Genomic landscape of patients in a phase II study of zanubrutinib in ibrutinib- and/or acalabrutinib-intolerant patients with B-cell malignancies.

Not available.

Elranatamab in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma: the MagnetisMM-1 phase 1 trial.

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a plasma cell malignancy expressing B cell maturation antigen (BCMA). Elranatamab, a bispecific antibody, engages BCMA on MM and CD3 on T cells. The MagnetisMM-1 trial evaluated its safety, pharmacokinetics and efficacy. Primary endpoints, including the incidence of dose-limiting toxicities as well as objective response rate (ORR) and duration of response (DOR), were met. Secondary efficacy endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). Eighty-eight patients with relapsed or refractory MM received elranatamab monotherapy, and 55 patients received elranatamab at efficacious doses. Patients had received a median of five prior regimens; 90.9% were triple-class refractory, 29.1% had high cytogenetic risk and 23.6% received prior BCMA-directed therapy. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed during dose escalation. Adverse events included cytopenias and cytokine release syndrome. Exposure was dose proportional. With a median follow-up of 12.0 months, the ORR was 63.6% and 38.2% of patients achieving complete response or better. For responders, the median DOR was 17.1 months. All 13 patients evaluable for minimal residual disease achieved negativity. Even after prior BCMA-directed therapy, 53.8% achieved response. For all 55 patients, median PFS was 11.8 months, and median OS was 21.2 months. Elranatamab achieved durable responses, manageable safety and promising survival for patients with MM. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03269136 .

A phase II multi-arm study of magrolimab combinations in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma.

Magrolimab is a monoclonal antibody that blocks CD47, a 'do not eat me' signal overexpressed on tumor cells. CD47 is overexpressed in multiple myeloma (MM), which contributes to its pathogenesis. Preclinical studies have shown that CD47 blockade induces macrophage activation, resulting in elimination of myeloma cells, and that there is synergy between magrolimab and certain anticancer therapies. These findings suggest that magrolimab-based combinations may have a therapeutic benefit in MM. This phase II study investigates magrolimab in combination with commonly used myeloma therapies in patients with relapsed/refractory MM and includes a safety run-in phase followed by a dose-expansion phase. Primary end points include the incidence of dose-limiting toxicities and adverse events (safety run-in) and the objective response rate (dose expansion).

Magrolimab is a therapy that blocks a 'do not eat me' signal overexpressed by certain cancers, including multiple myeloma (MM) cells. Studies have shown that blocking this signal leads to destruction of myeloma cells and that this cancer-killing effect may be increased by combining magrolimab with certain additional anticancer therapies. These findings suggest that magrolimab-based combinations may have a therapeutic benefit in MM. This study is investigating magrolimab in combination with commonly used myeloma therapies in patients with MM who have persistent disease despite prior treatment. Goals of the trial include assessing safety and response to treatment. Clinical Trial Registration: NCT04892446 (ClinicalTrials.gov).

Zanubrutinib in patients with previously treated B-cell malignancies intolerant of previous Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors in the USA: a phase 2, open-label, single-arm study.

BACKGROUND: We hypothesised that zanubrutinib, a highly selective next-generation Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, would be a safe and active treatment for patients intolerant of ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, or both. We aimed to assess whether zanubrutinib would prolong treatment duration by minimising treatment-related toxicities and discontinuations in patients with previously treated B-cell malignancies. METHODS: This ongoing, phase 2, multicentre, open-label, single-arm study was done in 20 centres in the USA. Patients aged 18 or older with previously treated B-cell malignancies (chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, small lymphocytic lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, Waldenström macroglobulinaemia, or marginal zone lymphoma) who became intolerant of ibrutinib, acalabrutinib, or both, were orally administered zanubrutinib 160 mg twice daily or 320 mg once daily per investigator. The primary endpoint was recurrence and change in severity of ibrutinib or acalabrutinib intolerance events based on investigator-assessed adverse events. Secondary endpoints were investigator-assessed overall response rate; duration of response; disease control rate; and progression-free survival. Analyses included all patients who received any dose of the study drug. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04116437. FINDINGS: Between Oct 14, 2019, and Sept 8, 2021, 67 patients (36 [54%] men and 31 [46%] women) who were intolerant of ibrutinib (n=57; cohort 1) or of acalabrutinib or acalabrutinib and ibrutinib (n=10; cohort 2) were enrolled. 63 (94%) patients were White, one (2%) had multiple ethnicities, and three (5%) had unreported or unknown ethnicity. Most intolerance events (81 [70%] of 115 for ibrutinib; 15 [83%] of 18 for acalabrutinib) did not recur with zanubrutinib. Of the recurring events, seven (21%) of 34 ibrutinib intolerance events and two (67%) of three acalabrutinib intolerance events recurred at the same severity with zanubrutinib; 27 (79%) ibrutinib intolerance events and one (33%) acalabrutinib intolerance event recurred at a lower severity with zanubrutinib. No events recurred at higher severity. No grade 4 intolerance events recurred. 64 (96%) of 67 patients had one or more adverse events with zanubrutinib; the most common adverse events were contusion (in 15 [22%] of 67 patients), fatigue (14 [21%]), myalgia (ten [15%]), arthralgia (nine [13%]), and diarrhoea (nine [13%]). Atrial fibrillation occurred in three (4%) patients (all grade 2). Eight (12%) of 67 patients had serious adverse events (anaemia, atrial fibrillation, bronchitis, COVID-19, COVID-19 pneumonia, febrile neutropenia, salmonella gastroenteritis, transfusion reaction, trigeminal nerve disorder, and urinary tract infection). No treatment-related deaths occurred. The median follow-up time was 12·0 months (IQR 8·2-15·6). Among the 64 efficacy-evaluable patients, disease control rate was 93·8% (60; 95% CI 84·8-98·3) and overall response rate was 64·1% (41; 95% CI 51·1-75·7). The median duration of response was not reached; the 12-month event-free duration of response rate was 95·0% (95% CI 69·5-99·3). Similarly, median progression-free survival was not reached; 18-month progression-free survival was 83·8% (95% CI 62·6-93·6). INTERPRETATION: Patients intolerant of previous BTK inhibitors have limited treatment options. These results suggest that zanubrutinib, a safe and viable treatment for patients with B-cell malignancies, might fill that unmet need for those who exhibit intolerance to ibrutinib or acalabrutinib. FUNDING: BeiGene.

A phase 2, multicentre, open-label trial (ACE-LY-003) of acalabrutinib in patients with relapsed or refractory marginal zone lymphoma.

Acalabrutinib, a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor, demonstrated greater selectivity and improved safety versus ibrutinib in a head-to-head trial in relapsed/refractory (R/R) chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. In the R/R marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) cohort (phase 2) of a phase 1b/2 trial (NCT02180711), 43 patients with MZL and at least one prior therapy received acalabrutinib 100 mg twice daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity [median age 69 years (range 42-84); median one (1-4) prior systemic regimens]. Median follow-up was 13.3 months (range 0.5-45.5). Among 40 patients evaluable for response, investigator-assessed overall response rate was 53% [95% confidence interval (CI) 36%-69%] with five (13%) complete responses. Tumour reduction occurred in 40 (93%) of the treated patients. Median time to response was 2.9 months (median duration of response not estimable). Estimated median progression-free survival (PFS) was 27.4 months (12-month PFS rate, 67%). Five patients died (disease progression, n = 4; septic shock, n = 1). Seventeen patients (40%) had grade 3 or higher adverse events (AEs), most commonly neutropenia (14%), anaemia, dyspnoea (7% each), fatigue and thrombocytopenia (5% each). Hypertension occurred in 5%; atrial fibrillation/flutter and major haemorrhage were not reported. AEs led to treatment discontinuation in three (7%) patients. Acalabrutinib was active and well tolerated in patients with R/R MZL.

A phase 1 trial of vadastuximab talirine combined with hypomethylating agents in patients with CD33-positive AML.

Treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) among the elderly is challenging because of intolerance of intensive therapy and therapy-resistant biology. Hypomethylating agents (HMAs) are commonly used, with suboptimal outcomes. Vadastuximab talirine is a CD33-directed antibody conjugated to pyrrolobenzodiazepine (PBD) dimers. Preclinically, HMAs followed by vadastuximab talirine produced upregulated CD33 expression, increased DNA incorporation by PBD, and enhanced cytotoxicity. A combination cohort in a phase 1 study (NCT01902329) assessed safety, tolerability, and activity of vadastuximab talirine with HMAs. Those eligible had Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group status 0 to 1 and previously untreated CD33-positive AML, and declined intensive therapy. Vadastuximab talirine was administered intravenously at 10 µg/kg on last day of HMA (azacitidine or decitabine) infusion in 4-week cycles. Among 53 patients treated, the median age was 75 years. Patients had adverse (38%) or intermediate (62%) cytogenetic risk. Median treatment duration was 19.3 weeks. No dose-limiting toxicities were reported. The majority of adverse events were a result of myelosuppression, with some causing therapy delays. Thirty- and 60-day mortality rates were 2% and 8%, respectively. The composite remission rate (complete remission [CR] and CR with incomplete blood count recovery) was 70%. Fifty-one percent of remissions were minimal residual disease-negative by flow cytometry. Similarly high remission rates were observed in patients with secondary AML, aged at least 75 years, and with adverse cytogenetic risk. Median relapse-free survival and overall survival were 7.7 and 11.3 months, respectively. Compared with historical data for HMA monotherapy, the combination of vadastuximab talirine with HMAs produced a high remission rate, but was accompanied by increased hematologic toxicity.

The allogeneic effect revisited: exogenous help for endogenous, tumor-specific T cells.

The "allogeneic effect" refers to the induction of host B cell antibody synthesis or host T cell cytotoxicity, including tumoricidal activity, by an infusion of allogeneic lymphocytes. We show that treatment of mice with cyclophosphamide (Cy) followed by CD8(+) T cell-depleted allogeneic donor lymphocyte infusion (Cy + CD8(-) DLI) induces regression of established tumors with minimal toxicity in models of both hematologic and solid cancers, even though the donor cells are eventually rejected by the host immune system. The optimal antitumor effect of Cy + CD8(-) DLI required the presence of donor CD4(+) T cells, host CD8(+) T cells, and alloantigen expression by normal host but not tumor tissue. The results support a model in which a donor CD4(+) T cell-mediated graft-versus-host (GVH) reaction effectively awakens antitumor immunity among Cy-resistant host CD8(+) T cells. These events provide the cellular mechanism of the "allogeneic effect" in antitumor immunity. Cy + CD8(-) DLI may be an effective and minimally toxic strategy for awakening the host immune response to advanced cancers.