Salvage regimens with autologous transplantation for relapsed large B-cell lymphoma in the rituximab era

Tafasitamab for the treatment of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) require additional treatments, especially those not eligible or not responding to high dose cytotoxic chemotherapy and stem cell transplantation. Over the last few years, several new treatments have been developed and approved for these patients, among them of particular relevance are those targeting CD19. Tafasitamab is a humanized monoclonal antibody targeting CD19, composed of a modified fragment crystallizable (Fc) region engineered with higher affinity for Fc gamma receptors (FcγR) receptors, leading to increased cytotoxicity through natural killer cells and macrophages (antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity and antibody-dependent cell-mediated phagocytosis). In this product review, we will discuss its mechanism of action, safety profile and efficacy results from clinical trials that led to its approval in combination with lenalidomide for patients with R/R DLBCL ineligible for high-dose chemotherapy and autologous transplantation.

Treatment strategies and outcome in relapsed peripheral T-cell lymphoma: results from the Netherlands Cancer Registry

ABSTRACT

Optimal treatment in patients with refractory or relapsed peripheral T-cell lymphomas (R/R T-NHLs) is unknown. In this population-based study, outcomes in R/R peripheral T-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified (PTCL NOS), angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL), and anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive (ALK+) and ALK-negative (ALK-) anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) were evaluated. Patients with PTCL NOS, AITL, ALK+ ALCL, and ALK- ALCL (≥18 years) diagnosed in 2014 to 2019 were identified using the Netherlands Cancer Registry. End points were overall response rate (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). The 2-year PFS of 821 patients was 57%. Among 311 patients with a relapse, 243 received second-line treatment: 44% received salvage chemotherapy, 20% received brentuximab vedotin (BV), and 36% received other treatment. In third-line treatment, BV was most commonly used (38%). ORR after second-line treatment was 47%. Two-year PFS and OS after relapse were 25% and 34%, respectively. The risk of second relapse was negatively affected by early relapse (<12 months after diagnosis), whereas BV reduced this risk compared with salvage chemotherapy. Reduced risk of relapse was independent of histological subtype. The best outcomes were observed for patients treated with salvage chemotherapy receiving consolidative autologous and allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) (2-year OS 68%), patients treated with BV achieving a second complete remission (2-year OS 74%) and patients with allogeneic SCT (2-year OS 60%). The risk of second relapse was significantly lower for patients with R/R T-NHL treated with BV compared with patients treated with salvage chemotherapy, and this was irrespective of subtype. Therefore, the use of salvage chemotherapy for patients with R/R T-NHL is challenged.

Advances in biology, diagnosis and treatment of DLBCL

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), with approximately 150,000 new cases worldwide each year, represent nearly 30% of all cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and are phenotypically and genetically heterogeneous. A gene-expression profile (GEP) has identified at least three major subtypes of DLBCL, each of which has distinct clinical, biological, and genetic features: activated B-cell (ABC)-like DLBCL, germinal-center B-cell (GCB)-like DLBCL, and unclassified. Different origins are associated with different responses to chemotherapy and targeted agents. Despite DLBCL being a highly heterogeneous disease, more than 60% of patients with DLBCL can be cured after using rituximab combined with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) to inhibit the growth of cancer cells while targeting the CD20 receptor. In recent decades, the improvement of diagnostic levels has led to a refinement classification of DLBCL and the development of new therapeutic approaches. The objective of this review was to summarize the latest studies examining genetic lesions and therapies for DLBCL.

Real-world outcomes with novel therapies in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

This study used COTA de-identified data (2010-2021) of patients in the US to explore outcomes of novel therapies in relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in real-world settings. Demographics, clinical characteristics, and clinical outcomes of patients with R/R DLBCL who received novel treatments including chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T) therapy and tafasitamab- or polatuzumab-based therapies were evaluated. Overall, 175 patients with R/R DLBCL were analyzed; 73, 69, and 27 received CAR T therapy, polatuzumab-based regimens, and tafasitamab-based regimens, respectively. In patients who had ≥1 prior lines of therapy (i.e. starting second-line or later therapy; 2 L+), CAR T, polatuzumab-based regimens, and tafasitamab-based regimens achieved a median overall survival of 26.5, 7.8, and 6.3 months, respectively. Outcomes were particularly poor for patients with relapse following CAR T, indicating that polatuzumab- and tafasitamab-based regimens in 2 L + R/R DLBCL have suboptimal outcomes in the real world. Additional treatment options are needed.

Sequencing of Anti-CD19 Therapies in the Management of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Several second- and third-line immunotherapeutic options for patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant are directed against the B-cell antigen cluster of differentiation 19 (CD19). The anti-CD19 monoclonal antibody tafasitamab, paired with the immunomodulator lenalidomide, mediates antibody-dependent cellular toxicity and phagocytosis; the antibody-drug conjugate loncastuximab tesirine delivers the DNA cross-linking agent tesirine via CD19 binding and internalization; and CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CAR-T) products are engineered from autologous T cells. Although CD19 expression is assessed at diagnosis, clinically relevant thresholds of CD19 expression-which may not be detectable using current routine methodologies-have not been defined and may vary between CD19-directed treatment modalities. Determining optimal treatment sequencing strategies for CD19-directed therapy is hampered by the exclusion of patients who have received prior CD19-directed therapies from major clinical trials. Antigen escape, which is attributed to mechanisms including epitope loss and defective cell surface trafficking of CD19, is an important cause of CAR-T failure. Limited data suggest that CD19 expression may be maintained after non-CAR-T CD19-directed therapy, and retrospective analyses indicate that some patients with disease relapse after CAR-T may benefit from subsequent CD19-directed therapy. To date, clinical evidence on the effect of anti-CD19 therapy prior to CAR-T has been limited to small case series. Prospective studies and detailed analyses are needed to understand how pretreatment and posttreatment CD19 expression correlates with clinical responses to subsequent CD19-directed therapy to fully maximize treatment strategies.

Autologous stem cell transplant in fit patients with late relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma that responded to salvage chemotherapy

The standard of care (SOC) for fit patients with relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) ≥12 months after completing frontline therapy is salvage chemotherapy (ST) followed by autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). However, this strategy may not be optimal for patients with certain clinical characteristics. We retrospectively studied 151 patients with DLBCL that relapsed ≥12 months after R-CHOP or R-CHOP-like frontline therapy who underwent ST and ASCT at Mayo Clinic between July 2000 and December 2017 or the University of Iowa between April 2003 and April 2020. Clinical characteristics, treatment information, and outcome data were abstracted. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) from the time of ASCT were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. The median time from frontline therapy completion to 1st relapse was 26.9 months. The median line of ST was 1 (range 1-3), and 17 (11%) patients required >1 line of ST. Best response before ASCT was partial response (PR) in 60 (40%) and complete response (CR) in 91 (60%) patients. The median age at ASCT was 64 years (range 19-78), and 36 (24%) patients were of ≥70 years. The median follow-up after ASCT was 87.3 months. The median PFS and OS were 54.5 and 88.9 months, respectively. There was no significant difference in PFS and OS based on the age at ASCT (including patients aged ≥70-78 years), sex, transplant era, time to relapse, LDH, extranodal site involvement, and central nervous system/nerve involvement at relapse. However, patients with advanced-stage relapse had inferior PFS than those with early-stage relapse (median 45.3 vs 124.7 months, P=0.045). Patients who required > 1 line of ST, compared to those requiring 1 line, had significantly inferior PFS (median 6.1 vs 61.4 months, P <0.0001) and OS (17.8 vs 111.7 months, P=0.0004). There was no statistically significant difference in survival in patients who achieved PR vs CR, though numerically inferior in the former, with median PFS of 38.9 vs 59.3 months (P=0.23) and median OS of 78.3 vs 111.7 months (P=0.62). Patients achieving CR after 1 line of ST had excellent post-ASCT outcomes, with median PFS of 63.7 months. In conclusion, survival after ASCT was unfavorable in patients with late relapsed DLBCL (≥12 months) who required more than 1 line of ST to achieve PR or CR, and such patients should be treated with alternative therapies. Conversely, survival was favorable in patients who required only 1 line of ST, supporting the current clinical practice of ASCT consolidation in these patients. Moreover, outcomes were favorable in patients aged ≥70-78 years at ASCT, similar to younger patients, highlighting the safety and feasibility of this approach in such patients.

Defining primary refractory large B-cell lymphoma

ABSTRACT

Patients with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) that fail to achieve a complete response (CR) or who relapse early after anthracycline-containing immunochemotherapy (IC) have a poor prognosis and are commonly considered to have "primary refractory disease." However, different definitions of primary refractory disease are used in the literature and clinical practice. In this study, we examined variation in the time to relapse used to define refractory status and association with survival outcomes in patients with primary refractory LBCL in a single-center prospective cohort with validation in an independent multicenter cohort. Patients with newly diagnosed LBCL were enrolled in the Molecular Epidemiological Resource cohort (MER; N = 949) or the Lymphoma Epidemiology of Outcomes cohort (LEO; N = 2755) from September 2002 to May 2021. Primary refractory LBCL was defined as no response (stable disease [SD]) or progressive disease (PD) during, or by the end of, frontline (1L) IC (primary PD; PPD); partial response at end of treatment (EOT PR); or relapse within 3 to 12 months after achieving CR at EOT to 1L IC (early relapse). In the MER cohort, patients with PPD had inferior overall survival (OS; 2-year OS rate: 15% MER, 31% LEO) when compared with other subgroups considered in defining primary refractory disease, EOT PR (2-year OS rate: 38% MER, 50% LEO) and early relapse (2-year OS rate: 44% MER, 58% LEO). Among patients receiving 1L IC with curative intent, we identified that patients with PPD are the key subgroup with poor outcomes. We propose a definition of primary refractory LBCL as SD or PD during, or by the end of, 1L treatment.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for DLBCL: a report from the European Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation on more than 40,000 patients over 32 years

Autologous(auto-) and allogeneic(allo-) hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) are key treatments for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), although their roles are challenged by CAR-T-cells and other immunotherapies. We examined the transplantation trends and outcomes for DLBCL patients undergoing auto-/allo-HSCT between 1990 and 2021 reported to EBMT. Over this period, 41,148 patients underwent auto-HSCT, peaking at 1911 cases in 2016, while allo-HSCT saw a maximum of 294 cases in 2018. The recent decline in transplants corresponds to increased CAR-T treatments (1117 cases in 2021). Median age for auto-HSCT rose from 42 (1990-1994) to 58 years (2015-2021), with peripheral blood becoming the primary stem cell source post-1994. Allo-HSCT median age increased from 36 (1990-1994) to 54 (2015-2021) years, with mobilized blood as the primary source post-1998 and reduced intensity conditioning post-2000. Unrelated and mismatched allo-HSCT accounted for 50% and 19% of allo-HSCT in 2015-2021. Three-year overall survival (OS) after auto-HSCT improved from 56% (1990-1994) to 70% (2015-2021), p < 0.001, with a decrease in relapse incidence (RI) from 49% to 38%, while non-relapse mortality (NRM) remained unchanged (4%). After allo-HSCT, 3-year-OS increased from 33% (1990-1999) to 46% (2015-2021) (p < 0.001); 3-year RI remained at 39% and 1-year-NRM decreased to 19% (p < 0.001). Our data reflect advancements over 32 years and >40,000 transplants, providing insights for evaluating emerging DLBCL therapies.

EBV-positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified: 2024 update on the diagnosis, risk-stratification, and management

DISEASE OVERVIEW

Epstein Barr virus-positive (EBV+) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), not otherwise specified (NOS) is an aggressive B-cell lymphoma associated with EBV infection included in the WHO classification of lymphoid neoplasms since 2016. Although historically associated to poor prognosis, outcomes seem to have improved in the era of chemoimmunotherapy.

DIAGNOSIS

The diagnosis is established through meticulous pathological evaluation. Detection of EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) is the standard diagnostic method. The ICC 2022 specifies EBV+ DLBCL, NOS as occurring when >80% of malignant cells express EBER, whereas the WHO-HAEM5 emphasizes that the majority of tumor cells should be EBER positive without setting a defined threshold. The differential diagnosis includes plasmablastic lymphoma, DLBCL associated with chronic inflammation, primary effusion lymphoma, among others.

RISK-STRATIFICATION

The International Prognostic Index (IPI) and the Oyama score can be used for risk-stratification. The Oyama score includes age >70 years and presence of B symptoms. The expression of CD30 and PD-1/PD-L1 are emerging as potential adverse but targetable biomarkers.

MANAGEMENT

Patients with EBV+ DLBCL, NOS, should be staged and managed following similar guidelines than patients with EBV-negative DLBCL. EBV+ DLBCL, NOS, however, might have a worse prognosis than EBV-negative DLBCL in the era of chemoimmunotherapy. Therefore, inclusion of patients in clinical trials when available is recommended. There is an opportunity to study and develop targeted therapy in the management of patients with EBV+ DLBCL, NOS.

CRISPR-Cas9 Knockout Screens Identify DNA Damage Response Pathways and BTK as Essential for Cisplatin Response in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

The recurrence of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has been observed in 40% of cases. The standard of care for refractory/relapsed DLBCL (RR-DLBCL) is platinum-based treatment prior to autologous stem cell transplantation; however, the prognosis for RR-DLBCL patients remains poor. Thus, to identify genes affecting the cisplatin response in DLBCL, cisplatin-based whole-genome CRISPR-Cas9 knockout screens were performed in this study. We discovered DNA damage response (DDR) pathways as enriched among identified sensitizing CRISPR-mediated gene knockouts. In line, the knockout of the nucleotide excision repair genes XPA and ERCC6 sensitized DLBCL cells to platinum drugs irrespective of proliferation rate, thus documenting DDR as essential for cisplatin sensitivity in DLBCL. Functional analysis revealed that the loss of XPA and ERCC6 increased DNA damage levels and altered cell cycle distribution. Interestingly, we also identified BTK, which is involved in B-cell receptor signaling, to affect cisplatin response. The knockout of BTK increased cisplatin sensitivity in DLBCL cells, and combinatory drug screens revealed a synergistic effect of the BTK inhibitor, ibrutinib, with platinum drugs at low concentrations. Applying local and external DLBCL cohorts, we addressed the clinical relevance of the genes identified in the CRISPR screens. BTK was among the most frequently mutated genes with a frequency of 3-5%, and XPA and ERCC6 were also mutated, albeit at lower frequencies. Furthermore, 27-54% of diagnostic DLBCL samples had mutations in pathways that can sensitize cells to cisplatin. In conclusion, this study shows that XPA and ERCC6, in addition to BTK, are essential for the response to platinum-based drugs in DLBCL.

Autologous stem cell transplant in fit patients with refractory or early relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma that responded to salvage chemotherapy

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy is the new standard of care in fit patients with refractory or early relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). However, there may still be a role for salvage chemotherapy (ST) and autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) in certain circumstances (e.g., lack of resources for chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, chemosensitive relapses). We retrospectively studied 230 patients with refractory or early relapsed DLBCL who underwent ST and ASCT. The median line of ST was one (range, 1-3). Best response before ASCT was complete response in 106 (46%) and partial response in 124 (54%) patients. The median follow-up after ASCT was 89.4 months. The median progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 16.1 and 43.3 months, respectively. Patients relapsing between 6 to 12 months after frontline therapy had a numerically better median PFS (29.6 months) and OS (88.5 months). Patients who required one line of ST, compared to those requiring more than one line, had a better median PFS (37.9 vs. 3.9 months; P=0.0005) and OS (68.3 vs. 12.0 months; P=0.0005). Patients who achieved complete response had a better median PFS (71.1 vs. 6.3 months; P<0.0001) and OS (110.3 vs. 18.9 months; P<0.0001) than those in partial response. Patients who achieved complete response after one line of ST had the most favorable median PFS (88.5 months) and OS (117.2 months). Post-ASCT survival outcomes of patients with refractory or early relapsed DLBCL appeared reasonable and were particularly favorable in those who required only one line of ST to achieve complete response before ASCT, highlighting the role of this procedure in select patients with chemosensitive disease.

Real life clinical outcomes of relapsed/refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma in the rituximab era: The STRIDER study

BACKGROUND

Relapse and refractory (R/R) rates after first-line R-CHOP in diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCL) are ~40% and ~15% respectively.

AIMS

We conducted a retrospective real-world analysis aimed at evaluating clinical outcomes of R/R DLBCL patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Overall, 403 consecutive DLBCL patients treated in two large hematological centers in Torino, Italy were reviewed.

RESULTS

At a median follow up of 50 months, 5-year overall survival from diagnosis (OS-1) was 66.5%, and 2-year progression free survival (PFS-1) was 68%. 134 (34.4%) patients relapsed (n = 46, 11.8%) or were refractory (n = 88, 22.6%) to R-CHOP. Most employed salvage treatments included platinum salt-based regimens in 38/134 (28.4%), lenalidomide in 14 (10.4%). Median OS and PFS after disease relapse or progression (OS-2 and PFS-2) were 6.7 and 5.1 months respectively. No significant difference in overall response rate, OS-2 or PFS-2 in patients treated with platinum-based regimens versus other regimens was observed. By multivariate analysis, age between 60 and 80 years, germinal center B cell type cell of origin and extranodal involvement of <2 sites were associated with better OS-2.

DISCUSSION

Our findings confirm very poor outcomes of R/R DLBCL in the rituximab era. Widespread approval by national Medicine Agencies of novel treatments such as CAR-T cells and bispecific antibodies as second-line is eagerly awaited to improve these outcomes.

Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Axicabtagene Ciloleucel vs. Standard of Care in Second-Line Treatment for Relapsed/Refractory Large B-Cell Lymphoma in Spain

PURPOSE

To estimate the cost-effectiveness of axi-cel vs. salvage immunochemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem-cell transplantation (HDT+ASCT) for responders to second-line treatment for relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL).

METHODS

A partitioned survival mixture-cure model comprising three health states was used to estimate the costs, life years gained (LYG), and quality-adjusted life years (QALYs) accumulated over a lifetime horizon. Overall survival, event-free survival, and time to the next treatment with axi-cel and HDT+ASCT were derived from the ZUMA-7 study. The total costs (EUR, 2022) included drug acquisition and administration, ASCT, subsequent treatment, disease and adverse event management, and palliative care. The unitary costs were derived from local databases and the literature. A 3% discount rate was applied to the costs and outcomes.

RESULTS

Compared with HDT+ASCT, axi-cel provided higher LYG per patient (10.00 vs. 8.28 LYG/patient) and greater QALYs gained per patient (7.85 vs. 6.04 QALY/patient). The lifetime total costs were 343,581 EUR/patient with axi-cel vs. 257,994 EUR/patient with IQT+ASCT. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of axi-cel vs. HDT+ASCT was 49,627 EUR/LYG, and the incremental cost-utility ratio was 47,309 EUR/QALY. Sensitivity analyses confirmed the robustness of the model.

CONCLUSION

Axi-cel is a potentially cost-effective alternative to HDT+ASCT for the treatment of R/R DLBCL in Spain.

Combination Targeted Therapy in Relapsed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

BACKGROUND

The identification of oncogenic mutations in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has led to the development of drugs that target essential survival pathways, but whether targeting multiple survival pathways may be curative in DLBCL is unknown.

METHODS

We performed a single-center, phase 1b-2 study of a regimen of venetoclax, ibrutinib, prednisone, obinutuzumab, and lenalidomide (ViPOR) in relapsed or refractory DLBCL. In phase 1b, which included patients with DLBCL and indolent lymphomas, four dose levels of venetoclax were evaluated to identify the recommended phase 2 dose, with fixed doses of the other four drugs. A phase 2 expansion in patients with germinal-center B-cell (GCB) and non-GCB DLBCL was performed. ViPOR was administered every 21 days for six cycles.

RESULTS

In phase 1b of the study, involving 20 patients (10 with DLBCL), a single dose-limiting toxic effect of grade 3 intracranial hemorrhage occurred, a result that established venetoclax at a dose of 800 mg as the recommended phase 2 dose. Phase 2 included 40 patients with DLBCL. Toxic effects that were observed among all the patients included grade 3 or 4 neutropenia (in 24% of the cycles), thrombocytopenia (in 23%), anemia (in 7%), and febrile neutropenia (in 1%). Objective responses occurred in 54% of 48 evaluable patients with DLBCL, and complete responses occurred in 38%; complete responses were exclusively in patients with non-GCB DLBCL and high-grade B-cell lymphoma with rearrangements of MYC and BCL2 or BCL6 (or both). Circulating tumor DNA was undetectable in 33% of the patients at the end of ViPOR therapy. With a median follow-up of 40 months, 2-year progression-free survival and overall survival were 34% (95% confidence interval [CI], 21 to 47) and 36% (95% CI, 23 to 49), respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment with ViPOR was associated with durable remissions in patients with specific molecular DLBCL subtypes and was associated with mainly reversible adverse events. (Funded by the Intramural Research Program of the National Cancer Institute and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences of the National Institutes of Health and others; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT03223610.).

Novel Targets and Advanced Therapies in Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphomas

Since the introduction of rituximab in the late 1990s, significant progress has been made in advancing targeted therapies for B cell lymphomas, improving patients' chance of being cured and clinicians' therapeutic armamentarium. A better understanding of disease biology and pathogenic pathways, coupled with refinements in immunophenotypic and molecular diagnostics, have been instrumental in these achievements. While traditional chemotherapy remains fundamental in most cases, concerns surrounding chemorefractoriness and cumulative toxicities, particularly the depletion of the hemopoietic reserve, underscore the imperative for personalized treatment approaches. Integrating targeted agents, notably monoclonal antibodies, alongside chemotherapy has yielded heightened response rates and prolonged survival. A notable paradigm shift is underway with innovative-targeted therapies replacing cytotoxic drugs, challenging conventional salvage strategies like stem cell transplantation. This review examines the landscape of emerging targets for lymphoma cells and explores innovative therapies for diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). From Chimeric Antigen Receptor-T cells to more potent monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific antibodies, checkpoint inhibitors, and small molecules targeting intracellular pathways, each modality offers promising avenues for therapeutic advancement. This review aims to furnish insights into their potential implications for the future of DLBCL treatment strategies.

Molecular Subtypes and the Role of TP53 in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma and Richter Syndrome

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common lymphoid malignancy and a heterogeneous entity comprised of several biologically distinct subtypes. Recently, novel genetic classifications of DLBCL have been resolved based on common mutational patterns indicative of distinct pathways of transformation. However, the complicated and costly nature of the novel classifiers has precluded their inclusion into routine practice. In view of this, the status of the TP53 gene, which is mutated or deleted in 20-30% of the cases, has emerged as an important prognostic factor for DLBCL patients, setting itself apart from other predictors. TP53 genetic lesions are particularly enriched in a genetic subtype of DLBCL that shares genomic features with Richter Syndrome, highlighting the possibility of a subset of DLBCL arising from the transformation of an occult chronic lymphocytic leukemia-like malignancy, such as monoclonal B-cell lymphocytosis. Patients with TP53-mutated DLBCL, including those with Richter Syndrome, have a particularly poor prognosis and display inferior responses to standard chemoimmunotherapy regimens. The data presented in this manuscript argue for the need for improved and more practical risk-stratification models for patients with DLBCL and show the potential for the use of TP53 mutational status for prognostication and, in prospect, treatment stratification in DLBCL.

FDA Approval Summary: Lisocabtagene Maraleucel for Second-Line Treatment of Large B-Cell Lymphoma

In June 2022, the FDA extended the indication for lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel) to include adults with large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) who have refractory disease or relapse within 12 months of first-line chemoimmunotherapy (CIT), as well as transplant-ineligible adults with refractory disease or relapse after first-line CIT. Two clinical trials evaluating a single infusion of liso-cel preceded by lymphodepleting chemotherapy supported the second-line indications. TRANSFORM is a randomized, phase 3, open-label trial comparing liso-cel with standard second-line therapy, including planned autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), in 184 transplant-eligible patients. On interim analysis, event-free survival (EFS) by independent review committee (IRC) assessment was statistically significantly improved for the liso-cel arm, with a stratified hazard ratio of 0.34 [95% confidence interval (CI), 0.22-0.51; P < 0.0001]; the estimated median EFS was 10.1 months in the liso-cel arm versus 2.3 months in the control arm. PILOT is a single-arm phase 2 trial of second-line liso-cel in patients who were transplant-ineligible due to age or comorbidities but had adequate organ function for chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy. Among 61 patients who received liso-cel (median age, 74 years), the IRC-assessed complete response rate was 54% (95% CI, 41-67). Among patients achieving complete response, the estimated 1-year rate of continued response was 68% (95% CI, 45-83). Of the 268 patients combined who received liso-cel as second-line therapy for LBCL, cytokine release syndrome occurred in 45% (Grade 3, 1.3%) and CAR T-cell-associated neurologic toxicities occurred in 27% (Grade 3, 7%), warranting a continued risk evaluation and mitigation strategy.

Bispecific antibodies in the treatment of relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma

INTRODUCTION

The management of relapsed and/or refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) has witnessed dramatic changes in the recent past. Despite the availability of multiple novel immunotherapies in R/R setting, there remains an unmet need for off-the-shelf therapies, particularly in patients with primary refractory, multiply relapsed disease or those experiencing cellular immunotherapy failure. To harness the power of the T-cell mediated immunity, a novel class of drugs called bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) have been developed. These BsAbs are currently under investigation both in frontline and R/R setting and hold the potential to revolutionize the management of LBCL.

AREAS COVERED

This review article summarizes the currently available BsAbs, their mode of action, efficacy, and safety data for untreated and R/R LBCL. In addition, the role of these BsAbs in combination with currently available chemoimmunotherapy regimens is also discussed.

EXPERT OPINION

Two BsAbs have secured FDA approval for R/R LBCL, with expected approval of more BsAbs (including in earlier treatment lines). These drugs provide a highly efficacious and relatively safe treatment option for patients with highly pretreated disease including relapse after cellular immunotherapies. In addition, these BsAbs provide a platform for chemotherapy-free regimen for older/frail patients.

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).

Potential role of the P2X7 receptor in the proliferation of human diffused large B-cell lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common subtype of invasive non-Hodgkin lymphoma. 60-70% of patients are curable with current chemoimmunotherapy, whereas the rest are refractory or relapsed. Understanding of the interaction between DLBCL cells and tumor microenvironment raises the hope of improving overall survival of DLBCL patients. P2X7, a member of purinergic receptors P2X family, is activated by extracellular ATP and subsequently promotes the progression of various malignancies. However, its role in DLBCL has not been elucidated. In this study, the expression level of P2RX7 in DLBCL patients and cell lines was analyzed. MTS assay and EdU incorporation assay were carried out to study the effect of activated/inhibited P2X7 signaling on the proliferation of DLBCL cells. Bulk RNAseq was performed to explore potential mechanism. The results demonstrated high level expression of P2RX7 in DLBCL patients, typically in patients with relapse DLBCL. 2'(3')-O-(4-benzoylbenzoyl) adenosine 5-triphosphate (Bz-ATP), an agonist of P2X7, significantly accelerated the proliferation of DLBCL cells, whereas delayed proliferation was detected when administrated with antagonist A740003. Furthermore, a urea cycle enzyme named CPS1 (carbamoyl phosphate synthase 1), which up-regulated in P2X7-activated DLBCL cells while down-regulated in P2X7-inhibited group, was demonstrated to involve in such process. Our study reveals the role of P2X7 in the proliferation of DLBCL cells and implies that P2X7 may serve as a potential molecular target for the treatment of DLBCL.

The value of bispecific antibodies in relapsed and refractory DLBCL

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) may be cured with anti-CD20 based chemoimmunotherapy in the majority of cases, however, relapsed/refractory disease occurs in 30-40% patients, and despite significant recent therapeutic advances, continues to represent an unmet clinical need. Bispecific antibodies represent a novel class of therapy currently in development for relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma. This review discusses the background clinical need, mechanism of action, and clinical data including efficacy and toxicity for bispecific antibodies in DLBCL, focusing on the most advanced class in development; CD20 targeting T-cell engaging antibodies. Emerging possibilities for future use of bispecific antibodies is also discussed, including novel and cytotoxic combination regimens in relapsed and first-line settings.

Network meta-analysis of CAR T-Cell therapy for the treatment of 3L+ R/R LBCL after using published comparative studies

INTRODUCTION

Studies have compared chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies and salvage chemotherapy in relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) patients, but further evidence of their relative effectiveness is warranted.

METHODS

Our systematic review identified studies comparing efficacy and safety outcomes of axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel), lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel) and tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) trials to salvage chemotherapy cohorts in LBCL patients with ≥2 prior lines of treatment; and an extended evidence network included indirect comparisons comparing CAR T-cell therapies. We conducted network meta-analyzes using Bayesian hierarchical modeling.

RESULTS

Three studies comparing ZUMA-1 (axi-cel), TRANSCEND (liso-cel) and JULIET (tisa-cel) trials to salvage chemotherapy within the SCHOLAR-1 cohort were identified. Axi-cel (odds ratio [OR]:5.63; 95% credible interval [CrI]:2.66-12.42) and liso-cel (OR:4.26; 95%CrI:2.33-7.93) showed a significant increased overall response rate compared to tisa-cel, but not to one-another. Axi-cel demonstrated significant improvements in overall survival relative to liso-cel (hazard ratio [HR]:0.54; 95%CrI:0.37-0.79) and tisa-cel (HR:0.47; 95%CrI:0.26-0.88). Higher rates of grade ≥3 neurological events were observed with axi-cel than with tisa-cel and liso-cel.

CONCLUSIONS

We highlight important differences in clinical outcomes between CAR T-cell therapies. Axi-cel demonstrated improved overall survival compared to tisa-cel and liso-cel, and both axi-cel and liso-cel showed higher response rates compared to tisa-cel.

Glofitamab as a salvage treatment for B-cell lymphomas in the real world: A multicenter study in Taiwan

BACKGROUND

Glofitamab is a bispecific antibody with promise for treating relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphoma according to a phase 1/2 clinical trial. This study examined its real-world effectiveness.

METHODS

This was an investigator-initiated, multicenter retrospective study including 34 patients who had relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphomas after at least three prior lines of therapy and received glofitamab monotherapy in a compassionate use program in Taiwan between January 2021 and October 2022.

RESULTS

At a median follow-up of 15.9 months, 56% of patients responded to glofitamab and 23% achieved complete remission. Response to the previous line of therapy significantly correlated with response to glofitamab (p = .020). Most responses were durable; only five out of the 19 responders had documented disease recurrence at the data cutoff date. The estimated progression-free survival (PFS) was 3.2 months, and the estimated 1-year PFS was 33% for the entire cohort. PFS was better for responders than nonresponders (median PFS, 16.9 vs. 1.8 months; 1-year PFS, 60% vs. 0%). Forty-three cytokine release syndrome (CRS) events were observed, three of which were grade 3; all were manageable without glofitamab discontinuation. No immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity was reported. Among seven hepatitis B virus (HBV) carriers (six had antiviral prophylaxis) and 14 patients with remote HBV (four had antiviral prophylaxis), no HBV reactivation was observed.

CONCLUSIONS

In this real-world cohort, glofitamab exhibited effectiveness comparable to trial results without excessive CRS or new safety issues. With appropriate prophylaxis, glofitamab-treated patients with chronic or remote HBV infection are unlikely to experience virus reactivation.

Clinical evaluation of deep learning-enhanced lymphoma pet imaging with accelerated acquisition

PURPOSE

This study aims to evaluate the clinical performance of a deep learning (DL)-enhanced two-fold accelerated PET imaging method in patients with lymphoma.

METHODS

A total of 123 cases devoid of lymphoma underwent whole-body 18F-FDG-PET/CT scans to facilitate the development of an advanced SAU2Net model, which combines the advantages of U2Net and attention mechanism. This model integrated inputs from simulated 1/2-dose (0.07 mCi/kg) PET acquisition across multiple slices to generate an estimated standard dose (0.14 mCi/kg) PET scan. Additional 39 cases with confirmed lymphoma pathology were utilized to evaluate the model's clinical performance. Assessment criteria encompassed peak-signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity index (SSIM), a 5-point Likert scale rated by two experienced physicians, SUV features, image noise in the liver, and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR). Diagnostic outcomes, including lesion numbers and Deauville score, were also compared.

RESULTS

Images enhanced by the proposed DL method exhibited superior image quality (P < 0.001) in comparison to low-dose acquisition. Moreover, they illustrated equivalent image quality in terms of subjective image analysis and lesion maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) as compared to the standard acquisition method. A linear regression model with y = 1.017x + 0.110 (R 2 = 1.00 ${R^2} = \;1.00$ ) can be established between the enhanced scans and the standard acquisition for lesion SUVmax. With enhancement, increased signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), CNR, and reduced image noise were observed, surpassing those of the standard acquisition. DL-enhanced PET images got diagnostic results essentially equavalent to standard PET images according to two experienced readers.

CONCLUSION

The proposed DL method could facilitate a 50% reduction in PET imaging duration for lymphoma patients, while concurrently preserving image quality and diagnostic accuracy.

Appropriate Treatment Intensity for Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma in the Older Population: A Review of the Literature

Most patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) are >65 years of age, with the number of patients expected to increase in the coming years. A comprehensive geriatric assessment that carefully evaluates fitness status and comorbidities is essential for selecting the appropriate treatment intensity. Although generally healthy patients or those <80 years of age may benefit from standard immunochemotherapy, unfit/frail patients or patients >80 years old may require reduced-intensity chemotherapy or less-toxic drugs. Some new drugs are currently being tested as single or combined agents for first-line treatment, aiming to improve the outcomes of conventional chemotherapy. This review systematically collates and discusses the outcomes associated with the use of immunochemotherapy in older patients with DLBCL, as well as considering the impact of full-dose immunochemotherapy on quality of life in older and frail patients, summarizing the rationale for reduced dosing in the older population, and presenting recommendations for selecting patients likely to benefit from reduced dosing. If preliminary efficacy and safety data are confirmed in future clinical trials, non-chemotherapy-based immunotherapy approaches could become an alternative potentially curative option in frail patients and those >80 years of age with DLBCL.

Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Is There Still a Role for Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in the CAR T-Cell Era?

Recently, CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies have revolutionized treatment strategies for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). CAR T-cell therapy is increasingly used as a second-line therapy for patients with DLBCL with early relapse or refractoriness to initial chemoimmunotherapy and displaced high-dose chemotherapy, followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) as the standard of care for these patients. However, patients with late relapse or chemosensitive disease still benefit from autologous stem cell transplantation. We will review practice-changing studies in early relapse (ZUMA-7 and TRANSFORM) under consideration of the negative BELINDA trial, with a focus on register data, comparing CAR T-cell therapy and ASCT for patients responding to salvage therapy.

SOHO State of the Art Updates and Next Questions | Current Evidence and Future Directions for Bispecific Antibodies in Large B-Cell Lymphoma

The CD20xCD3 bispecific antibodies (bsAb) are "off-the-shelf" T-cell re-directing therapies that demonstrate remarkable single-agent clinical activity in B-cell lymphomas. Two agents, epcoritamab (epcor) and glofitamab (glofit) have recent global approvals for patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL (RR DLBCL) following 2 prior treatment lines. Both agents demonstrate activity in patients with prior exposure to chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) treatment. As multiyear follow-up data become available, it is clear that the majority of patients achieving complete remissions do not relapse and that outcomes are similar between epcor and glofit. CD20xCD3 bsAb have a safety profile that reflect their mechanism of action, with cytokine release syndrome (CRS) the key management issue. Neurotoxicity is far less common than observed with CD19-directed CAR-T. BsAbs are attractive, rapidly available, treatment options for patients with RR DLBCL, without the practical and financial challenges seen with autologous CAR-T therapies. Recent data also demonstrate the feasibility and potential efficacy of bsAb in combination with chemoimmunotherapy with large randomized trials evaluating bsAb-chemotherapy combinations underway. There are open questions about the future role of bsAB for LBCL, the optimal duration of therapy, optimal CRS risk mitigation strategies, and potential resistance mechanisms. In this review we seek to describe the current evidence for bsAb in LBCL, and offer opinion regarding these open questions.

Challenges and Lessons Learned in Autologous Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-Cell Therapy Development from a Statistical Perspective

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a human gene therapy product where T cells from a patient are genetically modified to enable them to recognize desired target antigen(s) more effectively. In recent years, promising antitumor activity has been seen with autologous CAR T cells. Since 2017, six CAR T-cell therapies for the treatment of hematological malignancies have been approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Despite the rapid progress of CAR T-cell therapies, considerable statistical challenges still exist for this category of products across all phases of clinical development that need to be addressed. These include (but not limited to) dose finding strategy, implementation of the estimand framework, use of real-world data in contextualizing single-arm CAR T trials, analysis of safety data and long-term follow-up studies. This paper is the first step in summarizing and addressing these statistical hurdles based on the development of the six approved CAR T-cell products.

Prognostic differences between carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine and melphalan (BEAM) and carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, melphalan and fludarabine (BEAMF) regimens before autologous stem cell transplantation plus chimeric antigen receptor T therapy in patients with refractory/relapsed B-cell non-Hodgkin-lymphoma

BACKGROUND AIMS

The combination therapy of autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT) and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CART) therapy has been employed to improve outcomes for relapsed or refractory (R/R) B-cell non-Hodgkin-lymphoma (B-NHL). The widely used conditioning regimen before ASCT plus CART therapy reported in the literature was carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine and melphalan (BEAM). However, whether adding fludarabine to the BEAM regimen (BEAMF) can improve the survival of patients with R/R B-NHL remains unknown.

METHODS

In total, 39 and 19 patients with R/R B-NHL were enrolled to compare clinical outcomes in the BEAM and BEAMF regimens before ASCT plus CD19/22 CART therapy, respectively.

RESULTS

The objective response (OR) rates at 3 months to BEAM and BEAMF regimens before ASCT plus CD19/22 CART therapy were 71.8% and 94.7%, respectively (P = 0.093). The BEAMF regimen showed a trend towards a superior duration of response compared with the BEAM regimen (P = 0.09). After a median follow-up of 28 months (range: 0.93-51.9 months), the BEAMF regimen demonstrated superior 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) (89.5% versus 63.9%; P = 0.048) and 2-year overall survival (OS) (100% vs 77.3%; P = 0.035) compared with the BEAM regimen. In the multivariable Cox regression analysis, OR at month 3 (responders) was remarkably correlated with better OS (hazard ratio: 0.112, P = 0.005) compared with OR (non-responders).

CONCLUSIONS

For patients with R/R B-NHL, the BEAMF regimen before ASCT plus CD19/22 CART therapy was correlated with superior PFS and OS than the BEAM regimen, and the BEAMF regimen is a promising alternative conditioning regimen for ASCT plus CAR-T therapy.

Current development of chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and high-grade B-cell lymphoma

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has become a commercially available treatment option for relapsed or refractory (r/r) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) with two or more lines of prior therapies, and recently for high-risk r/r DLBCL with one prior line of therapy. The successful development of CAR T-cell therapy for multiple relapsed DLBCL has led to a boom in subsequent trials that investigated its utility in patients with other r/r B-cell lymphoma subtypes. However, CAR T-cell therapy is a multistep process that includes leukapheresis and manipulation which take several weeks. Therefore, patients with rapidly progressing or bulky disease may not be able to complete the therapeutic regimen involving CAR T-cell products. This raises the question of the generalizability of the results of pivotal studies to the entire population. In this review, we summarize the development of CAR-T cell therapy for B-cell lymphoma and discuss strategies to further improve the clinical outcomes of this treatment.

High PPP4C expression predicts poor prognosis in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

The significance of Protein phosphatase 4 catalytic subunit (PPP4C) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) prognosis is not well understood. This work aimed to investigate the expression of PPP4C in DLBCL, investigate the correlation between PPP4C expression and clinicopathological parameters, and assess the prognostic significance of PPP4C. The mRNA expression of PPP4C was investigated using data from TCGA and GEO. To further analyze PPP4C expression, immunohistochemistry was performed on tissue microarray samples. Correlation analysis between clinicopathological parameters and PPP4C expression was conducted using Pearson's chi-square test or Fisher's exact test. Univariate and multivariate Cox hazard models were utilized to determine the prognostic significance of clinicopathological features and PPP4C expression. Additionally, survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier survival curves. In both TCGA and GEO datasets, we identified higher mRNA levels of PPP4C in tumor tissues compared to normal tissues. Upon analysis of various clinicopathological features of DLBCL, we observed a correlation between high PPP4C expression and ECOG score (P = 0.003). Furthermore, according to a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, patients with DLBCL who exhibit high levels of PPP4C had worse overall survival (P = 0.001) and progression-free survival (P = 0.002). PPP4C was shown to be an independent predictive factor for OS and PFS in DLBCL by univariate and multivariate analysis (P = 0.011 and P = 0.040). This study's findings indicate that high expression of PPP4C is linked to a poor prognosis for DLBCL and may function as an independent prognostic factors.

Adverse Reactions in Relapsed/Refractory B-Cell Lymphoma Administered with Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell Alone or in Combination with Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation

(1) Background: The combination of CAR-T with ASCT has been observed to enhance the efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy. However, the impact of this combination on adverse reactions is still uncertain. (2) Methods: Between January 2019 and February 2023, 292 patients diagnosed with r/r B-cell lymphoma received either CAR-T therapy alone or in combination with ASCT at our institution. We evaluated the incidence of CRS and CRES and utilized a logistic regression model to identify factors contributing to severe CRS (grade 3-4) and CRES (grade 3-4). (3) Results: The overall incidence of CRS and CRES was 78.9% and 8.2% in 147 patients receiving CAR-T alone, and 95.9% and 15.2% in 145 patients receiving CAR-T combined with ASCT, respectively. The incidence of overall CRS (p < 0.0001) and mild CRS (grade 1-2) (p = 0.021) was elevated in the ASCT combined with CAR-T group. No significant difference was observed in severe CRS and CRES between the groups. Among the 26 cases of lymphoma involving the central nervous system (CNS), 96.2% (25/26) developed CRS (15.4% grade 3-4), and 34.6% (9/26) manifested CRES (7.7% grade 3-4). Female patients had a lower incidence of severe CRS but a higher incidence of severe CRES. Lymphomas with CNS involvement demonstrated a higher risk of CRES compared to those without central involvement. (4) Conclusions: The combination of ASCT with CAR-T demonstrated a preferable option in r/r B-cell lymphoma without an increased incidence of severe CRS and CRES.

Glofitamab monotherapy induces high complete response rates and manageable safety in Chinese patients with heavily pretreated relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Not available.

Clinical pharmacology strategies to accelerate the development of polatuzumab vedotin and summary of key findings

The favorable benefit-risk profile of polatuzumab vedotin, as demonstrated in a pivotal Phase Ib/II randomized study (GO29365; NCT02257567), coupled with the need for effective therapies in relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), prompted the need to accelerate polatuzumab vedotin development. An integrated, fit-for-purpose clinical pharmacology package was designed to support regulatory approval. To address key clinical pharmacology questions without dedicated clinical pharmacology studies, we leveraged non-clinical and clinical data for polatuzumab vedotin, published clinical data for brentuximab vedotin, a similar antibody-drug conjugate, and physiologically based pharmacokinetic and population pharmacokinetic modeling approaches. We review strategies and model-informed outcomes that contributed to regulatory approval of polatuzumab vedotin plus bendamustine and rituximab in R/R DLBCL. These strategies made polatuzumab vedotin available to patients earlier than previously possible; depending on the strength of available data and the regulatory/competitive environment, they may also prove useful in accelerating the development of other agents.

The prognostic value of bone marrow retention index and bone marrow-to-liver ratio of baseline 18F-FDG PET/CT in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

OBJECTIVE

To determine prognostic value of bone marrow retention index (RI-bm) and bone marrow-to-liver ratio (BLR) measured on baseline dual-phase 18F-FDG PET/CT in a series of newly diagnosed patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated homogeneously with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) chemotherapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This prospective study enrolled 135 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL. All patients underwent dual-phase 18F-FDG PET/CT. The following PET parameters were calculated for both tumor and bone marrow: maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) at both time points (SUVmax early and SUVmax delayed), SUVmax increment (SUVinc), RI, and BLR. Patients were treated with R-CHOP regimen and response at end of treatment was assessed.

RESULTS

The final analysis included 98 patients with complete remission. At a median follow-up of 22 months, 57 patients showed no relapse, 74 survived, and 24 died. The 2-year relapse-free survival (RFS) values for patients with higher and lower RI-bm were 20% and 65.1%, respectively (p < 0.001), and for patients with higher and lower BLR were 30.2% and 69.6%, respectively (p < 0.001). The 2-year overall survival (OS) values for patients with higher and lower RI-bm were 60% and 76.3%, respectively (p = 0.023), and for patients with higher and lower BLR were 57.3% and 78.6%, respectively (p = 0.035). Univariate analysis revealed that RI-bm and BLR were independent significant prognostic factors for both RFS and OS (hazard ratio [HR] = 4.02, p < 0.001, and HR = 3.23, p < 0.001, respectively) and (HR = 2.83, p = 0.030 and HR = 2.38, p = 0.041, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Baseline RI-bm and BLR were strong independent prognostic factors in DLBCL patients.

CLINICAL RELEVANCE STATEMENT

Bone marrow retention index (RI-bm) and bone marrow-to-liver ratio (BLR) could represent suitable and noninvasive positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) parameters for predicting pretreatment risk in patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who were treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) chemotherapy.

KEY POINTS

• Bone marrow retention index (RI-bm) and bone marrow-to-liver ratio (BLR) are powerful prognostic variables in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. • High BLR and RI-bm are significantly associated with poor overall survival (OS) and relapse-free survival (RFS). • RI-bm and BLR represent suitable and noninvasive risk indicators in DLBCL patients.

Cellular therapies in older adults with hematological malignancies: A case-based, state-of-the-art review

Cellular therapies, including autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT), allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT), and chimeric antigen receptor- (CAR-) T cell therapies are essential treatment modalities for many hematological malignancies. Although their use in older adults has substantially increased within the past decades, cellular therapies represent intensive treatment approaches that exclude a large percentage of older adults due to comorbidities and frailty. Under- and overtreatment in older adults with hematologic malignancy is a challenge and many treatment decisions are influenced by chronologic age. The advent of efficient and well-tolerated newer treatment approaches for multiple myeloma has challenged the role of ASCT. In the modern era, there are no randomized clinical trials of transplant versus non-transplant strategies for patients ≥65 years. Nonetheless, ASCT is feasible for selected older patients and does not result in long-term compromise in quality of life. AlloHCT is the only curative approach for acute myeloid leukemia of intermediate and unfavourable risk but carries a significant risk for non-relapse mortality depending on comorbidities, general fitness, and transplant-specific characteristics, such as intensity of conditioning and donor choice. However, alloHCT is feasible in appropriately-selected older adults. Early referral for evaluation is strongly encouraged as this is the most obvious barrier. CAR-T cell therapies have shown unprecedented clinical efficacy and durability in relapsed and refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma. Its use is well tolerated in older adults, although evidence comes from limited case numbers. Whether patients who are deemed unfit for ASCT qualify for CAR-T cell therapy remains elusive, but the tolerability and efficacy of CAR-T cell therapy appears promising, especially for older patients. The evidence from randomized trials is strong in favor of using a comprehensive geriatric assessment (CGA) to reduce treatment-related toxicities and guide treatment intensity in the care for solid tumors; its use for evaluation of cellular therapies is less evidence-based. However, CGA can provide useful information on patients' fitness, resilient mechanisms, and reveal potential optimization strategies for compensating for vulnerabilities. In this narrative review, we will discuss key questions on cellular therapies in older adults based on illustrative patient cases.

Ferroptosis mechanisms and its novel potential therapeutic targets for DLBCL

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), a heterogeneous lymphoid malignancy, poses a significant threat to human health. The standard therapeutic regimen for patients with DLBCL is rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP), with a typical cure rate of 50-70%. However, some patients either relapse after complete remission (CR) or exhibit resistance to R-CHOP treatment. Therefore, novel therapeutic approaches are imperative for managing high-risk or refractory DLBCL. Ferroptosis is driven by iron-dependent phospholipid peroxidation, a process that relies on the transition metal iron, reactive oxygen species (ROS), and phospholipids containing polyunsaturated fatty acids-containing phospholipids (PUFA-PLs). Research indicates that ferroptosis is implicated in various carcinogenic and anticancer pathways. Several hematological disorders exhibit heightened sensitivity to cell death induced by ferroptosis. DLBCL cells, in particular, demonstrate an increased demand for iron and an upregulation in the expression of fatty acid synthase. Additionally, there exists a correlation between ferroptosis-associated genes and the prognosis of DLBCL. Therefore, ferroptosis may be a promising novel target for DLBCL therapy. In this review, we elucidate ferroptosis mechanisms, its role in DLBCL, and the potential therapeutic targets in DLBCL. This review offers novel insights into the application of ferroptosis in treatment strategies for DLBCL.

Challenges in Administering Salvage Therapy and Outcomes of Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Patients: A LMIC Real-World Study

Standard therapy for patients with Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (RR DLBCL) involves salvage chemotherapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant. However, information regarding the number of patients receiving salvage therapy and associated factors is not available from low/middle income countries (LMICs). All patients treated at our center with RR DLBCL from 2016 to 2021 were included in the study. Univariate and multivariate analyses was performed to find factors associated with the lack of receipt of salvage chemotherapy. Eighty-five patients were included in the study. Most patients had primary refractory disease (69.4%). Only 26 patients received standard salvage therapy, while the others (N = 59) received metronomic/palliative oral therapy. On univariate analysis, patients with an annual income below India's Gross National Income per capita (p = 0.014), an education level below Class XII (p = 0.025), Stage III/IV disease at relapse (p = 0.018) and CNS relapse (p = 0.027) were more likely to receive palliative therapy. Conversely, patients with a late relapse were more likely to receive salvage therapy (p = 0.001). On multivariate analysis, patients with Stage III/IV relapse (p = 0.030) and an education level less than Class XII (p = 0.012) were more likely to receive palliative therapy, while patients with a late relapse (p = 0.001) were more likely to receive salvage therapy. Patients who received salvage therapy had a longer Median OS than those who received palliative therapy (p < 0.001). Timing of relapse, stage at relapse and educational status of the patient are significant factors affecting access to effective therapy for patients with RR DLBCL in LMICs.

An inducible Cd79b mutation confers ibrutinib sensitivity in mouse models of Myd88-driven diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

ABSTRACT

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common aggressive lymphoma and constitutes a highly heterogenous disease. Recent comprehensive genomic profiling revealed the identity of numerous molecularly defined DLBCL subtypes, including a cluster which is characterized by recurrent aberrations in MYD88, CD79B, and BCL2, as well as various lesions promoting a block in plasma cell differentiation, including PRDM1, TBL1XR1, and SPIB. Here, we generated a series of autochthonous mouse models to mimic this DLBCL cluster and specifically focused on the impact of Cd79b mutations in this setting. We show that canonical Cd79b immunoreceptor tyrosine-based activation motif (ITAM) mutations do not accelerate Myd88- and BCL2-driven lymphomagenesis. Cd79b-mutant murine DLBCL were enriched for IgM surface expression, reminiscent of their human counterparts. Moreover, Cd79b-mutant lymphomas displayed a robust formation of cytoplasmic signaling complexes involving MYD88, CD79B, MALT1, and BTK. These complexes were disrupted upon pharmacological BTK inhibition. The BTK inhibitor-mediated disruption of these signaling complexes translated into a selective ibrutinib sensitivity of lymphomas harboring combined Cd79b and Myd88 mutations. Altogether, this in-depth cross-species comparison provides a framework for the development of molecularly targeted therapeutic intervention strategies in DLBCL.

Lymphoma relapse 1 year or later after immunochemotherapy in DLBCL patients: clinical features and outcome

Despite great advances in treatment, 30-40% of patients with DLBCL undergo relapses. Patients with a relapse within 1 year or beyond have a distinct outcome. Few clinical characteristics and survival data in the Chinese population have been published. We aimed to define the incidence and clinical features of DLBCL patients with very early relapse after front-line immunochemotherapy who may benefit greatly from the emerging chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy. Data of 564 DLBCL patients were analyzed. Among the 413 patients achieving a first complete remission, 59 underwent relapses: 32 patients (54.2%) relapsed within 1 year, and 27 patients (46.8%) relapsed 1 year or more. Patients relapsing within 1 year, in comparison with the other group, showed an inferior risk profile at diagnosis: elevated lactate dehydrogenase level (P = 0.002), high Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance score (P = 0.02), and high international prognosis index (P = 0.004). As expected, a worse overall survival was observed in the early relapse group. Multivariate analysis for OS showed that relapse within 1 year was an independent parameter for reduced overall survival (HR 0.241, P = 0.002).

Real-world outcomes following third or subsequent lines of therapy: A Danish population-based study on 189 patients with relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphomas

Outcome data of patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) beyond the second line are scarce outside of clinical trials. Novel therapies in the R/R setting have been approved based on single-arm trials, but results need to be contextualized by real-world outcomes. Medical records from 3753 Danish adults diagnosed with DLBCL were reviewed. Patients previously treated with rituximab and anthracycline-based chemotherapy who received the third or later line (3 L+) of treatment after 1 January 2015, were included. Only 189 patients with a median age of 71 years were eligible. The median time since the last line of therapy was 6 months. Patients were treated with either best supportive care (22%), platinum-based salvage therapy (13%), low-intensity chemotherapy (22%), in clinical trial (14%) or various combination treatments (32%). The 2-year OS-/PFS estimates were 25% and 12% for all patients and 49% and 17% for those treated with platinum-based salvage therapy. Age ≥70, CNS involvement, elevated LDH and ECOG ≥2 predicted poor outcomes, and patients with 0-1 of these risk factors had a 2-year OS estimate of 65%. Only a very small fraction of DLBCL patients received third-line treatment and were eligible for inclusion. Outcomes were generally poor, but better in intensively treated, fit young patients with limited disease.

Outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) is a currative treatment modality for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) because of the intrinsic graft-versus-lymphoma effect. However, limited information is available regarding which patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL are likely to benefit from allo-HSCT. We retrospectively analyzed data from 1268 DLBCL patients who received allo-HSCT. The overall survival and progression-free survival (PFS) rates were 30.3% and 21.6% at 3 years, respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that stable or progressive disease at transplantation, male patient, poorer performance status at transplantation, and shorter intervals from previous transplantation were associated independently with a lower PFS. Four prognostic factors were used to construct a prognostic index for PFS, predicting 3-year PFS of 55.4%, 43.7%, 20.4% and 6.6%, respectively. The prognostic model predicted relapse rates following allo-HSCT accordingly (P < 0.0001), whereas did not predict transplantation-related mortality (P = 0.249). The prognostic index can identify a subgroup of DLBCL patients who benefit from allo-HSCT and it is worthwhile to evaluate whether this model is also applicable to patients undergoing allo-HSCT in cases of relapse after chimeric antigen receptor engineered T-cell therapy, although the application of allo-HSCT has been declining with the increase of novel immunotherapies.

A Systematic Literature Review of Health-Related Quality of Life Outcomes and Associated Utility Values in Relapsed and/or Refractory Large B Cell Lymphoma

BACKGROUND

In this ever-expanding treatment landscape, there is a lack of consolidated health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes and utility reports in relapsed or refractory (R/R) large B cell lymphoma (LBCL) to inform health care policy and decision-maker assessments for both old and new products. These assessments can have a direct effect on what treatment options are available to patients and physicians.

OBJECTIVE

A systematic literature review (SLR) was performed to understand the HRQOL evidence for treatments in R/R LBCL and identify associated health utility values.

METHODS

The SLR searched and screened literature published from 1 January 2003 to 2 May 2022. Studies were screened based on Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcome, Study design criteria established a priori and were assessed by two independent reviewers; quality assessments of the evidence were performed in accordance with health technology assessment recommendations from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence. Several types of therapies were included, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell products (lisocabtagene maraleucel, axicabtagene ciloleucel, tisagenlecleucel), novel therapies (selinexor, nivolumab, polatuzumab vedotin, and bendamustine), salvage therapies, and rituximab.

RESULTS

The review identified 33 unique studies reporting HRQOL, including 15 economic studies that reported health state utility values, 9 clinical trials, 7 health technology assessment reports, and 1 each of a vignette-based study and a point-in-time survey. Improvements in general and/or lymphoma-specific HRQOL measures were observed with CAR T cell therapy in both the second-line and third-line or later settings. On-treatment utility values for CAR T cell therapies ranged from 0.50 to 0.74. Values for remission/progression-free survival (0.70-0.90) and for disease progression (0.39-0.59) were similar across studies. For novel therapies, utility values were 0.83 for progression-free survival and ranged from 0.39 to 0.71 for disease progression. On-treatment utility values for salvage chemotherapy ranged from 0.63 to 0.67.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall, the evidence synthesized in this SLR provides a comprehensive understanding of the HRQOL evidence in R/R LBCL. This article identified several sources for utility values in the published literature showing variation in the HRQOL outcomes for patients across a variety of therapeutics. Treatment of R/R LBCL with CAR T cell therapies was associated with improvement in health utility values. Mixed results were found for novel therapies and salvage therapies. More data are needed as new therapies are used in this patient population to inform treatment decision-making.

Clinical Outcomes in Patients With DLBCL Treated With R-CHOP According to Radiotherapy and Interim PET Response

Background/Aim

Interim positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT) scan is a valuable tool for assessing the early metabolic response to chemotherapy in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Although radiotherapy is an effective treatment for lymphoma, especially for local tumor control, the role of consolidative radiotherapy in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remains controversial. This study analyzed the clinical outcomes of patients with DLBCL treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP), stratified by interim PET response and the administration of radiotherapy.

Patients and Methods

We conducted a retrospective review of 107 patients with DLBCL treated with R-CHOP chemotherapy between January 2012 and December 2016. Overall survival (OS), recurrence-free survival (RFS), and freedom from disease progression (FFDP) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method and compared using the log-rank test.

Results

Forty-six patients were included in this analysis, with a median follow-up time of 65.9 months (range=4.7-125.3 months). The metabolic CR (mCR) group exhibited superior OS, RFS, and FFDP compared with the metabolic PR (mPR) group (p=0.003, p=0.001, and p=0.008, respectively). The 1-, 2-, and 5-year FFDP were 92.97%, 89.3%, and 85.6%, respectively, in the mCR group and 78.6%, 61.9%, and 44.2%, respectively, in the mPR group. In subgroup analysis, the FFDP of the mPR group without radiotherapy was significantly lower than that of the other groups (mCR with/without radiotherapy and mPR with radiotherapy, p=0.001).

Conclusion

Consolidative radiation therapy using interim PET can benefit patients who do not achieve mCR. Further well-controlled prospective randomized trials are required.

Noninvasive minimal residual disease assessment in relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma using digital droplet PCR

Although several promising approaches for the treatment of relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (rrDLBCL) have been approved recently, it remains unclear which patients will ultimately achieve long-term responses. Circulating tumor (ct)DNA sequencing has emerged as a valuable tool to assess minimal residual disease (MRD). Correlations between MRD and outcomes have been shown in previously untreated DLBCL, but data on the repeated assessment of MRD in the dynamic course of rrDLBCL is limited. Here, we present an approach leveraging cost- and time-sensitivity of digital droplet (dd)PCR to repeatedly assess MRD in rrDLBCL and present proof-of-principle for its ability to predict outcomes.

Blinatumomab consolidation post-autologous stem cell transplantation in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

ABSTRACT

Outcomes in patients with relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who undergo autologous stem cell transplant (auto-SCT) are poor. Blinatumomab is a CD3/CD19 bispecific T-cell engager that directs cytotoxic T cells to CD19+ cells. Here, we performed a pilot study of blinatumomab consolidation after auto-SCT for 14 patients with DLBCL or transformed follicular lymphoma. All patients underwent standard-of-care auto-SCT with carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan (BEAM) conditioning followed by 1 cycle (4 weeks continuous infusion) of blinatumomab consolidation starting at day 42 after auto-SCT. All 14 patients treated on study completed BEAM auto-SCT and 1 cycle of posttransplant blinatumomab. Five patients developed grade 1 cytokine release syndrome (CRS), with no grade 2 or higher CRS. Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome was not observed. Patients were followed up for 3 years after auto-SCT, with median follow-up of 37 (range, 12-65) months. One-hundred days after auto-SCT (1 month after blinatumomab consolidation), 12 patients (86%) had achieved complete remission. At 1 year after auto-SCT, 7 patients (50%) remained in CR, and 1 patient had died of progressive disease. Patients who relapsed had a lower CD8:CD4 T-cell ratio before starting blinatumomab than patients who remained in remission. This pilot study demonstrates blinatumomab consolidation after auto-SCT is safe and well tolerated. Strategies to increase the CD8:CD4 ratio and use additional cycles of consolidation in a larger randomized trial are needed to confirm the efficacy of consolidation with blinatumomab after auto-SCT. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT03072771.