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).

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.

A multicenter, phase II study of full-dose THP-COP therapy for elderly patients with newly diagnosed, advanced-stage, aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

The cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (CHOP) regimen, containing doxorubicin (DXR), which is a key drug for aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), is a standard chemotherapeutic regimen; however, its administration in elderly patients is often intolerable. Pirarubicin (tetrahydropyranyl adriamycin [THP]) is an anthracycline developed in Japan. We have conducted a phase II trial of a full-dose THP-COP (modified CHOP regimen with DXR replaced by THP) regimen for elderly patients with newly diagnosed, advanced-stage, aggressive NHL. Patients aged 70-79 years old with previously untreated NHL according to the Working Formulation (D through H and J), disease stage I with a bulky mass or stage II-IV, and performance status of 0-1 were eligible. The THP-COP regimen, which consisted of 750-mg/m2 cyclophosphamide, 50-mg/m2 THP, 1.4-mg/m2 vincristine (capped at 2.0 mg) on day 1, and 100-mg prednisolone daily on days 1 to 5, was delivered every 3 weeks for 6 cycles. The primary endpoint was complete response (CR) rate. Twenty-nine patients were enrolled in the study. The CR rate was 65.5% (95% confidence interval, 45.7-82.1%). The 3-year failure-free and overall survival rates were 54.1% and 53.9%, respectively. The most frequent observed grade 3 or 4 toxicity was neutropenia, which occurred in 80% of the patients. Grade 3 cardiac dysfunction was observed in one patient. The full-dose THP-COP regimen exhibited similar efficacy and safety, and a tendency for less cardiac toxicity, when compared with the standard CHOP regimen in elderly Japanese patients with newly diagnosed, advanced-stage, aggressive NHL.

A multicenter, phase II study of R-THP-COP therapy for elderly patients with newly diagnosed, advanced-stage, indolent B-cell lymphoma.

The optimal combined chemotherapy regimen with rituximab has yet to be established for elderly patients with advanced-stage indolent B-cell lymphoma (B-NHL). A multicenter study was performed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of R-THP-COP therapy in elderly patients (aged 70-79 years) with newly diagnosed advanced-stage indolent B-NHL using the complete response rate (%CR) as the primary endpoint. Patients with newly diagnosed, clinical stage III/IV, indolent B-NHL, aged 70-79 years, with a performance status of 0-2 were eligible for this study. R-THP-COP consists of 375 mg/m2 of rituximab, 50 mg/m2 of pirarubicin, 750 mg/m2 of cyclophosphamide, 1.4 mg/m2 of vincristine, and 100 mg/day of oral prednisolone for 5 days. This study was discontinued due to poor accrual after the enrollment of 18 patients, although the planned sample size was 40 patients. The numbers of patients with follicular lymphoma, mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma were 16, 1, and 1, respectively. The median age was 73 (range, 70 to 79) years. The %CR including unconfirmed CR was 45% (95% confidence interval: 25-66%) and the overall response rate was 72%. The estimated 5-year overall survival and progression-free survival rates were 55% and 28%, respectively. The major toxicity observed was grade 4 neutropenia (94%). Grade 4 non-hematological toxicities were not observed and no patients developed grade 3/4 cardiac toxicities. This phase II study provides useful information regarding the efficacy and toxicity of R-THP-COP therapy for patients aged 70 years or older with newly diagnosed, advanced-stage, indolent B-NHL, although the sample size was small.

Clinical characteristics of patients with B-cell lymphoma enrolled in clinical trials for aggressive lymphoma in Japan: Japan Clinical Oncology Group - Lymphoma Study Group study - JCOG0108A.

The clinical characteristics of B-cell lymphoma (BCL) were studied through the combined analysis of six clinical trials conducted by the Japan Clinical Oncology Group - Lymphoma Study Group (JCOG-LSG) for aggressive lymphoma in the 1990s, before the introduction of rituximab. Through a central pathological review, 829 patients were diagnosed with BCL according to the World Health Organization classification and treated with doxorubicin-containing combination chemotherapies. Of these patients, 642, 104, 30, and 24 patients were diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), respectively. The overall survival (OS) of FL and MZL patients was higher than that of patients with DLBCL and MCL. The OS of the MCL patients was higher than that of DLBCL patients in the first 5 years, but MCL had the lowest survival after 5 years. The OS of DLBCL patients was clearly stratified by the international prognostic index and showed data compatible with that of aggressive lymphoma in the pre-rituximab era. These results established the clinical aspects of BCL in a large number of patients treated in prospective studies during the pre-rituximab era in Japan.

A randomized phase 2/3 study of R-CHOP vs CHOP combined with dose-dense rituximab for DLBCL: the JCOG0601 trial.

Rituximab plus cyclophosphamide-doxorubicin-vincristine-prednisone (R-CHOP) is the standard of care for untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, the schedule for rituximab administration has not been optimized. To compare standard R-CHOP with CHOP plus dose-dense weekly rituximab (RW-CHOP) in patients with untreated DLBCL, we conducted a phase 2/3 study (JCOG0601, jRCTs031180139). Patients were randomly assigned to R-CHOP (CHOP-21 with 8 doses of rituximab once every 3 weeks [375 mg/m2]) or RW-CHOP (CHOP-21 with 8 doses of weekly rituximab [375 mg/m2]) groups. The primary end point of the phase 2 component was percent complete response (%CR) of the RW-CHOP arm, whereas that of the phase 3 component was progression-free survival (PFS). Between December 2007 and December 2014, 421 untreated patients were randomly assigned to R-CHOP (213 patients) or RW-CHOP (208 patients). The %CR in the RW-CHOP arm was 85.3% and therefore met the prespecified decision criteria for the phase 2 component. With a median follow-up of 63.4 months, the 3-year PFS and overall survival were 79.2% and 88.7% in the R-CHOP arm and 80.3% and 90.4% in the RW-CHOP arm, respectively. There was no significant difference in PFS (hazard ratio, 0.95; 90.6% confidence interval, 0.68-1.31). Although the safety profile and efficacy of RW-CHOP was comparable with R-CHOP and its tolerability was acceptable, weekly rituximab in combination with CHOP during the early treatment period did not improve PFS in untreated patients with DLBCL. This trial was registered at jrct.niph.go.jp as #jRCTs031180139.

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).

Outcomes after R-CHOP in patients with newly diagnosed advanced follicular lymphoma: a 10-year follow-up analysis of the JCOG0203 trial.

BACKGROUND: Standard treatment for untreated advanced-stage follicular lymphoma is rituximab plus chemotherapy. The incidence of histological transformation of follicular lymphoma has been reported only in heterogeneously treated populations and rarely with long-term follow-up. Additionally, the incidence of secondary malignancies after treatment, without high-dose therapy for follicular lymphoma, is largely unknown. The aim of our study was to assess progression-free survival, overall survival, incidence of secondary malignancies, and incidence of histological transformation in a 10-year follow-up analysis of the JCOG0203 trial. METHODS: In the phase 2-3 randomised JCOG0203 trial, previously untreated patients with stage III or IV indolent B-cell lymphoma, including grades 1-3 follicular lymphoma, from 44 hospital centres in Japan, were randomly assigned (1:1) by use of a minimisation method to receive six cycles of R-CHOP (rituximab [375 mg/m2], given on day 1, plus cyclophosphamide [750 mg/m2], doxorubicin [50 mg/m2], vincristine [1·4 mg/m2, capped at 2·0 mg] given intravenously on day 3, and oral prednisone [100 mg once daily on days 3-7]) every 3 weeks (R-CHOP-21) or every 2 weeks (enabled by mandatory granulocyte-colony stimulating factor administration once daily for 6 days, starting on day 8; R-CHOP-14) without rituximab maintenance. Age, bulky disease (nodal or extranodal mass ≥10 cm in diameter on CT), and institution were used as adjustment factors. Investigators enrolled participants, and assignment to trial groups was done with a computer-assisted randomisation allocation sequence that took place centrally at the Japan Clinical Oncology Group Data Center, without the intervention of investigators. Interventions were not masked for patients or investigators. Data were collected 10 years after enrolment of the last patient. The primary endpoint of the phase 3 part of the study was progression-free survival, and the primary endpoint of the phase 2 part of the study was the proportion of patients who achieved a complete response. Accrual was 4·5 years, and follow-up was 3 years after registration was closed. Data were updated on the cutoff date of Feb 28, 2017. Intention-to-treat analyses (ie, progression-free survival, overall survival, and incidence of secondary malignancies) were predefined, to be done at 10 years after the last patient was enrolled. An additional analysis of the incidence of histological transformation was defined 15 years after the protocol, on May 8, 2017, in a supplementary analysis plan, and assessed at 10 years after the last patient was enrolled. Follow-up is ongoing. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT00147121. FINDINGS: Between Sept 1, 2002, and Feb 28, 2007, 300 patients were enrolled, and 149 (50%) were assigned to the R-CHOP-21 group and 151 (50%) were assigned to the R-CHOP-14 group. After eligibility was assessed, one patient was excluded from the R-CHOP-21 group. 10-year progression-free survival was not different between groups (R-CHOP-21 33%, 95% CI 25-41; R-CHOP-14 39%, 31-47; hazard ratio 0·89, 95% CI 0·67-1·17). In 248 patients with grade 1-3a follicular lymphoma, progression-free survival was 39% (33-45) at 8 years and 36% (30-42) at 10 years. The cumulative incidence of histological transformation was 3·2% (95% CI 1·5-6·0) at 5 years, 8·5% (5·4-12·4) at 8 years, and 9·3% (6·1-13·4) at 10 years after enrolment. At 10 years, the cumulative incidence of secondary malignancies was 8·1% (5·1-12·0) and the cumulative incidence of haematological secondary malignancies was 2·9% (1·3-5·5). INTERPRETATION: R-CHOP is a viable option for first-line treatment in patients with newly diagnosed advanced follicular lymphoma. Clinicians choosing a first-line treatment for patients with follicular lymphoma should be cautious of secondary malignancies caused by immunochemotherapy and severe complications of infectious diseases in the long-term follow-up-both of which could lead to death. FUNDING: National Cancer Center and Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan.

Brief history of the Asiatic International Society of Hematology: our roots of international cooperation with Asian countries.

This year, 2018, marks the 60th anniversary of the Asiatic International Society of Hematology founded in 1958 and it seems to be a fitting occasion on which to reflect on our roots of the international cooperation with Asian countries. The Japanese Society of Hematology held the first meeting of the Asiatic International Society of Hematology in 1958 in Nagoya. Hematologists representing at least 10 Asian countries or districts, including Australia, Burma, Ceylon, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Korea, Philippines, Taiwan, and Thailand, participated. This meeting was perhaps the first International Congress of any kind in the medical field in Japan after World War II. In 1968, the Asian-Pacific Society of Hematology converged to join the International Society of Hematology (ISH) and became one of the three divisions of ISH (Asian-Pacific Division of ISH). The Annual Reports of the Society were published in Nagoya from 1969 to 1991. The meetings of the Asiatic International Society and the Asian-Pacific Division of ISH, and the distributions of the Annual Report to Asian countries, including China and Korea, seemed to help promote hematology in those countries, particularly in the early days.

R-High-CHOP/CHASER/LEED with autologous stem cell transplantation in newly diagnosed mantle cell lymphoma: JCOG0406 STUDY.

Although induction immunochemotherapy including high-dose cytarabine and rituximab followed by high-dose chemotherapy (HDC) with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is recommended for younger patients (≤65 years old) with untreated mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), no standard induction and HDC regimen has been established. We conducted a phase II study of induction immunochemotherapy of R-High-CHOP/CHASER followed by HDC of LEED with ASCT in younger patients with untreated advanced MCL. Eligibility criteria included untreated MCL, stage II bulky to IV, and age 20-65 years. Patients received 1 cycle of R-High-CHOP followed by 3 cycles of CHASER every 3 weeks. Peripheral blood stem cells (PBSC) were harvested during CHASER. LEED with ASCT was delivered to patients who responded to R-High-CHOP/CHASER. Primary endpoint was 2-year progression-free survival (PFS). From June 2008 to June 2012, 45 patients (median age 59 years; range 38-65 years) were enrolled. PBSC were successfully harvested from 36 of 43 patients. Thirty-five patients completed ASCT. Two-year PFS was 77% (80% CI 68-84), which met the primary endpoint. Five-year PFS and overall survival were 52% (95% CI 34-68%) and 71% (95% CI 51-84%), respectively. Overall response and complete response rates after induction immunochemotherapy were 96% and 82%, respectively. The most common grade 4 toxicities were hematological. In younger patients with untreated MCL, R-High-CHOP/CHASER/LEED with ASCT showed high efficacy and acceptable toxicity, and it can now be considered a standard treatment option.

Long-term follow-up results of a phase I/II study of melphalan, prednisolone and bortezomib in Japanese transplant-ineligible multiple myeloma patients (JPN-102).

The phase I/II study of melphalan-prednisolone-bortezomib (MPB) therapy in Japanese patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma (MM) who are ineligible for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (JPN-102 trial) (registered between July 2008 and March 2011) showed an overall response rate in the MPB arm equivalent to that of the VISTA trial. In this study, we followed up the clinical data of 92 of the 101 patients registered in the JPN-102 trial to clarify the long-term outcomes of MPB therapy. The median follow-up period was 50.8 (0.9-66.1) months. The median age of this cohort was 72 (48-84) years. The median progression-free survival was 25.7 (95%CI: 21.3-33.9) months and the overall survival rates at 1, 3 and 5 years were 98, 86 and 76%, respectively. There was no significant difference in either progression-free survival or overall survival when comparing a total bortezomib amount of 39 mg/m2 or more being administered versus less than 39 mg/m2. The outcomes of the JPN-102 cohort appeared, at a minimum, to not be inferior to those of the MPB cohort in the VISTA trial. A prospective trial is needed to establish the MPB regimen as being suitable for Japanese patients with multiple myeloma.

A randomized, double-blind trial of pegfilgrastim versus filgrastim for the management of neutropenia during CHASE(R) chemotherapy for malignant lymphoma.

Pegfilgrastim is a pegylated form of the granulocyte-colony stimulating factor, filgrastim. Herein, we report the results of a multicentre, randomized, double-blind phase III trial comparing the efficacy and safety of pegfilgrastim with filgrastim in patients with malignant lymphoma. Patients were randomized to receive either a single subcutaneous dose of pegfilgrastim or daily subcutaneous doses of filgrastim on day 4 after the completion of cyclophosphamide, cytarabine, etoposide and dexamethasone ± rituximab (CHASE(R); day 1-3) chemotherapy. The primary endpoint was the duration of severe neutropenia (DSN), defined as the number of days with neutrophil count <0·5 × 10(9) /l in the first cycle of chemotherapy. A total of 111 lymphoma patients were randomized to either the pegfilgrastim or filgrastim group. 109 patients received either pegfilgrastim (n = 54) or filgrastim (n = 55). Efficacy data were available for 107 patients (pegfilgrastim: n = 53, filgrastim: n = 54). Both groups were well balanced in terms of gender, age, performance status and other variables. The mean DSN (±S.D.) was 4·5 (±1·2) and 4·7 (±1·3) d in the pegfilgrastim and filgrastim groups. No significant difference in safety was observed. This trial verified the non-inferiority of a single subcutaneous dose of pegfilgrastim compared with daily subcutaneous doses of filgrastim, considering DSN as an indicator.

A phase I study of vorinostat combined with bortezomib in Japanese patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma.

This study was undertaken to evaluate safety and pharmacokinetics and to determine treatment doses of vorinostat plus bortezomib in Japanese patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (MM). Of 9 originally enrolled patients, 2 were refractory to bortezomib, and both experienced dose-limiting toxicity (DLT), prompting a protocol amendment to exclude bortezomib-refractory individuals. Patients not considered bortezomib refractory (N = 7) received 21-day cycles of 1.3 mg/m(2) intravenous bortezomib (Days 1, 4, 8, and 11) and oral vorinostat 400 mg (Days 1 through 14) and were further evaluated. Vorinostat and bortezomib treatment doses were determined by DLT and safety, tolerability, and treatment response were assessed. Of 7 enrolled patients, 6 were evaluated, and one developed DLTs. The most common adverse events were leukopenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, diarrhea, nausea, decreased appetite, and vomiting. Combination of vorinostat plus bortezomib did not increase vorinostat exposure at Day 11 [AUC0-24 h ratio (95% CI) = 1.08 (0.80, 1.45)]; geometric mean AUC0-24 h ratio for bortezomib (90% CI) was 1.96 (1.24-3.12). Objective therapeutic response occurred in 3 patients, including 1 complete response and 2 partial responses. Vorinostat 400 mg plus bortezomib 1.3 mg/m(2) was safe and well-tolerated in Japanese patients with relapsed or refractory MM not considered bortezomib refractory (NCT00858234).

Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) prognostic index and characterization of long-term survivors of aggressive adult T-cell leukaemia-lymphoma (JCOG0902A).

This study evaluated the clinical features of 276 patients with aggressive adult T-cell leukaemia-lymphoma (ATL) in 3 Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) trials. We assessed the long-term survivors who survived >5 years and constructed a prognostic index (PI), named the JCOG-PI, based on covariates obtained by Cox regression analysis. The median survival time (MST) of the entire cohort was 11 months. In 37 patients who survived >5 years, no disease-related deaths in 10 patients with lymphoma-type were observed in contrast to the 10 ATL-related deaths in other types. In multivariate analysis of 193 patients, the JCOG-PI based on corrected calcium levels and performance status identified moderate and high risk groups with an MST of 14 and 8 months respectively (hazard ratio, 1·926). The JCOG-PI was reproducible in an external validation. Patients with lymphoma-type who survived >5 years might have been cured. The JCOG-PI is valuable for identifying patients with extremely poor prognosis and will be useful for the design of future trials combining new drugs or investigational treatment strategies.

A phase I/II study of ofatumumab (GSK1841157) in Japanese and Korean patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

The tolerability, efficacy, safety and pharmacokinetic profile of a human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, ofatumumab, was evaluated in this phase I/II study in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). This study consisted of two parts. Tolerability was assessed in phase I (Part A), while the overall response rate (ORR) was assessed in phase II (comprising Parts A and B). Three patients were enrolled in Part A, and another seven patients were enrolled in Part B. Ofatumumab 300 mg was given at the first infusion, followed by seven weekly and four monthly infusions of 2000 mg. No patients experienced dose-limiting toxicity, and tolerability was confirmed. The ORR was 70 %. The most commonly reported adverse events (AEs) were leukopenia, neutropenia, and lymphopenia. No patients discontinued the study due to AEs. Plasma concentrations of ofatumumab prior to the next weekly dose increased steadily over the 8 weeks and did not reach steady state; with monthly dosing, pre-dose ofatumumab concentrations decreased. Inter-patient variability of pharmacokinetic parameters was larger after the first dose than after the later dose. In conclusion, this phase I/II study suggests that ofatumumab provides favorable safety and efficacy in Japanese/Korean patients with relapsed or refractory B-CLL.

Phase I/II study of bortezomib-melphalan-prednisolone for previously untreated Japanese patients with multiple myeloma.

This phase I/II study was conducted to evaluate the safety and efficacy of bortezomib-melphalan-prednisolone in Japanese patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma who are ineligible for hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. One hundred and one patients were enrolled, and 99 patients received up to nine 6-week cycles of bortezomib (0.7/1.0/1.3 mg/m²) on days 1, 4, 8, 11, 22, 25, 29, and 32 in cycles 1-4 and on days 1, 8, 22, and 29 in cycles 5-9, with melphalan (9 mg/m²) and prednisolone (60 mg/m²) on days 1-4 of each cycle. The recommended dose was determined in the phase I portion, and the overall response rate and safety of bortezomib-melphalan-prednisolone at the recommended dose were assessed in the phase II portion. The recommended dose of bortezomib was determined to be 1.3 mg/m². Grade 3 or higher non-hematological adverse events included diarrhea (12%) and peripheral neuropathy (10%); grade 4 hematological adverse events included lymphopenia (41%), neutropenia (30%), and thrombocytopenia (22%). Eleven patients had lung injury associated with bortezomib; two had grade 3 disease, and the other nine had grade 1 or 2 disease. Of the 86 patients treated with 1.3-mg/m² bortezomib in phases I and II, the median number of treatment cycles was 4.5, and the overall response rate was 70% (95% confidence interval: 59-79%). Bortezomib-melphalan-prednisolone with 1.3-mg/m² bortezomib was considered to be tolerable and effective in Japanese patients with previously untreated multiple myeloma. However, further investigation is needed to refine the administration schedule.

Phase I study of ofatumumab, a human anti-CD20 antibody, in Japanese patients with relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma.

OBJECTIVES: Ofatumumab is a human IgG1κ monoclonal antibody that targets a membrane proximal epitope encompassing the small and large loops of CD20. This Phase I study evaluated the safety, tolerability, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of ofatumumab monotherapy in Japanese patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia and small lymphocytic lymphoma. METHODS: Ofatumumab was administered intravenously weekly for a total of eight doses (dose escalation: 500 and 1000 mg). Six patients (two chronic lymphocytic leukemia and four small lymphocytic lymphoma) were enrolled into two dose cohorts (500 mg, three patients; 1000 mg, three patients). All six patients received 300 mg ofatumumab at the first infusion and either 500 or 1000 mg at seven subsequent weekly infusions. RESULTS: No dose-limiting toxicities or serious adverse events were observed. Grade 3-4 adverse events observed were grade 3 lymphocytopenia (n = 1) and neutropenia (n = 1). Grade 1-2 infusion-related adverse events leading to temporary interruption of ofatumumab infusion were observed in all six patients on the first infusion day, and all patients completed the planned eight infusions. The overall response rate was 50% (3/6). CONCLUSIONS: Ofatumumab was well tolerated at doses up to 1000 mg and showed preliminary evidence of activity in relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, warranting further investigations.

Meta-analysis of epoetin beta and darbepoetin alfa treatment for chemotherapy-induced anemia and mortality: Individual patient data from Japanese randomized, placebo-controlled trials.

Erythropoiesis-stimulating agents (ESA) reduce the need for transfusions and improve the quality of life in patients receiving chemotherapy, but several clinical trials have suggested that ESA might have a negative impact on survival. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of ESA, epoetin beta and darbepoetin alfa, including their impact on overall survival and thromboembolic events, we conducted an individual data-based meta-analysis of three randomized, placebo-controlled trials studying Japanese patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia. All trials were conducted in compliance with Good Clinical Practice. A total of 511 patients with solid tumor or lymphoma (epoetin beta or darbepoetin alfa, n = 273; placebo, n = 238) were included. The ESA significantly reduced the risk of transfusion (relative risk, 0.47; 95% confidence interval, 0.29-0.76). No significant effect of the ESA on overall survival was observed (unadjusted hazard ratio, 1.00; 95% confidence interval, 0.75-1.34). A prespecified subgroup analysis showed no strong interaction between the baseline hemoglobin concentration and the effect of ESA on overall survival. Among the ESA-treated patients, the highest hemoglobin achieved during the treatment period in each patient had no impact on mortality. No increase in thromboembolic events was observed in the ESA-treated patients (0.7% vs 1.7% placebo). The ESA reduced the risk of transfusion without a negative impact on the survival of patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia.

Phase I study of obinutuzumab (GA101) in Japanese patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

As CD20 has become an established target for treating B-cell malignancies, there is interest in developing anti-CD20 antibodies with different functional activity from rituximab that might translate into improved efficacy. Obinutuzumab (GA101) is a glycoengineered, humanized type II anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that has demonstrated superior activity to type I antibodies in preclinical studies and is currently being investigated in phase III trials. In this phase I dose-escalating study in Japanese patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the primary endpoint was to characterize the safety of GA101; secondary endpoints were efficacy, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics. Patients received up to nine doses of GA101 with up to 52 weeks' follow up. Most adverse events were grade 1 or 2 infusion-related reactions, and 10 grade 3/4 adverse events occurred. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed and the maximum tolerated dose was not identified. Out of 12 patients, 7 responded (end-of-treatment response rate 58%), with 2 complete responses and 5 partial responses. Responses were observed from low to high doses, and no dose-efficacy relationship was observed. B-cell depletion occurred in all patients after the first infusion and was maintained for the duration of treatment. Serum levels of GA101 increased in a dose-dependent fashion, although there was inter-patient variability. This phase I study demonstrated that GA101 has an acceptable safety profile and offers encouraging activity to Japanese patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Phase II study of ABV (doxorubicin with increased dose, bleomycin and vinblastine) therapy in newly diagnosed advanced-stage Hodgkin lymphoma: Japan Clinical Oncology Group study (JCOG9705).

The role of dacarbazine in ABVD (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine and dacarbazine) therapy in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) remains unclear. This phase II study assessed the efficacy and safety of ABV therapy with an increased doxorubicin dose (30 mg/m(2)) in advanced-stage HL. The primary endpoint was complete response rate (%CR). Patients received six or eight cycles of ABV every 4 weeks followed by involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT) in residual disease and initial bulky mass. Seventy-two patients were enrolled. An interim analysis in 46 assessable patients showed that %CR had exceeded the stopping criteria.However, the 2-year progression-free survival (%PFS) rate of 49.4% (95% confidence interval [CI] 32.2-66.6) was markedly lower than the 79.2% PFS (95% CI 70.6-87.7) seen in our previously reported study (JCOG9305) of ABVd with two-thirds the dose of dacarbazine of the original ABVD. Therefore, the study was closed early. The %CR in the 70 eligible patients after ABV was 31.4% (95% CI 20.9-43.6) and was increased to 70.0% (95% CI 57.9-80.4) after the addition of IFRT. ABV was inferior to ABVd for PFS in patients with advanced HL, suggesting that dacarbazine is indispensable in ABVD/ABVd.