Combination of Atezolizumab and Obinutuzumab in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Follicular Lymphoma and Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Results from a Phase 1b Study

Follicular lymphoma: contemporary clinical management with a focus on recent therapeutic advances

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common type of indolent lymphoma, and the prognosis is favorable for most patients. However, FL remains generally incurable, and relapse is common. Patients are at risk of developing treatment-resistant lymphoma, particularly when early disease progression occurs or transformation to aggressive lymphoma takes place. Furthermore, lymphoma is the leading cause of death among patients with FL, emphasizing the need for more effective treatment strategies. This review summarizes therapeutic approaches for FL, with a focus on therapies currently in development. Recent biological insights have driven the emergence of highly effective treatments, including novel immune and targeted therapies. Clinical trials are assessing the efficacy of these novel approaches, which are increasingly used in earlier line settings. In the future, FL therapy is expected to rely less on chemotherapeutic methods, extend remission, and potentially enable cures for a growing number of patients.

Atezolizumab, obinutuzumab and venetoclax for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory B non-Hodgkin lymphoma: Final analysis of a phase II trial from the LYSA group

Developing new therapeutic regimens for relapsed/refractory (R/R) B non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients remains a significant unmet clinical need. Our objective was to evaluate atezolizumab (ATE), obinutuzumab (OBI) and venetoclax (VEN) combination in patients with R/R NHL who had received at least one prior anti-CD20-containing immunochemotherapy regimen. We report here the final analysis of the phase II LYSA-promoted multicentre trial (NCT03276468) of this combination in follicular lymphoma (FL, n = 58), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL, n = 58) and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL, n = 20). The primary end-point for FL and DLBCL was not met: ATE, OBI, and VEN resulted in an overall response rate (ORR) at the end of induction (EOI) of 53.6% for FL (cohort 1) and 23.6% for DLBCL (cohort 2) when a minimum of 70% and 48% was expected respectively. The median progression-free survival was 11.0 and 2.7 months in cohorts 1 and 2 respectively. In cohort 3 (MZL), the ORR at the EOI was evaluated at 66.7%. The most frequent adverse events (AEs) were cytopenias. We also observed 7.4% of autoimmune AE imputable to the combination. In this phase II study, ATE, OBI and VEN demonstrated moderate efficacy and a manageable toxicity profile when used as induction and maintenance therapy.

Nivolumab and rituximab in treatment-naïve follicular lymphoma: the phase 2 1st FLOR study

ABSTRACT

Follicular lymphoma (FL) outcomes are influenced by host immune activity. CD20-directed therapy plus programmed cell death 1 inhibition (PD-1i) increases T-cell tumor killing and natural killer cell antibody-dependent cell cytotoxicity. Mounting evidence supports immune priming using PD-1i before cancer directed agents. Our multicenter, phase 2 1st FLOR study enrolled 39 patients with previously untreated advanced-stage FL to receive 4 cycles of nivolumab (240 mg), then 4 cycles of 2-weekly nivolumab plus rituximab 375 mg/m2 (induction), then 1 year of monthly nivolumab (480 mg) plus 2 years of 2-monthly rituximab maintenance. Participants with complete response (CR) after nivolumab priming continued nivolumab monotherapy. The primary end point was toxicity during induction. Adverse events of grade ≥3 during induction occurred in 33% (n = 13); most commonly elevated amylase/lipase (15%), liver enzyme derangement (11%), and infection (10%). Three patients discontinued nivolumab secondary to toxicity. Overall response rate was 92% (CR, 59%). Median follow-up was 51 months. Median and 4-year progression-free survival (PFS) were 61 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 2-72) and 58% (95% CI, 34-97); 70% of responders remained in CR. The 4-year overall survival was 95%. High baseline total metabolic tumor volume (TMTV) and total lesion glycolysis conferred inferior PFS (P = .04 and P = .02). Additionally, high baseline tumor CD8A gene expression was associated with improved PFS (P = .03). Nivolumab priming followed by nivolumab-rituximab in treatment-naïve FL is associated with favorable toxicity and high response rates, potentially providing an alternative to chemotherapy. TMTV and high tumor CD8A expression are promising immunotherapy biomarkers for FL. This trial was registered at www.ClinicalTrials.gov as #NCT03245021.

Efficacy, safety and cost-effectiveness of obinutuzumab in patients with follicular lymphoma: a rapid review

Background

Obinutuzumab was approved in China in June 2021 used in combination with chemotherapy (followed by obinutuzumab maintenance) for the treatment of adult patients with previously untreated stage II bulky, III, or IV follicular lymphoma (FL). The clinical application of obinutuzumab has recently begun in China, but there is a lack of evidence to determine under which circumstances it should be considered the treatment of choice. A comprehensive assessment is necessary to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of obinutuzumab in adult patients with FL.

Objective

To summarize the evidence on the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of obinutuzumab in adult patients with FL, aiming to provide medical professionals with evidence for informed choices in clinical practice.

Methods

The approach to this evidence synthesis was a rapid review of systematic reviews/meta-analyses (SR/meta-analyses), health technology assessment (HTA) reports, and pharmacoeconomic studies that brings together and summarizes the efficacy, safety, and cost-effectiveness of obinutuzumab in adult patients with FL. A literature search was conducted across multiple databases, including PubMed, Embase, Wanfang, CNKI, Weipu database, the Cochrane Library, the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination (CRD) database, International Network of Agencies for Health Technology Assessment (INAHTA) and Canada's Drug Agency (CDA-AMC), International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR), National Institute For Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Institute For Clinical And Economic Review (ICER), Grey Literature Database and Grey Net International. The studies on obinutuzumab for FL were searched in full text with obinutuzumab, systematic review, meta-analysis, economics, cost, and health technology assessment as keywords, with a search time frame from the date of database creation to 29 November 2024. The literature was screened based on predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, and data were meticulously extracted and synthesized by two authors. Simultaneously, the quality of the literature was thoroughly assessed.

Results

Obinutuzumab based chemotherapy (the chemotherapy regimen-cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP); cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (CVP); or bendamustine) significantly prolonged progression free survival (PFS) compared to other chemotherapy regimen at primary and updated analyses. The incidence of grade 3-5 AEs, infusion-related reactions (IRRs), and infection were higher in the obinutuzumab based chemotherapy group compared to other chemotherapies. The economic researches conducted in China, United States, Japan, Italy and Norway had demonstrated that obinutuzumab-based chemothrepy was cost-effective compared to other chemothrepies. Although obinutuzumab significantly prolonged PFS and was cost-effective, its safety profile was considered lower.

Conclusion

Compared with other chemothrapy regimen, obinutuzumab based chemotherapy significantly prolonged PFS and was cost-effective, while its safety profile was considered lower. Therefore, medical professionals should be caution when using or introducing obinutuzumab treatment for FL patients.

Gene targeted and immune therapies for nodal and gastrointestinal follicular lymphomas

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common indolent B-cell lymphoma (BCL) globally. Recently, its incidence has increased in Europe, the United States, and Asia, with the number of gastrointestinal FL cases expected to increase. Genetic abnormalities related to t(14;18) translocation, BCL2 overexpression, NF-κB pathway-related factors, histone acetylases, and histone methyltransferases cause FL and enhance its proliferation. Meanwhile, microRNAs are commonly used in diagnosing FL and predicting patient prognosis. Many clinical trials on novel therapeutics targeting these genetic abnormalities and immunomodulatory mechanisms have been conducted, resulting in a marked improvement in therapeutic outcomes for FL. Although developing these innovative therapeutic agents targeting specific genetic mutations and immune pathways has provided hope for curative options, FL treatment has become more complex, requiring combinatorial therapeutic regimens. However, optimal treatment combinations have not yet been achieved, highlighting the importance of a complete under-standing regarding the pathogenesis of gastrointestinal FL. Accordingly, this article reviews key research on the molecular pathogenesis of nodal FL and novel therapies targeting the causative genetic mutations. Moreover, the results of clinical trials are summarized, with a particular focus on treating nodal and gastrointestinal FLs.

Clinical PD-1/PD-L1 Blockades in Combination Therapies for Lymphomas

Immunotherapy with the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1)/PD-1 ligand (PD-L1) blockade has revolutionized the treatment of advanced solid cancers. However, these clinical benefits have been limited to cases of malignant lymphomas, showing promising results for only classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL). To bring clinical benefits to more patients with lymphoma, numerous combination therapies involving PD-1/PD-L1 blockade have been tested in clinical trials in both frontline and relapsed/refractory settings. This article reviews the current landscape of combination therapies with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade for lymphoma and discusses the potential therapeutic approaches. An interim analysis of a phase 3 study demonstrated increased progression-free survival with nivolumab combination therapy over the current frontline treatment in patients with advanced-stage cHL. The results of combination therapies for aggressive B-cell lymphomas, except for PMBCL, have been disappointing. Several clinical trials of combined PD-1/PD-L1 blockade and Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitors are exploring its efficacy in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with Richter transformation. Several T-cell lymphoma subtypes respond to PD-1/PD-L1 blockade monotherapy. Further clinical trials are underway to investigate appropriate combination regimens with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade, especially for cHL, CLL with Richter transformation, and T-cell lymphoma, in both frontline and relapsed/refractory settings.

The progress of novel strategies on immune-based therapy in relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) can be cured with standard front-line immunochemotherapy, whereas nearly 30-40% of patients experience refractory or relapse. For several decades, the standard treatment strategy for fit relapsed/refractory (R/R) DLBCL patients has been high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplant (auto-SCT). However, the patients who failed in salvage treatment or those ineligible for subsequent auto-SCT have dismal outcomes. Several immune-based therapies have been developed, including monoclonal antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, bispecific T-cell engaging antibodies, chimeric antigen receptor T-cells, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and novel small molecules. Meanwhile, allogeneic SCT and radiotherapy are still necessary for disease control for fit patients with certain conditions. In this review, to expand clinical treatment options, we summarize the recent progress of immune-related therapies and prospect the future indirections in patients with R/R DLBCL.

Recent advances in treatment of nodal and gastrointestinal follicular lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common low-grade lymphoma, and although nodal FL is highly responsive to treatment, the majority of patients relapse repeatedly, and the disease has been incurable with a poor prognosis. However, primary FL of the gastrointestinal tract has been increasingly detected in Japan, especially due to recent advances in small bowel endoscopy and increased opportunities for endoscopic examinations and endoscopic diagnosis. However, many cases are detected at an early stage, and the prognosis is good in many cases. In contrast, in Europe and the United States, gastrointestinal FL has long been considered to be present in 12%-24% of Stage-IV patients, and the number of advanced gastrointestinal cases is expected to increase. This editorial provides an overview of the recent therapeutic advances in nodal FL, including antibody-targeted therapy, bispecific antibody therapy, epigenetic modulation, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy, and reviews the latest therapeutic manuscripts published in the past year. Based on an understanding of the therapeutic advances in nodal FL, we also discuss future possibilities for gastroenterologists to treat gastrointestinal FL, especially in advanced cases.

Efficacy of Immune Checkpoint Blockade and Biomarkers of Response in Lymphoma: A Narrative Review

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) has revolutionized the prognosis of several advanced-stage solid tumors. However, its success has been far more limited in hematological malignancies and is mostly restricted to classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) and primary mediastinal B cell lymphoma (PMBCL). In patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), response to PD-1/PD-L1 ICB monotherapy has been relatively limited, although some subtypes are more sensitive than others. Numerous predictive biomarkers have been investigated in solid malignancies, such as PD-L1 expression, tumor mutational burden (TMB) and microsatellite instability (MSI), among others. This review aims to appraise the current knowledge on PD-1/PD-L1 ICB efficacy in lymphoma when used either as monotherapy or combined with other agents, and describes potential biomarkers of response in this specific setting.

Management of indolent B-cell Lymphomas: A review of approved and emerging targeted therapies

The indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (B-NHL) comprise a heterogenous group of lymphoproliferative disorders characterized by slow growth kinetics and a relapsing/remitting course. Management has, until recently, been uniform across all indolent B-NHL subtypes. Improving insight into pathophysiological and molecular features of each disease has led to development of several targeted therapies. Consequently, each subtype must now be considered an individual entity. In this review, we consider the three commonest indolent B-NHLs: follicular lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma and Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia and review in detail the data on approved and emerging targeted therapeutic agents for each B-NHL subtype.

Efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 immune checkpoint inhibitors in treating non-Hodgkin lymphoma: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical trials

BACKGROUND

Immunotherapy with programmed cell death protein-1 (PD-1)/programmed cell death ligand-1 (PD-L1) inhibitors has been widely used in the treatment of solid tumors and Hodgkin lymphoma, demonstrating powerful efficacy and good safety. However, there is no systematic review and meta-analysis to fully investigate the efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in treating non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

METHODS

We searched PubMed, EMBASE, The Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang database, and abstracts of conference proceedings of annual meetings up to January 23, 2022, to identify eligible clinical trials. To evaluate the efficacy of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, objective response rate (ORR), complete response rate (CRR), 1-year overall survival rate, and 1-year progression-free survival rate were analyzed. For safety analysis, we calculated rates of any grade and grade ≥3 treatment-related adverse events.

RESULTS

Overall 22 studies and 1150 participants were enrolled in this meta-analysis. The pooled ORR, CRR, 1-year overall survival, and 1-year progression-free survival rates were 0.43 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.33-0.54), 0.21 (95% CI, 0.13-0.31), 0.72 (95% CI, 0.58-0.89), and 0.42 (95% CI, 0.29-0.62), respectively. The ORR and CRR in the combination immunochemotherapy subgroup (0.65 and 0.41) were higher than those in the monotherapy (0.27 and 0.09) and combination chemotherapy (0.39 and 0.19) subgroups. This study was registered with PROSPERO (#CRD 42022316805).

CONCLUSION

Given that there were limited clinical trials and relatively few relevant studies, we conducted this meta-analysis to fully elucidate the efficacy and safety of PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors in NHL. Our results suggested that PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors improved outcomes of responses as well as survival rates in NHL patients with tolerable adverse events. More well-designed randomized clinical trials are still needed to further confirm our findings.