Long-term results of Waldenström macroglobulinaemia treatment by bendamustine and rituximab: A study on behalf of the French Innovative Leukemia Organization (FILO)

The bendamustine-rituximab (BR) schedule is an efficient first-line therapy in Waldenström macroglobulinaemia (WM). A previous analysis of 69 patients who received this treatment confirmed a high response rate and good progression-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS). With a median follow-up of 76.1 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 69.9-80.6), 5-year outcome is still excellent at 66.63% (95% CI 56.09-79.17) for PFS and 80.01% (95% CI 70.82-90.41) for OS. The rate of secondary cancers is 17.66% (IQR 7.99-27.64) at 66 months. Relapsed patients who received ibrutinib as second-line clearly benefited from this schedule. This confirms current recommendations suggesting BR long-term efficacy as first-line option in WM.

Real-life effectiveness of carfilzomib in patients with relapsed multiple myeloma receiving treatment in the context of early access: The CARMYN study

The real-life retrospective observational study CARMYN aimed at investigating the long-term efficacy and safety of carfilzomib in combination with dexamethasone and lenalidomide (KRd, 159 patients). These patients (62% in first and 38% in second relapse, median age 62 yo) were treated between 02/2014 and 02/2017. Most had been pre-exposed to bortezomib (98.2%) and to an IMID (75.4%). At the time of collection, 90% had permanently discontinued carfilzomib. Data collection was conducted from January to July 2021 in 27 participating sites, after a median of 39 months follow-up. For patients treated with KRd, an overall response rate of 78.4% translated in a median progression free survival (PFS) of 24.0 months (95% CI 18.8-27.6) and a median overall survival (OS) of 51.1 months (95% CI 41.3-not reached). Results were poorer but difficult to interpret in the small cohort of Kd recipients. The study is one of the longest real-life studies of carfilzomib treatment in patients in first or second relapse. CARMYN confirmed the real-life long-term efficacy of carfilzomib in combination with lenalidomide and dexamethasone with results similar to those of clinical trials. The KRd regimen is thus an option to consider for late relapses in the current context of MM management.

Comparison of efficacy and toxicity according to etoposide and cytarabine dosing in BEAM conditioning followed by autologous stem cell transplantation in Hodgkin lymphoma

The combination of carmustine, etoposide, cytarabine, and melphalan (BEAM) followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is a commonly used intensification regimen for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma. As etoposide and cytarabine dosing are not defined, we conducted a retrospective, multicenter study, to compare efficacy and toxicity in 130 patients with Hodgkin lymphoma receiving etoposide and cytarabine at either 200 mg/m2/d (n = 50), 400 mg/m2/d (n = 35), or etoposide 200 mg/m2/d and cytarabine 400 mg/m2/d (n = 45). Progression-free survival and overall survival were not associated with the intensity of conditioning. Increased conditioning intensity was associated with longer duration of thrombocytopenia, a higher number of transfused RBC and platelet units and a higher frequency of mucositis, but serious adverse events or infectious complications were not increased. The intensity of BEAM regimen was not associated with survival but with the rate of cytopenia and mucositis advocating for the use of lower dosing in frail patients.

Salvage therapy with brentuximab-vedotin and bendamustine for patients with R/R PTCL: a retrospective study from the LYSA group

Patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) have a poor prognosis. Bendamustine (B) and brentuximab-vedotin (Bv) have shown interesting results in this setting. However, little information is available about their efficacy in combination. This multicenter and retrospective study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the combination of BBv in patients with noncutaneous R/R PTCL among 21 LYSA centers in France and Belgium. The primary objective was the overall response rate. A total of 82 patients with R/R PTCL were included. The best overall response rate (ORR) was 68%, with 49% of patients in complete response (CR). In multivariable analysis, only the disease status after the last regimen (relapse vs refractory) was associated with the response with an ORR of 83% vs 57%. Median duration of response was 15.4 months for patients in CR. With a median follow-up of 22 months, the median progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 8.3 and 26.3 months respectively. Moreover, patients in CR, who underwent an allogeneic transplant, had a better outcome than patients who did not with a median PFS and OS of 19.3 vs 4.8 months and not reached vs 12.4 months, respectively. Fifty-nine percent of patients experienced grade 3/4 adverse events that were mainly hematologic. BBv is highly active in patients with R/R PTCL and should be considered as a one of the best options of immunochemotherapy salvage combination in this setting and particularly as a bridge to allogeneic transplant for eligible patients.

Real-world study of the efficacy and safety of belantamab mafodotin (GSK2857916) in relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma based on data from the nominative ATU in France: the IFM 2020-04 study

Belantamab mafodotin (BM) is an anti-BCMA antibody-drug conjugate (GSK2857916) that represents an alternative option in multiple myeloma. We sought to assess the efficacy and safety of BM in a real-world setting in patients who benefited from an early access program. We conducted an observational, retrospective, multicenter study. Eligibility criteria were treatment of relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) in monotherapy in adult patients who have received at least three lines of therapy previously, including at least one immunomodulatory agent (IMiD), a proteasome inhibitor (PI) and an anti-CD38 monoclonal antibody, and whose disease progressed during the last treatment period. The primary endpoint of the study is to assess the overall survival (OS). Between November 2019 and December 2020, 106 patients were treated with BM; 97 were eligible for the efficacy evaluation and 104 for safety. The median age was 66 (range, 37-82) years. High-risk cytogenetics were identified in 40.9% of patients. Fifty-five (56.7%) patients were triple-class refractory and 11 (11.3%) were penta-class refractory. The median number of prior lines of treatment was five (range, 3-12). The median number of BM cycles administered was three (range, 1-22). The overall response rate at best response was 38.1% (37/97). The median OS was 9.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 5.9-15.3), and median progression-free survival was 3.5 months (95% CI: 1.9-4.7). The median duration of response was 9 months (range, 4.65-10.4). Treatment was delayed for 55 (52.9%) patients including 36.5% for treatment-related toxicity. Ophthalmic adverse events, mainly grade ≤2, were the most common toxicity (48%). The occurrence of keratopathy was 37.5%. Overall, our data are concordant with the results from DREAMM-2 in terms of efficacy and safety on a non-biased population.

Diagnosis and prognosis are supported by integrated assessment of next-generation sequencing in chronic myeloid malignancies. A real-life study

Next-generation sequencing (NGS) is used to investigate the presence of somatic mutations. The utility of incorporating routine sequencing to guide diagnosis and therapeutic decisions remains unclear. We report the findings of an observational, multicenter study that aimed to assess the impact of somatic mutation testing by NGS in a reallife setting of chronic myeloid malignancies. A total of 177 patients were enrolled, partitioned into two overlapping groups. In group A (n=94), the indication was to search for clonal hematopoiesis, in a context of suspected myelodysplastic syndrome or myeloproliferative neoplasia. In group B (n=95), the theranostic impact of somatic mutations was studied. A panel of 34 genes was used on DNA extracted from blood or bone marrow samples. Within group A, the detection of clonal hematopoiesis supported the diagnosis of chronic myeloid malignancies for 31 patients while the absence of clonal hematopoiesis ruled out the suspected diagnosis in 47 patients. Within group B, NGS identified prognostically relevant somatic mutations in 32 patients, which had a therapeutic impact in 18 cases. By determining the presence or absence of somatic mutations, the application of NGS in daily practice was found to be useful for an integrated final diagnosis in 83% of the patients. Moreover, the search for somatic mutations had a prognostic impact that led to treatment modification in 19% of the cases. This study outlines the fact that adequate implementation of new investigations may have a significant positive medico-economic impact by enabling appropriate management of patients.

Subcutaneous Rituximab-MiniCHOP Compared With Subcutaneous Rituximab-MiniCHOP Plus Lenalidomide in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma for Patients Age 80 Years or Older

PURPOSE

The prognosis of elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is worse than that of young patients. An attenuated dose of chemotherapy-cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone plus rituximab (R-miniCHOP)-is a good compromise between efficacy and safety in very elderly patients. In combination with R-CHOP (R2-CHOP), lenalidomide has an acceptable level of toxicity and may mitigate the negative prognosis of the non-germinal center B-cell-like phenotype. The Lymphoma Study association conducted a multicentric, phase III, open-label, randomized trial to compare R-miniCHOP and R2-miniCHOP.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients of age 80 years or older with untreated DLBCL were randomly assigned into the R-miniCHOP21 group or the R2-miniCHOP21 group for six cycles and stratified according to CD10 expression and age. The first cycle of rituximab was delivered by IV on D1 after a prephase and then delivered subcutaneously on D1 of cycles 2-6. Lenalidomide was delivered at a dose of 10 mg once daily on D1-D14 of each cycle. The primary end point was overall survival (OS).

RESULTS

A total of 249 patients with new DLBCL were randomly assigned (127 R-miniCHOP and 122 R2-miniCHOP). The median age was 83 years (range, 80-96), and 55% of the patients were classified as non-GCB. The delivered dose for each R-miniCHOP compound was similar in both arms. Over a median follow-up of 25.1 months, the intention-to-treat analysis revealed that R2-miniCHOP did not improve OS (2-year OS 66% in R-miniCHOP and 65.7% in R2-miniCHOP arm, P = .98) in the overall population or in the non-GCB population. Grade 3-4 adverse events occurred in 53% of patients with R-miniCHOP and in 81% of patients with R2-miniCHOP.

CONCLUSION

The addition of lenalidomide to R-miniCHOP does not improve OS. Rituximab delivered subcutaneously was safe in this population.

Blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasms: results of an international survey on 398 adult patients

The purpose of this study is to describe the clinical and prognostic features and to evaluate the outcome of different therapeutic approaches among patients with blastic plasmacytoid dendritic cell neoplasm (BPDCN) who have been diagnosed and treated in different institutions. A total of 398 patients from 75 centers were included in the study. Treatment consisted of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)-like regimens in 129 (32.8%) patients and acute leukemia (AL)-like regimens in 113 (23.5%) patients. In 61 (15.5%) and 16 (4.1%) patients, chemotherapy was followed by allogeneic and autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), respectively. Twenty-seven (6.9%) patients received radiotherapy, 6 (1.5%) received new agents, and 62 (15.7%) received palliative care. After a median follow-up of 12 months, median overall survival (OS) was 18 months. Patients who received NHL/AL-like regimens, followed by allogeneic HSCT, had the best outcome; median OS was not reached. OS was 65 months for patients who underwent autologous HSCT; 18 months and 14 months, respectively, for those treated with AL-like and NHL-like regimens without consolidation; and 4 months for those receiving palliative care (P < .001). In BPDCN, chemotherapy with lymphoma- or AL-like regimens, followed by transplantation, represents the therapeutic strategy associated with the best outcome. Consolidation with allogeneic HSCT, when feasible, appears superior to autologous HSCT.

Lymphomas with kidney involvement: the French multicenter retrospective LyKID study

The LyKID study is a nationwide survey in France of lymphoma patients with renal involvement based on biopsy and/or imaging, to evaluate its impact on disease outcome and renal function. A total of 87 adult cases of B or T-cell lymphomas were retrospectively analyzed. Interstitial topography was observed in most of the kidney biopsies (54/66; 80%). Kidney failure (glomerular filtration rate <60 mL/min/1.73 m²) was present in 47% of patients and was associated with non-significantly different outcome. After lymphoma treatment, 44% of patients had persistent chronic kidney failure (CKF); kidney failure at diagnosis was the only parameter associated with CKF in multivariate analysis. DLBCL (diffuse large B-cell lymphomas) represented half of the series, with noticeably CNS (central neurological system) relapse in 17% patients, while fewer than one of two patients had received CNS prophylaxis. To our knowledge, the LyKID study represents the largest published non-autopsy lymphoma series with renal involvement.

Aquagenic pruritus in essential thrombocythemia is associated with a higher risk of thrombosis

BACKGROUND

Thromboses and phenotypic evolutions (leukemia, myelofibrosis) are the most frequent complications in polycythemia vera (PV) and essential thrombocythemia (ET). Aquagenic pruritus (AP) is not only PV symptom, but is also present in ET. The presence of pruritus in PV is associated with a lower risk of arterial thrombosis.

AIMS

To date, no equivalent study has been done to analyse the impact of AP for ET patients.

MATERIALS & METHODS

We used the data from our cohort of patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms seen in our institution (OBENE database, NCT02897297). We collect information at diagnosis, presence or not of AP and all types of complications during their follow-up. To avoid masked PV, all JAK2 positive cases were tested isotopic red mass cell if appropriate.

RESULTS

Among 396 ET patients, presence of AP was found in 42 (10.6%). ET patients with AP were more proliferative, more symptomatic at diagnosis and more difficult to treat. Furthermore, they presented increased risk of thromboses (30.9 versus 17%, P = .03; OR = 2.2 [1.01;4.66]) and phenotypic evolutions (33.3 versus 13.3%, P = .0007; OR = 3.2 [1.44;6.77]), during follow-up.

DISCUSSION

Aquagenic pruritus is classically associated to PV. But we confirmed here that AP is also present in ET and characterizes patients with higher risk of morbidity (thrombotic events and phenotypic evolutions).

CONCLUSIONS

The systematic determination of the presence of AP in ET patients should permit us to better identify these high-risk patients for better management and follow-up.

Immune-checkpoint inhibitors to treat cancers in specific immunocompromised populations: a critical review

INTRODUCTION

Because of their efficacy against numerous cancers, immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), anti-cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen-4, and anti-programmed cell death monoclonal antibodies are being used ever more often in oncology. However, some patients were excluded from clinical trials because of their comorbidities despite their potentially higher cancer frequencies, as is the case for immunocompromised patients. Areas covered: We analyzed reported preclinical and clinical information and evaluated the risk/benefit ratio for four immunocompromised populations: people living with human immunodeficiency virus (PLHs), solid-organ transplant recipients, recipients of hematopoietic stem-cell allografts, and patients with autoimmune diseases. Expert commentary: Information available in the literature is fragmentary and scarce, making it difficult to evaluate the risk/benefit ratio. It can, nonetheless, be noted that ICI use in PLHs seems possible. For solid-organ transplant recipients, the risk for the graft seems elevated. For the other two populations, it is difficult to conclude at this time.

Outcome of Ph negative myeloproliferative neoplasms transforming to accelerated or leukemic phase

Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN) are chronic disorders that can sometimes evolve into accelerated or leukemic phases. We retrospectively identified 122 patients with such blastic phases. The overall median survival was four months: 10.2 months for patients treated with intensive treatments compared to three months for best supportive care (p = .005). Azacytidine, intensive chemotherapies, or allogeneic stem cell transplantation gave the highest median survivals with 9, 10.2, and 19.4 months, respectively. Accelerated phases (AP) had a longer median survival compared to acute leukemia (4.8 months vs. 3.1 months; p = .02). In this retrospective and observational study, we observe that the longest survivals are seen in patients eligible for intensive treatments. Azacytidine shows interesting results in patients non-fit for intensive chemotherapy. Supportive care should probably be restricted to elderly patients and those with unfavorable karyotype. An early diagnosis of AP could also result in a better survival rate.

Early discontinuation of empirical antibacterial therapy in febrile neutropenia: the ANTIBIOSTOP study

INTRODUCTION

Immediate empirical antibiotic therapy is mandatory in febrile chemotherapy-induced neutropenia, but its optimal duration is unclear, especially in patients with fever of unknown origin (FUO).

OBJECTIVES

The primary objective of this 20-month prospective observational study was to evaluate the feasibility and safety of short-term antibiotic treatment in afebrile or febrile patients exhibiting FUO, irrespective of their neutrophil count. The secondary objective was to describe the epidemiology of all episodes of febrile neutropenia.

METHODS

In the first phase of the study, empirical antibiotic therapy in FUO patients was stopped after 48 h of apyrexia, in accordance with European Conference on Infections in Leukaemia guidelines (n = 45). In the second phase of the study, antibiotics were stopped no later than day 5 for all FUO patients, regardless of body temperature or leukocyte count (n = 37).

RESULTS

Two hundred and thirty-eight cases of febrile neutropenia in 123 patients were included. Neither the composite endpoint (p = .11), nor each component (in-hospital mortality (p = .80), intensive care unit admission (p = 0.48), relapse of infection ≤48 h after discontinuation of antibiotics (p = .82)) differed between the two FUO groups. Violation of protocol occurred in 17/82 episodes of FUO without any major impact on statistical results. Twenty-six (57.3%) and 22 (59.5%) FUO episodes did not relapse during hospital-stay (p = 1), and nine (20%) and five (13.5%) presented another FUO, respectively. One hundred and fifty-six episodes of febrile neutropenia (65.5%) were clinically or microbiologically documented, including 85 bacteremia.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that early discontinuation of empirical antibiotics in FUO is safe for afebrile neutropenic patients.

Non-adherence to treatment with cytoreductive and/or antithrombotic drugs is frequent and associated with an increased risk of complications in patients with polycythemia vera or essential thrombocythemia (OUEST study)

The purpose of this study was to identify the incidence, causes and impact of non-adherence to oral and subcutaneous chronic treatments for patients with polycythemia vera or essential thrombocythemia. Patients receiving cytoreductive drugs for polycythemia vera or essential thrombocythemia were recruited at our institution (Observatoire Brestois des Néoplasies Myéloprolifératives registry). They completed a one-shot questionnaire designed by investigators (Etude de l’Observance Thérapeutique et des Effets Secondaires des Traitements study). Data about complications (thrombosis, transformation and death) at any time in the patient’s life (before diagnosis, up until consultation and after the completion of the questionnaire) were collected. Sixty-five (22.7%) of 286 patients reported poor adherence (<90%) to their treatment with cytoreductive drugs and 46/255/18%) also declared non-adherence to antithrombotic drugs. In total, 85/286 patients (29.7%) declared they did not adhere to their treatment. Missing an intake was rare and was mostly due to forgetfulness especially during occupational travel and holidays. Patients who did not adhere to their treatment were characterized by younger age, living alone, having few medications but a high numbers of pills and determining their own schedule of drug intake. Having experienced thrombosis or hematologic evolution did not influence the adherence rate. Non-adherence to oral therapy was associated with a higher risk of phenotypic evolution (7.3 versus 1.8%, P=0.05). For patients treated for polycythemia vera or essential thrombocythemia, non-adherence to cytoreductive and/or antithrombotic therapies is frequent and is influenced by age, habitus and concomitant treatments, but not by disease history or treatment side effects. Phenotypic evolution seems to be more frequent in the non-adherent group.

Fungal arthritis of the hip in patient with aplastic anaemia

Aplastic anaemia is a rare and serious disease characterised by severe immunosuppression due to prolonged neutropenia and the use of immunosuppressants such as corticosteroids, cyclosporine and antithymocyte globulin. Candida species are pathogens of low virulence colonising the skin and the digestive tract of many healthy individuals. Nonetheless, the incidence of invasive candidal infection is increasing. The widespread use of central intravascular catheters, invasive procedures, broad-spectrum antibiotics and immunosuppresion predisposes patients to these infections. Eye, skin, cardiac, liver, spleen and brain infection are the most common sites of invasive candidiasis. Bone and joint infections are less frequent and Candida hip septic arthritis is extremely rare. We present here a patient treated for aplastic anaemia, who developed fungal arthritis of the hip and systemic candidaemia.