Addition of rituximab to reduced-dose CHOP chemotherapy is feasible for elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in very elderly patients: Towards best tailored treatment - A systematic review

INTRODUCTION

Diffuse large B cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) is a potentially curative lymphoma with increasing incidence with ageing. Treatment of elderly DLBCL patients represents a particular challenge due to their comorbidities and performance status.

METHODS

A search for original articles focused on the treatment of elderly DLBCL patients was performed in PubMed database and 633 were found and reviewed. Thirty-eight studies meeting our inclusion criteria were published since 2007.

RESULTS

Thirteen studies were retrospective and 25 phase II/III clinical trials. Most of them investigated the efficacy of dose-adjusted R-CHOP regimen. Alternative therapeutic drugs together with geriatric assessment were also evaluated. For fit patients aged 80 and over, the strongest evidence favours R-miniCHOP regimen.

CONCLUSION

A dose-adjusted R-CHOP may be the recommended treatment in elderly DLBCL patients. New tools such as the Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment provide useful guidance for treatment choice, based on comorbidities and frailty index of this group.

Comprehensive geriatric assessment is an independent prognostic factor in older patients with metastatic renal cell cancer treated with first-line Sunitinib or Pazopanib: a single center experience

BACKGROUND

There is poor data on the prognostic role of Comprehensive Geriatric Assessment (CGA) in older patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treated with first line Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors (TKIs).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed the clinical charts of mRCC patients older than 70 years treated at our Institute with first-line Sunitinib or Pazopanib for at least 6 months. Every patient received a CGA at baseline and was identified as fit, vulnerable or frail according to Balducci's Criteria. We then assessed the impact of CGA category on survival, disease control and tolerability of TKIs.

RESULTS

We identified 86 eligible patients. Median age: 74.5 years, 56% males; 45.4% were fit, 37.2% vulnerable and 17.4% frail at CGA. There were no significant differences in the rate of Grade (G)1-2 and G3-4 toxicities, dose reduction rates, PFS and OS between Sunitinib and Pazopanib. Fit, vulnerable and frail patients achieved significantly different median PFS (18.9 vs 11.2 vs 5.1 months; p < 0.001) and OS (35.5 vs 14.6 vs 10.9 months; p < 0.001). Patients categorized as fit had higher chance of receiving a second-line treatment (66.6% vs 28.9% in vulnerable/frail; p = 0.002). The incidence of G3/4 events was significantly lower in the fit subgroup (19% vs 45% in vulnerable/frail; p = 0.0025).

CONCLUSIONS

In our retrospective single-center experience, CGA could accurately discriminate patients with higher risk of experiencing G3/4 toxicities, shorter PFS, and lower chance of receiving a second line treatment. CGA strongly impacted on OS, independently from International mRCC Database Consortium (IMDC) classification.

Cardiovascular adverse events in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated with first-line cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) or CHOP with rituximab (R-CHOP): a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND

Patients treated for non-Hodgkin lymphoma are at risk of cardiovascular adverse events, with the risk of heart failure being particularly high. A regimen of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone, with (R-CHOP) or without (CHOP) rituximab is the standard first-line treatment for aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and doxorubicin and cyclophosphamide are both associated with left ventricular dysfunction. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to evaluate the cardiovascular toxicity of this regimen.

METHODS

We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library from database inception to June 3, 2019, for clinical trials and observational studies in adult patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, peripheral T-cell lymphoma, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma not otherwise specified) that received first-line treatment with R-CHOP or CHOP. Studies reporting on cardiovascular adverse events and treatment-related cardiovascular mortality were included. Abstracts and articles not written in English were excluded. The main outcomes were the proportion of patients with grade 3-4 cardiovascular adverse events and heart failure. Meta-analyses of one-sample proportions were done in all patients receiving CHOP or R-CHOP. Subgroup analyses on summary estimates were done to determine the effect of number of CHOP or R-CHOP cycles, cycle interval, age, and sex.

FINDINGS

Of 2314 identified entries, 137 studies (21 211 patients) published between April, 1984, and June, 2019 were eligible (9541 patients treated with CHOP, 11 293 patients treated with R-CHOP, 377 both regimens used in the study; median follow-up 39·0 months [IQR 25·5-52·8]). From the included studies, 85 subgroups were treated with CHOP, 76 with R-CHOP, and in four studies both CHOP and R-CHOP were used without a subdivision in separate groups. The pooled proportion for grade 3-4 cardiovascular adverse events, based on 77 studies (n=14 351 patients), was 2·35% (95% CI 1·81-2·93; heterogeneity test Q=326·21; τ²=0·0042; I²=71·40%; p<0·0001). For heart failure, the pooled proportion, based on 38 studies (n=5936 patients), was 4·62% (2·25-7·65; heterogeneity test Q=527·33; τ²=0·0384; I²=95·05%; p<0·0001), with a significant increase in reported heart failure from 1·64% (95% CI 0·82-2·65) to 11·72% (3·00-24·53) when cardiac function was evaluated post-chemotherapy (p=0·017). 53 (39%) of 137 studies were rated as having high risk of bias for incomplete outcome data and 54 (39%) for selective reporting.

INTERPRETATION

The considerable increase of reported heart failures with cardiac monitoring, indicates that this complication often remains undiagnosed in patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma who received first-line R-CHOP or CHOP. Our findings are of importance to raise awareness of this complication among clinicians treating patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma and stresses the need for cardiac monitoring during and after chemotherapy. Prompt initiation of treatment for heart failure in the presymptomatic phase can mitigate the progression to more advanced heart failure stages.

FUNDING

None.

Multicenter Phase 2 Study of Reduced-Dose CHOP Chemotherapy Combined With Rituximab for Elderly Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

INTRODUCTION

Elderly patients are more prone to encounter some adverse factors when they receive chemotherapy compared to younger patients. Addition of rituximab to a reduced dose (RD) of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (R-CHOP) chemotherapy might improve patient outcomes with an improved toxicity profile when provided to elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 53 patients aged ≥ 65 years with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma diagnosed between August 2012 and December 2014 were enrolled onto this study. RD-R-CHOP regimen consisted of rituximab at 375 mg/m², cyclophosphamide at 600 mg/m², doxorubicin at 30 mg/m², and vincristine at 1 mg on day 1 of each cycle and 40 mg of prednisone on days 1 to 5. Patients received granulocyte colony-stimulating factor if they experienced grade 3/4 neutropenia or febrile neutropenia during any cycle.

RESULTS

The median follow-up duration was 18 months (range, 1-44 months). Complete response and overall response rates were 64.1% and 81.1%, respectively. Three-year event-free and overall survival rates were 45.7% ± 8.4% and 62.7% ± 8.1%, respectively. Grade 3/4 neutropenia occurred in 20 patients (37.7%), while febrile neutropenia occurred in 7 patients (20.7%).

CONCLUSION

Outcomes of RD-R-CHOP chemotherapy were comparable to those of standard-dose R-CHOP or previous dose-adjusted R-CHOP chemotherapy. In the future, strategies such as tailored therapy based on geriatric assessment results are needed to determine the chemotherapeutic dosage.

Efficacy and tolerability of rituximab and reduced-dose cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone therapy for elderly patient with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

OBJECTIVES

Chemoimmunotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone combined with rituximab (R-CHOP) is currently the first-line therapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, management of elderly patients is challenging and often requires dose reductions or prolonged treatment intervals. We investigated the proper dose of R-CHOP for them.

METHODS

At our institute, for DLBCL patients aged 65-79 and ≥80 years, we had reduced CHOP dose to 5/6 and 7/12, respectively, and retrospectively evaluated the reduced-dose R-CHOP.

RESULTS

Although the median age in the standard, 5/6, and 7/12-dose groups was 57, 73, and 84 years, respectively (p < 0.001), the 3-year event-free survival (EFS) rate did not differ between the standard and 5/6-dose groups (60.2 and 56.7%); however, 7/12-dose group had significantly inferior survival (25.9%). When patients aged 60-80 were evaluated, no difference in EFS was observed between the standard and 5/6-dose groups using the same international prognostic index. The neutrophil nadir and the frequency of infection were comparable among the three dose groups.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS

Reduced-dose R-CHOP chemotherapy is a promising treatment for elderly patients with DLBCL in terms of efficacy and toxicity.

Frontline treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in elderly: a systematic review of clinical trials in post-rituximab era

Treatment of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remains challenging in elderly population and systematic reviews are lacking in this area. Medline and Cochrane Register of Controlled Trials in addition to conference proceedings were searched for therapeutic clinical trials on frontline treatment of DLBCL in adults ≥60 in post-rituximab era. Forty-one out of 713 reviewed papers met our inclusion criteria. Six cycles of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone (R-CHOP) administered every 21 d remain the standard treatment for fit elderly, with no role for maintenance rituximab. For individuals ≥80, the strongest evidence favors rituximab/ofatumumab-miniCHOP. Numerous alternative approaches including the use of liposomal anthracyclines, dose and regimen adjustment to frailty/comorbidity score, brief duration regimens, and consolidative radioimmunotherapy have produced promising outcomes and could be considered for R-CHOP inappropriate elderly. Phase III randomized trials studying the efficacy of liposomal vincristine, extended-exposure rituximab, and lenalidomide plus R-CHOP are ongoing.

A comparison of pectoralis versus lumbar skeletal muscle indices for defining sarcopenia in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma - two are better than one

BACKGROUNDS

Sarcopenia is known to be associated with poor clinical outcome in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). There is no consensus concerning the optimal method to define sarcopenia in DLBCL.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed 193 DLBCL patients treated with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) therapy. Sarcopenia was classified by the region where the pretreatment skeletal muscle index (SMI) was measured.

RESULTS

Both the sarcopenia-L3 and sarcopenia-pectoralis muscle (PM) groups had increased incidences of severe treatment-related toxicities and treatment discontinuation compared with the non-sarcopenia-L3 and non-sarcopenia-PM groups, respectively. The sarcopenia-L3 and non-sarcopenia-L3 groups had 5-year overall survival (OS) rates of 40.5% and 67.8% (p < 0.001), respectively. The sarcopenia-PM and non-sarcopenia-PM groups had 5-year OS rates of 35.9% and 69.0% (p < 0.001), respectively. When the sarcopenia-L3 alone and sarcopenia-PM alone groups were compared, there were no differences in baseline characteristics, treatment toxicity, or survival. In multivariate analysis, when compared with the non-sarcopenia-both group, OS was significantly worse in the sarcopenia-both group (HR, 2.480; 95% CI, 1.284 - 4.792; p = 0.007), but not in patients with either sarcopenia-L3 alone or sarcopenia-PM alone (p = 0.151).

CONCLUSIONS

L3- and PM-SMIs are equally useful to define sarcopenia, which is related to intolerance to R-CHOP therapy and to worse survival in patients with DLBCL. More prognostic information can be obtained when these two SMIs are combined to define sarcopenia.

Patterns of growth factor usage and febrile neutropenia among older patients with diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated with CHOP or R-CHOP: the Intergroup experience (CALGB 9793; ECOG-SWOG 4494)

Patterns of myeloid growth factor (GF) usage and febrile neutropenia (FN) were examined in patients >60 years of age with diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (DLBCL) enrolled on CALGB 9793/ECOG-SWOG 4494, receiving initial therapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone (CHOP) or rituximab + CHOP (R-CHOP). Myeloid GFs were administered to 256/520 (49%) patients. Indications for use were: prevent dose reduction/dose delay (81%, 207/256); treat FN or non-febrile neutropenia (NFN) (19%, 48/256). One or more FN episodes occurred in 41% (212/520) of patients, with FN most often in cycle 1 (38% of episodes). In multivariate analysis, risk factors for FN included age >65 years (odds ratio (OR) = 2.6, 95% CI: [1.4, 4.9]) and anemia (hemoglobin <12 g/dl) (OR =2.2, 95% confidence intervals (CI): [1.4, 3.5]. Myeloid GF use was common in this older DLBCL population receiving CHOP-based therapy, as was FN, especially during cycle one. Risk factors predictive for FN should be used prospectively to identify patients for whom myeloid GFs are best utilized.

Reduced Dose Intensities of Doxorubicin in Elderly Patients with DLBCL in Rituximab Era

Purpose

The dose intensity of doxorubicin (DID) is important to the survival of diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. However, due to expected toxicities, most elderly patients cannot receive full doses of anthracyclines. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of DID on the survival of elderly DLBCL patients (age ≥ 70 years) in the rituximab era.

Materials and Methods

We analyzed 433 DLBCL patients who were treated with R-CHOP between December 2003 and October 2011 at the Seoul National University Hospital. Of these patients, 19.2% were aged ≥ 70 years. We analyzed the survival outcomes according to DID.

Results

Significantly poorer overall survival (OS) was observed for patients aged ≥ 70 years (2-year OS rate: 59.9% vs. 84.2%; p < 0.001). DID ≤ 10 mg/m²/wk had a significant effect on the OS and progression-free survival (PFS) in elderly patients (2-year OS rate: 40.0% in DID ≤ 10 mg/m²/wk vs. 62.6% in DID > 10 mg/m²/wk; p=0.031; 2-year PFS: 35.0% vs. 65.7%; p=0.036). The OS on each 1.7 mg/m²/wk doxorubicin increment above 10 mg/m²/wk in elderly patients was not significant among the groups (2-year OS rate: 75.0% in DID 10.0-11.7 mg/m²/wk vs. 66.7% in DID 15.0-16.7 mg/m²/wk; p=0.859). Treatment related mortality was not related to DID.

Conclusion

DID can be reduced up to 10 mg/m²/wk in elderly DLBCL patients in the rituximab era. Maintenance of DID > 10 mg/m²/wk and judicious selection of elderly patients who are tolerant to DID is necessary.

Weekly rituximab consolidation following four cycles of R-CHOP induction chemotherapy in very elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: Consortium for improving survival of lymphoma study (CISL)

This study aimed to determine the objective response, toxicity, and clinical outcome of weekly rituximab consolidation after four cycles of R-CHOP21 in very elderly patients with DLBCL. A prospective, multi-institutional phase II trial was conducted on patients with previously untreated CD20(+) DLBCL who were older than 70 yr. Patients were treated with four cycles of R-CHOP21 followed by weekly consolidation with rituximab (375 mg/m(2) , four times infusion) (NCT01181999). We also compared the clinical outcomes with an historical case-matched control group treated conventionally with six cycles of R-CHOP21. A total of 51 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL were enrolled at 15 institutes between June 2010 and September 2013. The median age was 76 yr (range: 70-89). Forty-one of the 51 patients completed the planned rituximab consolidation (R-consolidation). The overall response rate was 78.4%, comprising 74.5% with a complete response and 3.9% with a partial response. After a median follow-up of 20.3 months, 2-yr progression-free survival and overall survival were 63.9% and 68.7%, respectively. No serious toxicities were reported during rituximab consolidation. Weekly rituximab consolidation following four cycles of R-CHOP21 resulted in an acceptable response with high tolerability and could be a good compromise between efficacy and safety for elderly patients with DLBCL.

R-split-CHOP chemotherapy for elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

OBJECTIVES

Chemoimmunotherapy with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisolone, and rituximab (R-CHOP) is the standard of care for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, management of elderly patients is challenging as critical comorbidities often account for increased number of treatment-related complications.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In the past 8 yrs, we have treated elderly patients with a full-dose R-CHOP regimen by splitting the administration of cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin over 2 days (R-split-CHOP) to reduce peak plasma level. Here, we retrospectively analyzed the results of 30 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL.

RESULTS

The overall response rate was found to be 87%, the overall survival probability after 3 yrs was 60.6% (95% CI, 42.1%-79.0%), and the progression-free survival probability was 49.7% (95% CI, 30.4%-68.9%). Grade 3/4 infectious complications were reported in 30% of patients, yet no treatment-related deaths occurred.

CONCLUSION

We suggest that R-split-CHOP could be a valuable option to safely administer full-dose-intensity R-CHOP to elderly patients at risk of treatment-related complications.

What determines therapeutic choices for elderly patients with DLBCL? Clinical findings of a multicenter study in Portugal

BACKGROUND

Age is a negative prognostic factor in lymphomas, and elderly patients are often undertreated because of toxicity concerns. The pattern of treatment in elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in Portugal has not been previously described.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a multicenter retrospective study including 378 elderly patients with DLBCL receiving alkylating agent-containing regimens between 2003 and 2010. We compared the outcome of patients aged 60 to 79 years with patients > 79 years and analyzed the second group according to treatment.

RESULTS

R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin [hydroxydaunorubicin], vincristine [Oncovin], prednisolone) was prescribed in only 60% of patients and was prescribed significantly less in patients > 79 years, despite no significant differences being found in comorbidities between the 2 age groups. Similarly, dose reductions frequently were instituted because of chronologic age and not always because of toxicity. When different regimens were compared, multivariate analysis showed an independent beneficial effect of R-CHOP in treatment outcomes. Additionally, treatment with anthracyclines and rituximab predicted a better progression-free survival (PFS) and time to progression (TTP) in patients > 79 years.

CONCLUSION

This was the first characterization of the clinical care of elderly Portuguese patients with DLBCL. We showed that R-CHOP is effective even in patients > 79 years, emphasizing that treatment decisions based on age alone can compromise treatment efficacy and outcome in fit patients.

Immunoglobulin heavy chain/light chain pair measurement is associated with survival in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Elevated serum free light chains (FLCs) have been associated with an unfavorable prognosis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The aim of this study was to determine the clinical relevance of a quantitative assessment of intact circulating immunoglobulin (Ig), using serum Ig heavy chain/light chain pair (HLC) measurements in patients with DLBCL. FLC and HLC were measured in 409 serum samples of patients with DLBCL included in the LNH03-B clinical trial program of the Groupe d'Etudes des Lymphomes de l'Adulte (GELA). Patients with an abnormal IgMκ/IgMλ ratio or an abnormal FLC ratio more frequently displayed adverse clinical characteristics. Patients with abnormal IgMκ/IgMλ ratios had inferior progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) as compared to patients with a normal ratio in the overall cohort (5-year PFS 44.9% vs. 69.3%, p = 0.0003 and 5-year OS 50.8% vs. 78.1%, p = 0.0003) and in the R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) cohort (5-year OS 43.5% vs. 70.3%, p = 0.003). In multivariate analysis, including elevated FLC/HLC and International Prognostic Index (IPI), an abnormal IgMκ/IgMλ ratio (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.03-2.3, p = 0.03) remained predictive of shorter progression-free survival. Gene expression profile experiments and immunohistochemistry indicate that this measurement is at least partially related to tumor cell secretion. Both elevated serum FLCs and an abnormal IgMκ/IgMλ ratio are associated with unfavorable outcomes in patients with DLBCL treated by R-CHOP.