled phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Cutaneous T-cell lymphomas are rare non-Hodgkin lymphomas with substantial morbidity and mortality in advanced disease stages. We compared the efficacy of mogamulizumab, a novel monoclonal antibody directed against C-C chemokine receptor 4, with vorinostat in patients with previously treated cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. METHODS: In this open-label, international, phase 3, randomised controlled trial, we recruited patients with relapsed or refractory mycosis fungoides or Sézary syndrome at 61 medical centres in the USA, Denmark, France, Italy, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, Japan, and Australia. Eligible patients were aged at least 18 years (in Japan, ≥20 years), had failed (for progression or toxicity as assessed by the principal investigator) at least one previous systemic therapy, and had an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score of 1 or less and adequate haematological, hepatic, and renal function. Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) using an interactive voice web response system to mogamulizumab (1·0 mg/kg intravenously on a weekly basis for the first 28-day cycle, then on days 1 and 15 of subsequent cycles) or vorinostat (400 mg daily). Stratification was by cutaneous T-cell lymphoma subtype (mycosis fungoides vs Sézary syndrome) and disease stage (IB-II vs III-IV). Since this study was open label, patients and investigators were not masked to treatment assignment. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival by investigator assessment in the intention-to-treat population. Patients who received one or more doses of study drug were included in the safety analyses. This study is ongoing, and enrolment is complete. This trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01728805. FINDINGS: Between Dec 12, 2012, and Jan 29, 2016, 372 eligible patients were randomly assigned to receive mogamulizumab (n=186) or vorinostat (n=186), comprising the intention-to-treat population. Two patients randomly assigned to mogamulizumab withdrew consent before receiving study treatment; thus, 370 patients were included in the safety population. Mogamulizumab therapy resulted in superior investigator-assessed progression-free survival compared with vorinostat therapy (median 7·7 months [95% CI 5·7-10·3] in the mogamulizumab group vs 3·1 months [2·9-4·1] in the vorinostat group; hazard ratio 0·53, 95% CI 0·41-0·69; stratified log-rank p<0·0001). Grade 3-4 adverse events of any cause were reported in 75 (41%) of 184 patients in the mogamulizumab group and 76 (41%) of 186 patients in the vorinostat group. The most common serious adverse events of any cause were pyrexia in eight (4%) patients and cellulitis in five (3%) patients in the mogamulizumab group; and cellulitis in six (3%) patients, pulmonary embolism in six (3%) patients, and sepsis in five (3%) patients in the vorinostat group. Two (67%) of three on-treatment deaths with mogamulizumab (due to sepsis and polymyositis) and three (33%) of nine on-treatment deaths with vorinostat (two due to pulmonary embolism and one due to bronchopneumonia) were considered treatment-related. INTERPRETATION: Mogamulizumab significantly prolonged progression-free survival compared with vorinostat, and could provide a new, effective treatment for patients with mycosis fungoides and, importantly, for Sézary syndrome, a subtype that represents a major therapeutic challenge in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. FUNDING: Kyowa Kirin.

Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Elderly Lymphoma Patients in Their 70s: Outcomes and Analysis.

BACKGROUND: High-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) can offer durable remission in many patients with relapsed or high-risk lymphoma. However, elderly patients are often not considered ASCT candidates based on age alone. SUBJECTS, MATERIALS, AND METHODS: A retrospective analysis of patients ≥70 years of age with a diagnosis of Hodgkin or non-Hodgkin lymphoma receiving ASCT between 2000 and 2016 at two partner institutions was performed. Clinical data were extracted from institutional databases and individual medical records. Multivariate analysis was performed to examine the association of clinical variables with transplant outcomes. RESULTS: One hundred seven patients were identified. Median age at transplant was 72 years (range, 70-79). The most common lymphoma subtype was diffuse large B-cell (n = 63, 59%). Median time to neutrophil and platelet engraftment were 10 and 12 days, respectively. With a median follow-up for survivors of 20 months following ASCT (range, 6 months to 13.1 years), estimates for 2-year progression-free survival and overall survival were 58% (95% confidence interval [CI], 48%-67%) and 65% (95% CI, 55%-74%), respectively. Two-year estimate for relapse was 34% (95% CI, 25%-44%) and nonrelapse mortality (NRM) was 7% (95% CI, 3%-14%). Multivariate analysis showed that more recent date of transplant was associated with lower NRM. The Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation-Comorbidity Index score was not predictive of NRM in this data set (high-risk vs. low-risk, hazard ratio 3.45, p = .065). CONCLUSION: Eligibility for ASCT should be an individualized decision, and age should not be an absolute contraindication to ASCT in healthy elderly patients with lymphoma. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Although high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) can offer durable remission in many patients with relapsed or high-risk lymphoma, elderly patients are often not considered candidates due to concern for excess toxicity and mortality. This retrospective study showed favorable transplant outcomes, including survival and toxicity, in a large cohort of lymphoma patients over 70 years of age who underwent ASCT. Eligibility for ASCT should be an individualized decision, and age should not be an absolute contraindication to ASCT in healthy elderly patients with lymphoma.

Idelalisib given front-line for treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia causes frequent immune-mediated hepatotoxicity.

Idelalisib is a small-molecule inhibitor of PI3Kδ with demonstrated efficacy for the treatment of relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). To evaluate idelalisib as front-line therapy, we enrolled 24 subjects in a phase 2 study consisting of 2 months of idelalisib monotherapy followed by 6 months of combination therapy with idelalisib and the anti-CD20 antibody ofatumumab. After a median follow-up period of 14.7 months, hepatotoxicity was found to be a frequent and often severe adverse event. A total of 19 subjects (79%) experienced either grade ≥1 ALT or AST elevation during the study, and 13 subjects (54%) experienced grade ≥3 transaminitis. The median time to development of transaminitis was 28 days, occurring before ofatumumab introduction. Younger age and mutated immunoglobulin heavy chain status were significant risk factors for the development of hepatotoxicity. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that this hepatotoxicity was immune mediated. A lymphocytic infiltrate was seen on liver biopsy specimens taken from 2 subjects with transaminitis, and levels of the proinflammatory cytokines CCL-3 and CCL-4 were higher in subjects experiencing hepatotoxicity. All cases of transaminitis resolved either by holding the drug, initiating immunosuppressants, or both, and rates of recurrent toxicity were lower in patients taking steroids when idelalisib was reinitiated. A decrease in peripheral blood regulatory T cells was seen in patients experiencing toxicity on therapy, which is consistent with an immune-mediated mechanism. These results suggest that caution should be taken as drugs within this class are developed for CLL, particularly in younger patients who have not received prior disease-specific therapy. This study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02135133.

Panobinostat in combination with rituximab in heavily pretreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: Results of a phase II study.

This is a phase II study of panobinostat, an oral pan-HDAC inhibitor, combined with rituximab in patients with relapsed diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Panobinostat was administered orally 3 times a week every other week on a 28-day cycle. Rituximab was administered weekly during the first cycle, then on Day 1 of cycles 2 to 6. Patients without disease progression after 6 cycles continued panobinostat monotherapy for up to 6 additional cycles in the absence of disease progression. Eighteen eligible subjects were enrolled, and 18 were evaluable for response. The overall response rate was 11% (90% CI [2%-34%]) with 2 subjects having a partial response. The duration of response in these subjects was 51 and 60 days. Five additional subjects had stable disease with 3 subjects having tumor reduction between 27 and 44%, not meeting criteria for partial response. One subject with stable disease remained on therapy a total of 12 cycles. The most common toxicities while on study were thrombocytopenia (14 patients, 78%); fatigue (11, 61%); anemia (10, 56%); diarrhea (8, 44%); and nausea, lymphopenia, anorexia, and hypophosphatemia (5 each, 28% of patients), the majority of which was grade 2 or less. These data indicate that the combination of panobinostat with rituximab is able to induce responses in a limited number of subjects with relapsed diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

A phase 2 study of Rituximab-Bendamustine and Rituximab-Cytarabine for transplant-eligible patients with mantle cell lymphoma.

Chemoimmunotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is a standard therapy for transplant-eligible patients with newly diagnosed mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). The achievement of complete remission (CR) and minimal residual disease (MRD) negativity are associated with better outcomes. We tested an induction regimen of rituximab/bendamustine followed by rituximab/high-dose cytarabine (RB/RC). This phase 2 study (NCT01661881) enrolled 23 transplant-eligible patients aged 42-69, of whom 70% were MCL international prognostic index low-risk. Patients received three cycles of RB followed by three cycles of RC. The primary endpoint of the trial was the rate of CR after six cycles of therapy, with a rate of 75% considered promising. 96% of patients achieved a CR/unconfirmed CR after treatment, meeting the primary objective. One patient progressed on study, one declined ASCT in CR, and the remaining 21 underwent successful stem cell collection and ASCT. After a median follow-up of 13 months, the progression-free survival rate was 96%. Among 15 MRD-evaluable patients who completed treatment, 93% achieved MRD negativity after RB/RC. In conclusion, RB/RC achieves very high CR and MRD negativity rates in transplant-eligible patients, with a favourable safety profile. RB/RC warrants further comparative studies, and may become a useful alternative to RCHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone)-based induction regimens in this patient population.

Histopathologic spectrum of hypersensitivity reactions associated with anti-CD52 therapy (alemtuzumab).

BACKGROUND: Alemtuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against CD52, a cell surface antigen on B and T lymphocytes, and used to treat B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. Skin rash is a common adverse reaction following treatment with alemtuzumab. However, the clinicopathologic features and immunologic basis for the reaction have not been previously reported. METHODS: Our hospital's electronic pathology database was searched for cases with documentation of 'alemtuzumab' or 'anti-CD52' in the clinical history provided by either the ordering physician or the pathologist. Clinical and histopathologic review of the cases was performed. RESULTS: Five patients with cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) or chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) were treated with alemtuzumab, and developed pruritic, erythematous papules and plaques. Histopathology of the skin lesions revealed subacute spongiotic dermatitis with multifocal parakeratosis, endothelial activation and perivascular lymphocytic infiltrate. Eosinophils were not a prominent feature. CONCLUSIONS: We describe the clinicopathologic features of a novel hypersensitivity reaction to alemtuzumb, and hypothesize it may be due to an immunologic response precipitated by the persistence of resident memory T-cells (TRM ) in the skin. Our findings raise awareness for a novel reaction pattern and guide the histopathologic interpretation of lesions which may clinically mimic residual or recurrent cutaneous lymphoproliferative disorders.

Phase II Trial of Tandem High-Dose Chemotherapy with Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation Followed by Reduced-Intensity Allogeneic Stem Cell Transplantation for Patients with High-Risk Lymphoma.

Many patients with lymphoma relapse after autologous stem cell transplantation (AutoSCT). These patients are often considered for allogeneic stem cell transplantation (AlloSCT) if remission can be achieved. If a tandem approach was organized, some cases of relapse might be prevented. We conducted a phase II trial of tandem AutoSCT followed by reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) AlloSCT for patients with high-risk lymphoma. High-dose chemotherapy was given with busulfan, cyclophosphamide, and etoposide. AlloSCT was composed of RIC with busulfan/fludarabine and tacrolimus, sirolimus, and methotrexate as graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Donors were fully matched related or unrelated donors. AlloSCT was performed any time between 40 days and 6 months after AutoSCT. Forty-two patients were enrolled, and all patients underwent AutoSCT. RIC AlloSCT was performed in 29 patients. In the 29 patients who underwent tandem transplant, median time from AutoSCT to AlloSCT was 96 days (range, 48 to 169). The 6-month cumulative incidence of grades II to IV acute GVHD was 13.8% (90% confidence interval [CI], 5.3% to 26.3%). Cumulative incidence of chronic GVHD at 1 year was 37.9% (90% CI, 23.1% to 52.7%). Nonrelapse mortality at 2 years after AlloSCT was 11.1% (90% CI, 3.5% to 23.6%). At a median follow-up of 30 months (range, 17.1 to 51.5) for the entire group, the 2-year progression-free survival rate was 64% (90% CI, 50% to 75%) and the 2-year overall survival rate was 69% (90% CI, 43% to 85%). For the 29 patients who underwent tandem SCT, the 2-year progression-free survival rate was 72% (90% CI, 55% to 83%) and the 2-year OS rate was 89% (90% CI, 74% to 96%). Tandem AutoSCT-RIC AlloSCT appears to be safe and effective in patients with high-risk lymphoma. Prospective trials using such an approach in specific lymphoma subtypes are warranted.