Immunologic predictors of vaccine responsiveness in patients with lymphoma and CLL.

Patients with B-cell lymphomas have altered cellular components of vaccine responses due to malignancy and therapy, and the optimal timing of vaccination relative to therapy remains unknown. SARS-CoV-2 vaccines created an opportunity for new insights in vaccine timing because patients were challenged with a novel antigen across multiple phases of treatment. We studied serologic mRNA vaccine response in retrospective and prospective cohorts with lymphoma and CLL, paired with clinical and research immune parameters. Reduced serologic response was observed more frequently during active therapies, but non-response was also common within observation and post-treatment groups. Total IgA and IgM correlated with successful vaccine response. In individuals treated with CART-19, non-response was associated with reduced B and T follicular helper cells. Predictors of vaccine response varied by disease and therapeutic group, and therefore further studies of immune health during and after cancer therapies are needed to allow individualized vaccine timing.

Pembrolizumab for B-cell lymphomas relapsing after or refractory to CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy.

CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor-modified (CAR T) T cells achieve durable remissions in about 30% to 40% of relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphomas. T-cell exhaustion and/or an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment may contribute to CAR T-cell failure. Pembrolizumab, an anti-PD1 immune checkpoint inhibitor, may reverse T-cell exhaustion after CAR T-cell therapy. We treated 12 patients with B-cell lymphomas who were either refractory to (n = 9) or relapsed after (n = 3) CD19-directed CAR T-cell (4-1BB-costimulated) therapy with pembrolizumab 200 mg IV every 3 weeks. Median time from CAR T-cell infusion to first pembrolizumab dose was 3.3 months (range, 0.4-42.8 months). Pembrolizumab was well tolerated, and the only grade ≥3 adverse events related to pembrolizumab were neutropenia (n = 3; 25%). Best overall response rate after pembrolizumab was 25% (3 of 12 patients; 1 complete response; 2 partial responses). One (8%) patient had stable disease; thus, 4 of 12 (33%) patients had clinical benefit. After pembrolizumab, 4 patients with clinical benefit had an increase in percentage of CAR T cells by mass cytometry by time of flight (CyTOF); 3 of 4 of these patients also had increases in CAR19 transgene levels by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Deep immune profiling using CyTOF revealed increased CAR T-cell activation and proliferation and less T-cell exhaustion in clinical responders. Together, PD1 blockade with pembrolizumab after CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy appears safe and may achieve clinical responses in some patients with B-cell lymphomas refractory to or relapsed after CAR T-cell therapy. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gove as #NCT02650999.

Single-route CNS prophylaxis for aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas: real-world outcomes from 21 US academic institutions.

Prophylaxis is commonly used to prevent central nervous sy stem (CNS) relapse in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), with no clear standard of care. We retrospectively evaluated 1162 adult patients across 21 US academic centers with DLBCL or similar histologies who received single-route CNS prophylaxis as part of frontline therapy between 2013 and 2019. Prophylaxis was administered intrathecally(IT) in 894 (77%) and using systemic high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) in 236 (20%); 32 patients (3%) switched route due to toxicity and were assessed separately. By CNS-International Prognostic Index (IPI), 18% were considered low-risk, 51% moderate, and 30% high. Double-hit lymphoma (DHL) was confirmed in 243 of 866 evaluable patients (21%). Sixty-four patients (5.7%) had CNS relapse after median 7.1 months from diagnosis, including 15 of 64 (23%) within the first 6 months. There was no significant difference in CNS relapse between IT and HD-MTX recipients (5.4% vs 6.8%, P = .4), including after propensity score matching to account for differences between respective recipient groups. Weighting by CNS-IPI, expected vs observed CNS relapse rates were nearly identical (5.8% vs 5.7%). Testicular involvement was associated with high risk of CNS relapse (11.3%) despite most having lower CNS-IPI scores. DHL did not significantly predict for CNS relapse after single-route prophylaxis, including with adjustment for treatment regimen and other factors. This large study of CNS prophylaxis recipients with DLBCL found no significant difference in CNS relapse rates between routes of administration. Relapse rates among high-risk subgroups remain elevated, and reconsideration of prophylaxis strategies in DLBCL is of critical need.

Outcomes of patients with limited-stage plasmablastic lymphoma: A multi-institutional retrospective study.

Plasmablastic lymphoma (PBL) is a rare entity, commonly associated with immunosuppressed states such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or solid organ transplant. The clinical course is characterized by high relapse rates and a poor prognosis, leading some clinicians to recommend aggressive frontline therapy. However, a specific review of limited stage (LS) PBL patients is not available to evaluate outcomes and justify treatment recommendations. We performed a retrospective review of LS PBL cases to provide insight into this rare disease. Our cohort consisted of 80 stage I or II PBL patients from 13 US academic centers. With a median follow up of 34 months (1-196), the 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of the entire cohort were 72% (95% CI 62, 83) and 79% (95% CI 70, 89), respectively. The 3-year PFS and OS of patients treated with frontline chemotherapy alone was 65% (95% CI 50, 84) and 71% (95% CI 56, 89), respectively, compared to 85% (95% CI 72, 100) and 96% (95% CI 89, 100), respectively, in patients treated with combined frontline chemotherapy with radiation consolidation. Our data demonstrate favorable outcomes in LS PBL with no improvements in outcome from aggressive frontline treatment including Hyper-CVAD or auto-SCT consolidation. Multivariate regression analysis (MRA) demonstrated improved PFS for patients receiving EPOCH based frontline therapy versus CHOP (HR: 0.23; p = 0.029). Frontline chemotherapy followed by radiation consolidation versus chemotherapy alone appeared to be associated with improved relapse and survival outcomes but did not show statistical significance in MRA.

NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Hematopoietic Growth Factors, Version 1.2022.

The NCCN Guidelines for Hematopoietic Growth Factors provide recommendations for the appropriate use of growth factors in the clinical management of febrile neutropenia (FN), chemotherapy-induced thrombocytopenia (CIT), and chemotherapy-induced anemia (CIA). Management and prevention of these sequelae are an integral part of supportive care for many patients undergoing cancer treatment. The purpose of these guidelines is to operationalize the evaluation, prevention, and treatment of FN, CIT, and CIA in adult patients with nonmyeloid malignancies and to enable the patient and clinician to assess management options for FN, CIT, and CIA in the context of an individual patient's condition. These NCCN Guidelines Insights provide a summary of the important recent updates to the NCCN Guidelines for Hematopoietic Growth Factors, with particular emphasis on the incorporation of a newly developed section on CIT.

Fimepinostat (CUDC-907) in patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell and high-grade B-cell lymphoma: report of a phase 2 trial and exploratory biomarker analyses.

Fimepinostat (CUDC-907), a first-in-class oral small-molecule inhibitor of histone deacetylase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, demonstrated efficacy in a phase 1 study of patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large and high-grade B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL/HGBL), particularly those with increased MYC protein expression and/or MYC gene rearrangement/copy number gain (MYC-altered disease). Therefore, a phase 2 study of fimepinostat was conducted in this patient population with 66 eligible patients treated. The primary end-point of overall response (OR) rate for patients with MYC-IHC ≥40% (n = 46) was 15%. Subsequently, exploratory pooled analyses were performed including patients treated on both the phase 1 and 2 studies based upon the presence of MYC-altered disease as well as a biomarker identified by Virtual Inference of Protein activity by Enriched Regulon analysis (VIPER). For these patients with MYC-altered disease (n = 63), the overall response (OR) rate was 22% with seven responding patients remaining on treatment for approximately two years or longer, and VIPER yielded a three-protein biomarker classification with positive and negative predictive values of ≥85%. Prolonged durations of response were achieved by patients with MYC-altered R/R DLBCL/HGBL treated with single-agent fimepinostat. Combination therapies and/or biomarker-based patient selection strategies may lead to higher response rates in future clinical trials.

Patterns of immune checkpoint protein expression in MYC-overexpressing aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Given the poor prognosis of MYC-overexpressing diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and B cell lymphoma unclassifiable with features intermediate between DLBCL and Burkitt lymphoma/high grade B cell lymphoma (BCLU/HGBL), and preclinical data suggesting that MYC may regulate the antitumor immune response, we sought to characterize expression of immune checkpoint proteins on tumor tissue from patients diagnosed with these lymphomas. Immunohistochemical staining for immune checkpoint protein expression was applied to 56 cases of MYC-overexpressing DLBCL and BCLU/HGBL, 35 of which also harbored MYC rearrangement (MYC-R). Analysis revealed both frequent overexpression of immune checkpoint proteins as well as differences in overexpression patterns based upon MYC-R status, with MYC-R cases more likely to overexpress PD-L1 and PD-1 in the tumor microenvironment (50 vs. 15%, p = 0.02 and 32 vs. 5%, p = 0.02, respectively) but less likely to overexpress CTLA-4 and CD80 on tumor cells (34 vs. 71%, p = 0.01 and 34 vs. 81%, p = 0.001, respectively), as compared to cases without MYC-R. These data may suggest a biologic rationale for investigation of the effect of checkpoint inhibitor therapies in these subgroups of MYC-overexpressing DLBCL and BCLU/HGBL.

Brentuximab vedotin in combination with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone as frontline treatment for patients with CD30-positive B-cell lymphomas.

We conducted a phase I/II multicenter trial using 6 cycles of brentuximab vedotin (BV) in combination with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (R-CHP) for treatment of patients with CD30-positive (+) B-cell lymphomas. Thirty-one patients were evaluable for toxicity and 29 for efficacy including 22 with primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL), 5 with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and 2 with gray zone lymphoma (GZL). There were no treatment-related deaths; 32% of patients had non-hematological grade 3/4 toxicities. The overall response rate was 100% (95% CI: 88-100) with 86% (95% CI: 68-96) of patients achieving complete response at the end of systemic treatment. Consolidative radiation following end of treatment response assessment was permissible and used in 52% of all patients including 59% of patients with PMBCL. With a median follow-up of 30 months, the 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 85% (95% CI: 66-94) and 100%, respectively. In the PMBCL cohort, 2-year PFS was 86% (95% CI: 62-95). In summary, BV-R-CHP with or without consolidative radiation is a feasible and active frontline regimen for CD30+ B-cell lymphomas (NCT01994850).

Effect of malnutrition-driven nutritional support protocol on clinical outcomes in autologous stem cell transplantation patients.

PURPOSE: Poor nutrition status in patients receiving high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) has been associated with inferior clinical outcomes. We aim to determine whether a malnutrition-driven nutritional support protocol can improve these outcomes. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, we assessed adults for malnutrition who were consecutively admitted for ASCT between October 2017 and March 2019 (n = 251), and provided enteral or parenteral nutrition (EN/PN) to patients who were malnourished early in the transplantation admission. We compared their clinical outcomes with those of a historical cohort admitted between May 2016 and October 2017 (n = 257) for whom nutrition assessment and initiation of EN/PN were not protocol-driven. RESULTS: Patients receiving ASCT during the intervention period experienced decreased odds of prolonged hospital stay (p = 0.023), central line-associated bloodstream infection (p = 0.015), mucosal barrier injury (p = 0.037), and high weight loss (p = 0.002), in a multivariate analysis as compared with those receiving ASCT during the control period. Outcomes for ICU transfer, deconditioning on discharge, time to platelet engraftment, and unplanned 30-day hospital readmission did not differ significantly between groups. CONCLUSION: A malnutrition-driven nutritional support protocol may improve outcomes for ASCT patients.

Outcomes in patients with aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma after intensive frontline treatment failure.

BACKGROUND: Salvage immunochemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation is the standard-of-care second-line treatment for patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma after first-line R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone). Outcomes after receipt of second-line immunochemotherapy in patients with aggressive B-cell lymphomas who relapse or are refractory to intensive first-line immunochemotherapy regimens (etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and rituximab [R-EPOCH], rituximab, hyperfractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone alternating with methotrexate and cytarabine [R-HyperCVAD], rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, and high-dose methotrexate alternating with ifosfamide, etoposide, and cytarabine [R-CODOX-M/IVAC]) remain unknown. METHODS: Outcomes of patients with non-Burkitt, aggressive B-cell lymphomas and relapsed/refractory disease after first-line treatment with intensive immunochemotherapy regimens who received platinum-based second-line immunochemotherapy were reviewed retrospectively. Analyses were performed to determine progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) from the time of receipt of second-line immunochemotherapy. RESULTS: In total, 195 patients from 19 academic centers were included in the study. The overall response rate to second-line immunochemotherapy was 44%, with a median PFS of 3 months and a median OS of 8 months. Patients with early treatment failure (primary refractory or relapse <12 months from completion of first-line therapy) experienced inferior median PFS (2.8 vs 23 months; P < .001) and OS (6 months vs not reached; P < .001) compared with patients with late treatment failure. Although the 17% of patients with early failure who achieved a complete response to second-line immunochemotherapy experienced prolonged survival, this outcome could not be predicted by clinicopathologic features at the start of second-line immunochemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with early treatment failure after intensive first-line immunochemotherapy experience poor outcomes after receiving standard second-line immunochemotherapy. The use of standard-of-care or experimental therapies currently available in the third-line setting and beyond should be investigated in the second-line setting for these patients.

Poor outcomes for double-hit lymphoma patients treated with curative-intent second-line immunochemotherapy following failure of intensive front-line immunochemotherapy.

While patients with double-hit lymphoma (DHL) are now frequently treated with intensive front-line immunochemotherapy, outcomes for those who fail these regimens and subsequently receive curative-intent second-line immunochemotherapy are unknown. We identified 55 such patients who achieved an overall/complete response rate of 29%/11%, median progression-free/overall survival (PFS/OS) of 2/5·1 months and one-year PFS/OS of 10/19% following the start of second-line therapy. These outcomes may serve as a standard against which future second-line treatment strategies for relapsed/refractory DHL can be measured and justify investigation of non-cytotoxic therapies in the second-line setting for these patients.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cells in Refractory B-Cell Lymphomas.

BACKGROUND: Patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or follicular lymphoma that is refractory to or that relapses after immunochemotherapy and transplantation have a poor prognosis. High response rates have been reported with the use of T cells modified by chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) that target CD19 in B-cell cancers, although data regarding B-cell lymphomas are limited. METHODS: We used autologous T cells that express a CD19-directed CAR (CTL019) to treat patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma or follicular lymphoma that had relapsed or was refractory to previous treatments. Patients were monitored for response to treatment, toxic effects, the expansion and persistence of CTL019 cells in vivo, and immune recovery. RESULTS: A total of 28 adult patients with lymphoma received CTL019 cells, and 18 of 28 had a response (64%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 44 to 81). Complete remission occurred in 6 of 14 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (43%; 95% CI, 18 to 71) and 10 of 14 patients with follicular lymphoma (71%; 95% CI, 42 to 92). CTL019 cells proliferated in vivo and were detectable in the blood and bone marrow of patients who had a response and patients who did not have a response. Sustained remissions were achieved, and at a median follow-up of 28.6 months, 86% of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who had a response (95% CI, 33 to 98) and 89% of patients with follicular lymphoma who had a response (95% CI, 43 to 98) had maintained the response. Severe cytokine-release syndrome occurred in 5 patients (18%). Serious encephalopathy occurred in 3 patients (11%); 2 cases were self-limiting and 1 case was fatal. All patients in complete remission by 6 months remained in remission at 7.7 to 37.9 months (median, 29.3 months) after induction, with a sustained reappearance of B cells in 8 of 16 patients and with improvement in levels of IgG in 4 of 10 patients and of IgM in 6 of 10 patients at 6 months or later and in levels of IgA in 3 of 10 patients at 18 months or later. CONCLUSIONS: CTL019 cells can be effective in the treatment of relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and follicular lymphoma. High rates of durable remission were observed, with recovery of B cells and immunoglobulins in some patients. Transient encephalopathy developed in approximately one in three patients and severe cytokine-release syndrome developed in one in five patients. (Funded by Novartis and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02030834 .).

Nonviral RNA chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells in patients with Hodgkin lymphoma.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells are being investigated in many settings, including classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). The unique biology of cHL, characterized by scant Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells within an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), may pose challenges for cellular therapies directly targeting antigens expressed on HRS cells. We hypothesized that eradicating CD19+ B cells within the TME and the putative circulating CD19+ HRS clonotypic cells using anti-CD19-directed CAR-modified T cells (CART19) may indirectly affect HRS cells, which do not express CD19. Here we describe our pilot trial using CART19 in patients with relapsed or refractory cHL. To limit potential toxicities, we used nonviral RNA CART19 cells, which are expected to express CAR protein for only a few days, as opposed to CART19 generated by viral vector transduction, which expand in vivo and retain CAR expression. All 5 enrolled patients underwent successful manufacturing of nonviral RNA CART19, and 4 were infused with protocol-specified cell dose. There were no severe toxicities. Responses were seen, but these were transient. To our knowledge, this is the first CART19 clinical trial to use nonviral RNA gene delivery. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02277522 (adult) and #NCT02624258 (pediatric).

NCCN Guidelines Insights: Hematopoietic Growth Factors, Version 1.2020.

Management of febrile neutropenia (FN) is an integral part of supportive care for patients undergoing cancer treatment. The NCCN Guidelines for Hematopoietic Growth Factors provide suggestions for appropriate evaluation, risk determination, prophylaxis, and management of FN. These NCCN Guidelines are intended to guide clinicians in the appropriate use of growth factors for select patients undergoing treatment of nonmyeloid malignancies. These NCCN Guidelines Insights highlight important updates to the NCCN Guidelines regarding the incorporation of newly FDA-approved granulocyte-colony stimulating factor biosimilars for the prevention and treatment of FN.

Deletion 20q12 is associated with histological transformation of nodal marginal zone lymphoma to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

The genetic and molecular abnormalities underlying histological transformation (HT) of nodal marginal zone lymphoma (NMZL) to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) are not well known. While del(20q12) is commonly deleted in myelodysplastic syndrome it has not previously been associated with DLBCL. We recently described a case of DLBCL harboring del(20q12) in a patient with a history of MZL involving lymph nodes and skin. Here we report eight matched cases of transformed MZL(tMZL): six from nodal MZL (tNMZL) and two from splenic MZL (tSMZL). We found >20% del(20q12) in 4/6 tNMZL, but not in tSMZL, nor in unmatched DLBCL, MZL with increased large cells (MZL-ILC), or MZL cases. To examine whether transformation is associated with a specific gene signature, the matched cases were analyzed for multiplexed gene expression using the Nanostring PanCancer Pathways panel. The differential gene expression signature revealed enrichment of inflammatory markers, as previously observed in MZL. Also, tMZL and de novo DLBCL were enriched for extracellular matrix proteins such as collagen and fibronectin, vascular development protein PDGFRß, DNA repair protein RAD51, and oncogenic secrete protein Wnt11. A subset of genes is expressed differentially in del(20q12) tMZL cases vs non-del(20q12) tMZL cases. These results suggest a specific pathway is involved in the histological transformation of NMZL, which could serve as an indicator of aggressive clinical course in this otherwise indolent neoplasm.

Fluoroquinolone Prophylaxis Is Highly Effective for the Prevention of Central Line-Associated Bloodstream Infections in Autologous Stem Cell Transplant Patients.

Patients undergoing stem cell transplant (SCT) for the treatment of hematologic malignancy are at increased risk for central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSIs). The use of prophylactic antibiotics to prevent CLABSIs in the setting of autologous SCT is of unclear benefit. We aimed to evaluate the impact of levofloxacin prophylaxis on reducing CLABSIs in this high-risk population. Patients undergoing autologous SCT at a tertiary care hospital received levofloxacin prophylaxis from January 13, 2016 to January 12, 2017. Levofloxacin was administered from autologous SCT (day 0) until day 13, absolute neutrophil count > 500/mm3, or neutropenic fever, whichever occurred first. Clinical outcomes were compared with a baseline group who underwent autologous SCT but did not receive antibacterial prophylaxis during the previous year. The primary endpoint was incidence of CLABSIs assessed using Cox proportional hazards regression. A total of 324 patients underwent autologous SCT during the entire study period, with 150 receiving levofloxacin prophylaxis during the intervention period. The rate of CLABSIs was reduced from 18.4% during the baseline period to 6.0% during the intervention period. On multivariable analysis levofloxacin prophylaxis significantly reduced CLABSI incidence (hazard ratio, .33; 95% confidence interval [CI], .16 to .69; P = .003). There was also a reduction in the risk of neutropenic fever (odds ratio [OR], .23; 95% CI, .14 to .39; P < .001) and a trend toward a reduction in intensive care unit transfer for sepsis (OR, .33; 95% CI, .09 to 1.24; P = .10) in patients receiving levofloxacin prophylaxis. Notably, there was no increase in Clostridium difficile infection in the levofloxacin group (OR, .66; 95% CI, .29 to 1.49; P = .32). Levofloxacin prophylaxis was effective in reducing CLABSIs and neutropenic fever in patients undergoing autologous SCT. Further studies are needed to identify specific patient groups who will benefit most from antibiotic prophylaxis.

Outcomes and Toxicities of Programmed Death-1 (PD-1) Inhibitors in Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients in the United States: A Real-World, Multicenter Retrospective Analysis.

BACKGROUND: Although classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) is highly curable, 20%-30% of patients will not be cured with conventional treatments. The programmed death-1 (PD-1) inhibitors (PD-1i) nivolumab and pembrolizumab have been Food and Drug Administration-approved for relapsed/refractory (R/R) cHL. There is limited data on the real-world experience with PD-1i in cHL and it is unknown whether fewer selected patients treated with PD-1i derive benefits similar to those observed in published trials. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a multicenter, retrospective analysis of R/R cHL patients treated with PD-1i in the nontrial setting. The primary objective was to describe progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in this population. Secondary objectives were to characterize response rates, toxicities, discontinuation patterns, and post-PD-1i therapies. RESULTS: The study included 53 patients from nine U.S. centers. Overall response rate (ORR), complete response (CR), and partial response (PR) to PD-1i were 68%, 45%, and 23%, respectively. Twelve-month OS and PFS were 89% and 75%, respectively; median PFS was 29 months. Ninety-six percent of patients with CR continue to respond at a median follow-up of 20 months. Toxicities were similar to those previously described. Seventy percent of patients treated with systemic therapy after PD-1i demonstrated objective responses. CONCLUSION: To our knowledge, this analysis is the first describing real-world experience with PD-1i in cHL patients in the U.S. Here, we demonstrate similar response rates compared to prior studies. The toxicity profile of PD-1i was similar to that seen in previous studies; we further describe toxicity patterns in those with prior autoimmune disease or allogeneic transplant. Post-PD-1i systemic therapies appear active. These results support the effectiveness and tolerability of PD-1i therapy in R/R cHL in a real-world setting. IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: Two PD-1 inhibitors have recently been approved for patients with relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma based on results from nonrandomized clinical trials. However, to date, there have been no studies evaluating the effectiveness and toxicity profile of these drugs in the real-world setting in the U.S. The present study demonstrates that patients treated in a real-world context experience similar rates of overall effectiveness compared with published clinical trials. Patients who discontinue PD-1 inhibitors may experience clinical responses to subsequent treatment with systemic chemotherapy or targeted therapy. This study provides clinicians with further insight into the effectiveness and tolerability of PD-1 inhibitors and suggests that when patients progress while on these drugs, conventional systemic chemotherapy may be an effective treatment option.

Outcomes of CLL patients treated with sequential kinase inhibitor therapy: a real world experience.

B-cell receptor kinase inhibitor (KI) therapy represents a paradigm shift in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) management, but data on practice patterns after KI discontinuation and optimal sequencing are limited. We conducted a multicenter, retrospective, comprehensive analysis on 178 patients with CLL (ibrutinib = 143; idelalisib = 35) who discontinued KI therapy. We examined responses, toxicity, post-KI therapies, and overall survival (OS). Patients had a median of 3 prior therapies (range 0-11); del17p (34%), p53 mutation (27%), del11q (33%), and complex karyotype (29%). Overall response rate (ORR) to first KI was 62% (complete response 14%). The most common reasons for KI discontinuation were toxicity (51%), CLL progression (29%), and Richter transformation (RT) (8%). Median progression-free survival (PFS) and OS from KI initiation were 10.5 and 29 months, respectively. Notably, initial KI choice did not impact PFS or OS; however, RT portended significantly inferior OS (P = .0007). One hundred fourteen patients received subsequent salvage therapy following KI discontinuation with an ORR to subsequent KI at 50% and a median PFS of 11.9 months. Median PFS in KI-intolerant patients treated with an alternate KI was not reached vs 7 months for patients with CLL progression. In summary, these data demonstrate that toxicity was the most common reason for KI discontinuation, that patients who discontinue KI due to toxicity can respond to an alternate KI, and that these responses may be durable. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02717611 and #NCT02742090.

Toxicities and outcomes of 616 ibrutinib-treated patients in the United States: a real-world analysis.

Clinical trials that led to ibrutinib's approval for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia showed that its side effects differ from those of traditional chemotherapy. Reasons for discontinuation in clinical practice have not been adequately studied. We conducted a retrospective analysis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients treated with ibrutinib either commercially or on clinical trials. We aimed to compare the type and frequency of toxicities reported in either setting, assess discontinuation rates, and evaluate outcomes. This multicenter, retrospective analysis included ibrutinib-treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients at nine United States cancer centers or from the Connect® Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Registry. We examined demographics, dosing, discontinuation rates and reasons, toxicities, and outcomes. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival. Six hundred sixteen ibrutinib-treated patients were identified. A total of 546 (88%) patients were treated with the commercial drug. Clinical trial patients were younger (mean age 58 versus 61 years, P=0.01) and had a similar time from diagnosis to treatment with ibrutinib (mean 85 versus 87 months, P=0.8). With a median follow-up of 17 months, an estimated 41% of patients discontinued ibrutinib (median time to ibrutinib discontinuation was 7 months). Notably, ibrutinib toxicity was the most common reason for discontinuation in all settings. The median progression-free survival and overall survival for the entire cohort were 35 months and not reached (median follow-up 17 months), respectively. In the largest reported series on ibrutinib- treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients, we show that 41% of patients discontinued ibrutinib. Intolerance as opposed to chronic lymphocytic leukemia progression was the most common reason for discontinuation. Outcomes remain excellent and were not affected by line of therapy or whether patients were treated on clinical studies or commercially. These data strongly argue in favor of finding strategies to minimize ibrutinib intolerance so that efficacy can be further maximized. Future clinical trials should consider time-limited therapy approaches, particularly in patients achieving a complete response, in order to minimize ibrutinib exposure.

Early positron emission tomography/computed tomography as a predictor of response after CTL019 chimeric antigen receptor -T-cell therapy in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

Molecular imaging with 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT) is an established modality for response assessment in patients with lymphoma undergoing treatment. However, patients treated with novel immunotherapies may have false-positive PET/CT findings due to tumor site and systemic inflammation. In particular, treatment with autologous chimeric antigen receptor modified T-cells redirected at CD19 (CTL019 CAR-T cells) is often complicated by "cytokine release syndrome" (CRS) due to a severe systemic inflammatory reaction. Infiltration of tumors by activated CTL019 cells may impact radiographic and functional imaging findings. The role of PET/CT in patients treated with CTL019 has not previously been described. We performed a pilot, single-arm, prospective study to explore the utility of early PET/CT in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and follicular lymphoma (FL) undergoing treatment with CTL019 CAR-T cells. Patients had PET/CT prior to CTL019 infusion and then early PET/CT at 1 month after treatment. The primary outcome was the amount/change in metabolically active tumor volume (MTV) and FDG uptake. We enrolled seven patients (DLBCL, three; FL, four). Six of 7 had baseline PET/CT with active disease. On post-treatment PET/CT, three patients had no residual MTV, two patients had a decrease in MTV and two patients had an increase in MTV. The three patients with no residual MTV all remain in remission >2 years post-treatment. The patients with less than complete response all subsequently relapsed. Development of CRS did not confound PET/CT findings. In patients with DLBCL and FL receiving CTL019 CAR-T cells, early PET/CT may predict response to this novel immunotherapy.