Pros and cons of rituximab maintenance in follicular lymphoma

G-CSF + plerixafor versus G-CSF alone mobilized hematopoietic stem cells in patients with multiple myeloma and lymphoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis

AIM

The combination of granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) and plerixafor is one of the approaches for hematopoietic stem cell mobilization in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL). This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to determine the ability of G-CSF + plerixafor to mobilize peripheral blood (PB) CD34+ cells and examine its safety profile.

METHODS

We performed a database search using the terms 'granulocyte colony stimulating factor', 'G-CSF', 'AMD3100', and 'plerixafor', published up to May 1, 2023. The methodology is described in further detail in the PROSPERO database (CRD42023425760).

RESULTS

Twenty-three studies were included in this systematic review and meta-analysis. G-CSF + plerixafor resulted in more patients achieving the predetermined apheresis yield of CD34+ cells than G-CSF alone (OR, 5.33; 95%, 4.34-6.55). It was further discovered that G-CSF + plerixafor could mobilize more CD34+ cells into PB, which was beneficial for the next transplantation in both randomized controlled (MD, 18.30; 95%, 8.74-27.85) and single-arm (MD, 20.67; 95%, 14.34-27.00) trials. Furthermore, G-CSF + plerixafor did not cause more treatment emergent adverse events than G-CSF alone (OR, 1.25; 95%, 0.87-1.80).

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that the combination of G-CSF and plerixafor, resulted in more patients with MM, NHL, and HL, achieving the predetermined apheresis yield of CD34+ cells, which is related to the more effective mobilization of CD34+ cells into PB.

A phase 3, randomized study of ofatumumab combined with bendamustine in rituximab-refractory iNHL (COMPLEMENT A + B study)

The standard of care for indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL) is rituximab, an anti-CD20 antibody, with/without chemotherapy. However, multiple relapses are common in these patients. This phase 3, randomized study compared outcomes of a combination of ofatumumab (a second-generation anti-CD20 antibody) and bendamustine, with bendamustine alone in patients unresponsive to prior rituximab-based treatment. Overall, 346 patients were randomized to receive either the combination or bendamustine alone. Bendamustine was given for ≤8 cycles and ofatumumab for ≤12 cycles. The primary end-point was progression-free survival (PFS) after 215 protocol-defined events assessed by independent review committee (IRC). Median IRC-assessed PFS was 16·7 and 13·8 months in the combination and monotherapy arms respectively [hazard ratio (HR) = 0·82; P = 0·1390]. Median overall survival (OS) was 58·2 and 51·8 months in the combination and monotherapy arms respectively (HR = 0·89, P = 0·4968). The safety profile was consistent with previous reports. Overall, 73% and 80% of patients in the combination and monotherapy arms, respectively, experienced a ≥grade 3 adverse event. The study did not meet its primary end-point. No significant improvement in PFS and OS was seen with the combination of ofatumumab and bendamustine as compared with bendamustine alone in rituximab-refractory iNHL (NCT01077518).

Durable benefit of rituximab maintenance post-autograft in patients with relapsed follicular lymphoma: 12-year follow-up of the EBMT lymphoma working party Lym1 trial

We report the 12-year follow-up of the prospective randomized EBMT LYM1 trial to determine whether the benefit of brief duration rituximab maintenance (RM) on progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with relapsed follicular lymphoma (FL) receiving an autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) is sustained. One hundred and thirty-eight patients received RM with or without purging. The median follow-up after random assignment is 12 years (range 10-13) for the whole series. The 10-year PFS after ASCT is 47% (95% CI 40-54) with only 4 patients relapsing after 7.5 years. RM continues to significantly improve 10-year PFS after ASCT in comparison with NM [P = 0.002; HR 0.548 (95% CI 0.38-0.80)]. Ten-year non-relapse mortality (NRM) was not significantly different between treatment groups (7% overall). 10-year overall survival (OS) after ASCT was 75% (69-81) for the whole series, with no significant differences according to treatment sub-groups. 10-year OS for patients who progressed within 24 months (POD24T) was 60%, in comparison with 85% for patients without progression. Thus the benefit of rituximab maintenance after ASCT on relapse prevention is sustained at 12 years, suggesting that RM adds to ASCT-mediated disease eradication and may enhance the curative potential of ASCT.

Maintenance rituximab in Veterans with follicular lymphoma

Real-world practice patterns and clinical outcomes in patients with follicular lymphoma (FL), including the adoption of maintenance rituximab (MR) therapy in the United States (US), have been reported in few studies since the release of the National LymphoCare Study almost a decade ago. We analyzed data from the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States, the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), to identify rates of adoption and effectiveness of MR in FL patients after first-line (1L) treatment. We identified previously untreated patients with FL in the VHA between 2006 and 2014 who achieved at least stable disease after chemoimmunotherapy or immunotherapy. Among these patients, those who initiated MR within 238 days of 1L composed the MR group, whereas those who did not were classified as the non-MR group. We examined the effect of MR on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS). A total of 676 patients met our inclusion criteria, of whom 300 received MR. MR was associated with significant PFS (hazard ratio [HR]=0.55, P < .001) and OS (HR = 0.53, P = .005) compared to the non-MR group, after adjusting by age, sex, ethnicity, geographic region, diagnosis period, stage, grade at diagnosis, hemoglobin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), Charlson comorbidity index (CCI), 1L treatment regimen, and response to 1L treatment. These results suggest that in FL patients who do not experience disease progression after 1L treatment in real-world settings, MR is associated with a significant improvement in both PFS and OS. Maintenance therapy should be considered in FL patients who successfully complete and respond to 1L therapy.

Real world data on follicular lymphoma patients treated by rituximab-containing immunochemotherapy and rituximab maintenance

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Real-world data about the treatment outcomes of patients receiving rituximab-containing immunochemotherapy followed by rituximab maintenance are required to understand better the treatment for follicular lymphoma (FL).

METHODS

A cross-sectional study analyzed FL patients who were treated with R-CVP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone) or R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) and rituximab maintenance.

RESULTS

Of 139 patients, 85 patients received R-CVP and 54 received R-CHOP. The characteristics did not differ significantly between the groups. Only grade 3 of FL was more common in R-CHOP. The complete response rate did not differ significantly between R-CHOP (50/54, 92.6%) and R-CVP (77/85, 90.6%). The number of disease relapses during rituximab maintenance did not differ significantly between the groups (p = 0.798). Therefore, the comparison of progression-free survival (PFS) showed no significant difference: the 3-year PFS rates for R-CVP and R-CHOP were 77% and 85%, respectively (p = 0.567). Although five of 56 hepatitis B virus (HBV) core antibody (anti-HBc)-positive patients experienced HBV reactivation, all cases of HBV reactivation were identified during regular monitoring for HBV DNA in blood, and were successfully managed with antiviral treatment.

CONCLUSION

The survival outcomes of FL patients on rituximab maintenance after responding to R-CVP or R-CHOP were similar. Rituximab-containing immunochemotherapy followed by rituximab maintenance can be safely used for anti-HBc-positive patients if HBV DNA titer in blood can be regularly monitored.

90 Y-ibritumomab-tiuxetan as a therapeutic alternative for follicular lymphoma (FL): A single-center experience

BACKGROUND

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most frequent indolent lymphoma subtype in adults. Maintenance therapy with rituximab is frequently applied to FL patients with complete or partial response following initial chemoimmunotherapy. However, radioimmunotherapy with ⁹⁰ Y-ibritumomab-tiuxetan represents a therapeutic alternative.

METHODS

To compare the clinical and the prognostic impact of both therapies, a study collective of n = 56 patients diagnosed with indolent B-cell lymphoma was retrospectively investigated. The study collective was subdivided into two groups: n = 36 patients treated with rituximab maintenance therapy vs n = 20 patients treated with ⁹⁰ Y-ibritumomab-tiuxetan.

RESULTS

No prognostic differences for performance status, FLIPI score, gender, or B-symptoms were found for ⁹⁰ Y-ibritumomab-tiuxetan or rituximab maintenance therapy. Overall survival rates and progression-free survival did not differ between both maintenance therapies.

CONCLUSION

Our retrospective single-center analysis of two patient groups without major differences in prognostic parameters revealed similar outcome with two different maintenance therapies. Hence, ⁹⁰ Y-ibritumomab-tiuxetan therapy might offer a valuable alternative treatment option for FL patients with partial response. However, large prospective trials are needed to confirm the reported findings.

Hodgkin's lymphoma and its association with EBV and HIV infection

Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL) constitutes a clonal expansion of what appears to be malignant B cells. Viruses are involved in its pathogenesis, such as the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). Since these viral infections have been shown to play key roles in the pathogenesis of HL, countries with a prevalence of HIV and EBV represent interesting population targets to study the pathogenesis of HL, linking the evolution of the disease with viral infections. Usually, patients present with late stage disease often involving the bone marrow at the time of diagnosis. The present paper discusses the role of viral infection in African countries, as HL is considered to be a malignant disease characterized by an inflammatory reaction to an aberrant B cell clone that is well known as the Reed-Sternberg cell (HRS).