Rituximab plus gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (R-GemOx) in refractory/relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a real-life study in patients ineligible for autologous stem-cell transplantation

Chimeric antigen receptor-T cell therapy shows similar efficacy and toxicity in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma aged 70 and older compared to younger patients: A multicenter cohort study

CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has become a standard treatment for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (r/r DLBCL). While the benefits of CAR-T cell treatment are clear in the general patient population, there remains a relative scarcity of real-world evidence regarding its efficacy and toxicity in patients (pts) aged ≥70 years with DLBCL. We conducted a multicenter retrospective analysis including 172 r/r DLBCL pts with CAR-T cell treatment, axicabtagene ciloleucel or tisagenlecleucel, between 2019 and 2023 at three tertiary centers. Pts were grouped by age at CAR-T infusion (<70 vs. ≥70 years). Subsequently, descriptive and survival analyses, including propensity score matching, were performed to compare outcomes between both age groups. We identified 109 pts aged <70 and 63 pts aged ≥70 years. Overall response rates for both age groups were comparable (77.7% vs. 78.3%; p = 0.63). With a median follow-up of 8.3 months, median progression-free survival was 10.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.5-21.8) and 11.1 months (95% CI: 4.9-NR) (p = 0.93) for both cohorts. Median overall survival reached 21.8 months (95% CI: 11.8-NR) and 34.4 months (95% CI: 10.1-NR) (p = 0.97), respectively. No significant differences in the incidence of cytokine release syndrome (p = 0.53) or grade ≥3 neurotoxicity (p = 0.56) were observed. Relapse and nonrelapse mortality were not significantly different between both groups. Our findings provide additional support that CAR-T cell therapy is feasible and effective in patients with r/r DLBCL aged 70 years or older, demonstrating outcomes comparable to those observed in younger patients. CAR-T cell therapy should be not withheld for elderly patients with r/r DLBCL.

Real-World Survival, Healthcare Resource Utilization, and Costs Among U.S. Elderly Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) Treated With R-GemOx in the Relapsed/Refractory Setting

BACKGROUND

Little recent real-world evidence exists on overall survival, healthcare resource utilization (HCRU), and costs among R/R DLBCL patients treated with the combination of rituximab, gemcitabine, and oxaliplatin (R-GemOx), a widely-used regimen for patients ineligible for stem cell transplant due to age or comorbidities.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This retrospective analysis used 2014 to 2019 U.S. Medicare claims. Individuals aged ≥66 years with a new DLBCL diagnosis between October 1, 2015 and December 31, 2018 and continuous fee-for-service Medicare Part A, B, and D coverage in the 12 months pre- and postindex were followed to identify the sample of patients with evidence of R-GemOx treatment in the second-line (2L) or third-line (3L) setting. Outcomes included overall survival, all-cause and DLBCL-related HCRU, and costs after R-GemOx initiation.

RESULTS

The final sample included 157 patients who received treatment with R-GemOx in the R/R settings (mean (SD) age 77.5 (6.0) years, 39.5% age>80 years; 66.9% male; 91.1% White). Of these, 126 received R-GemOx in the 2L setting and 31 received R-GemOx in the 3L setting. Median overall survival from R-GemOx initiation was 6.9 months and 6.8 months in the 2L and 3L setting, respectively. Rates of all-cause hospitalization (68.1% [2L] and >90% [3L]) and hospice use (42.9% [2L] and 51.7% [3L]) were high in the 12 months after R-GemOx initiation. All-cause total costs were substantial ($144,653 [2L] and $142,812 [3L]) and approximately 80% of costs were DLBCL-related within 12 months of R-GemOx initiation.

CONCLUSION

Elderly U.S. Medicare beneficiaries diagnosed with DLBCL who initiated R-GemOx treatment in the R/R setting have poor overall survival, high rates of HCRU, and substantial costs.

Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: New Approved Options

Overall, around 40% of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have refractory disease or relapse after the first line of treatment. Until relatively recently, the prognosis of patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL was very poor and treatment options were very limited. In recent years, several novel therapies have been approved that provide more effective options than conventional chemotherapy and that have manageable toxicity profiles. CAR-T cell therapy has become the new standard treatment for patients with refractory or early relapsed DLBCL, based on the positive results of the phase 3 ZUMA-7 and TRANSFORM clinical trials. This review addresses the role of CAR-T therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation in the treatment of these patients and other approved options for patients who are not candidates for transplant, such as the combinations of polatuzumab vedotin with bendamustine and rituximab, and tafasitamab with lenalidomide.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of transplant-ineligible relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treatment options-Experience of the efficiency frontier approach

OBJECTIVES

The treatment of relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) changed remarkably since the European Medicines Agency-approved chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapies (axicabtagene ciloleucel [axi-cel], lisocabtagene maraleucel [liso-cel], tisagenlecleucel [tisa-cel]) for the third-line onwards (3+L), and targeted therapies (polatuzumab vedotin-bendamustine-rituximab [pola-BR], tafasitamab-lenalidomide [Tafa-L]) for the second-line (2L) onwards. As associated rising treatment costs represent an economic burden, the cost-effectiveness of transplant-ineligible R/R DLBCL interventions was assessed from a German healthcare payer's perspective, using the efficiency frontier (EF) approach.

METHODS

A systematic literature review was performed to determine the clinical benefit concerning median overall survival (OS) of bendamustine-rituximab (BR), rituximab-gemcitabine-oxaliplatin (R-GemOx), axi-cel, liso-cel, tisa-cel, pola-BR, and Tafa-L. First-year treatment costs (drug and medical services costs) were calculated. Results were merged on two-dimensional graphs illustrating 2L and 3+L EFs.

RESULTS

Second-line EF is formed by BR (median OS 11.49 months, €23 958) and Tafa-L (45.7, €104 541), 3+L EF is formed by R-GemOx (12.0, €29 080), Tafa-L (15.5, €104 541), and axi-cel (18.69, €308 516). These interventions build the respective cost-effectiveness thresholds for novel interventions.

CONCLUSIONS

Using the EF approach, the currently most cost-effective interventions (based on cost-effectiveness ratios) in the indication of R/R DLBCL were identified to guide international reimbursement decisions.

Axicabtagene ciloleucel as second-line therapy in large B cell lymphoma ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation: a phase 2 trial

Axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) demonstrated superior efficacy compared to standard of care as second-line therapy in patients with high-risk relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B cell lymphoma (LBCL) considered eligible for autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT); however, in clinical practice, roughly half of patients with R/R LBCL are deemed unsuitable candidates for ASCT. The efficacy of axi-cel remains to be ascertained in transplant-ineligible patients. ALYCANTE, an open-label, phase 2 study, evaluated axi-cel as a second-line therapy in 62 patients with R/R LBCL who were considered ineligible for ASCT. The primary end point was investigator-assessed complete metabolic response at 3 months from the axi-cel infusion. Key secondary end points included progression-free survival, overall survival and safety. The study met its primary end point with a complete metabolic response of 71.0% (95% confidence interval, 58.1-81.8%) at 3 months. With a median follow-up of 12.0 months (range, 2.1-17.9), median progression-free survival was 11.8 months (95% confidence interval, 8.4-not reached) and overall survival was not reached. There was no unexpected toxicity. Grade 3-4 cytokine release syndrome and neurologic events occurred in 8.1% and 14.5% of patients, respectively. These results support axi-cel as second-line therapy in patients with R/R LBCL ineligible for ASCT. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04531046 .

Use of gemcitabine, oxaliplatin, and anti-CD20 therapy in children and adolescents with non-Hodgkin lymphoma unfit for intensive therapy

Multiagent immunochemotherapy affords excellent outcomes in pediatric non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL); however, scarce data exist for patients unfit for intensive treatment. Rituximab, gemcitabine, and oxaliplatin (R-GemOx) is well tolerated and efficacious in elderly adults with NHL; however, its use has not been described in pediatrics. In this retrospective, single-center study, six children with mature B-cell NHL and significant comorbidities received anti-CD20 therapy with GemOx (rituximab or obinutuzumab or ofatumumab with gemcitabine and oxaliplatin [R/O-GemOx]). R/O-GemOx was well tolerated and resulted in complete response in two of three patients with newly diagnosed NHL and one of three patients with primary refractory NHL. R/O-GemOx is a viable treatment option for children with NHL who cannot tolerate intensive therapy.

Utilization of real-world data in assessing treatment effectiveness for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Direct comparisons of the effectiveness of the numerous novel therapies in the diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treatment landscape in a range of head-to-head randomized phase 3 trials would be time-consuming and costly. Comparative effectiveness studies using real-world data (RWD) represent a complementary approach. Recently, several studies of relapsed/refractory (R/R) DLBCL have used RWD to create observational cohorts to compare patient outcomes with cohorts derived from single-arm phase 2 trials. Using propensity score methods to balance clinically and prognostically relevant baseline covariates, closely matched patient-level cohorts can be generated. By incorporating appropriate measures to assess covariate balance and address potential bias in comparative effectiveness study designs, robust comparative analyses can be performed. Results from such studies have been used to supplement regulatory approval of therapies assessed in single-arm trials. While RWD studies have a greater susceptibility to bias compared to randomized controlled trials, well-designed and appropriately analyzed studies can provide complementary real-world evidence on treatment effectiveness.

Management Considerations for Patients With Primary Refractory and Early Relapsed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Most patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) will be cured with up-front chemoimmunotherapy, but 30%-40% of patients will experience relapsed disease. Historically, salvage chemotherapy followed by autologous stem-cell transplant (ASCT) was the mainstay of treatment for these patients. However, research has demonstrated that patients with primary refractory or early relapsed (R/R; high-risk) DLBCL do not benefit from ASCT, prompting investigation into other options. With the advent of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, treatment of R/R DLBCL has changed dramatically. With positive outcomes in the TRANSFORM and ZUMA-7 trials with manageable toxicity profiles, approval was obtained for lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel) and axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel) as second-line therapies for high-risk R/R DLBCL. However, these trials required patients to be medically fit for ASCT. In PILOT, liso-cel was deemed a reasonable treatment option for R/R transplant-ineligible patients. We recommend either axi-cel or liso-cel for fit patients with high-risk R/R DLBCL or liso-cel for unfit R/R patients as a second-line therapy. If CAR T-cell therapy is not an option, we recommend consideration of either ASCT if the patient has chemosensitive disease and is fit or clinical trial if the patient is unfit or has chemoresistant disease. If trials are not an option, alternative treatments are available. With the advent of additional therapies such as bispecific T-cell-engaging antibodies, the treatment landscape of R/R DLBCL may be upended. There continue to be many unanswered questions in the management of patients with R/R DLBCL, but given the promise of cellular therapies, outcomes are more optimistic in this group with historically dismal survival.

Improved Efficacy of Tafasitamab plus Lenalidomide versus Systemic Therapies for Relapsed/Refractory DLBCL: RE-MIND2, an Observational Retrospective Matched Cohort Study

PURPOSE

In RE-MIND2 (NCT04697160), patient-level outcomes from the L-MIND study (NCT02399085) of tafasitamab plus lenalidomide were retrospectively compared with patient-level matched observational cohorts treated with National Cancer Care Network (NCCN)/European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO)-listed systemic therapies for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data were collected from health records of eligible patients aged ≥18 years with histologically confirmed DLBCL who had received ≥2 systemic therapies for DLBCL (including ≥1 anti-CD20 therapy). Patients from L-MIND were matched with patients from the RE-MIND2 observational cohort using estimated propensity score-based 1:1 nearest-neighbor matching, balanced for nine covariates. The primary analysis compared tafasitamab plus lenalidomide with patients who received any systemic therapy for R/R DLBCL (pooled in one cohort) or bendamustine plus rituximab (BR) or rituximab plus gemcitabine and oxaliplatin (R-GemOx; as two distinct cohorts). The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). Secondary endpoints included treatment response and time-to-event outcomes.

RESULTS

In RE-MIND2, 3,454 patients were enrolled from 200 sites in North America, Europe, and Asia-Pacific. Strictly matched pairs of patients consisted of tafasitamab plus lenalidomide versus systemic therapies pooled (n = 76 pairs), versus BR (n = 75 pairs), and versus R-GemOx (n = 74 pairs). Significantly prolonged OS was reported with tafasitamab plus lenalidomide versus systemic pooled therapies [hazard ratios (HR): 0.55; P = 0.0068], BR (HR: 0.42; P < 0.0001), and R-GemOx (HR: 0.47; P = 0.0003).

CONCLUSIONS

RE-MIND2, a retrospective observational study, met its primary endpoint, demonstrating prolonged OS with tafasitamab plus lenalidomide versus BR and R-GemOx. See related commentary by Cherng and Westin, p. 3908.

Lenalidomide plus R-GDP (R2-GDP) in Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: Final Results of the R2-GDP-GOTEL Trial and Immune Biomarker Subanalysis

PURPOSE

New therapeutic options are needed in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL). Lenalidomide-based schedules can reverse rituximab refractoriness in lymphoma.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In the phase II R2-GDP trial, 78 patients unsuitable for autologous stem cell transplant received treatment with the following schedule: lenalidomide 10 mg Days (D)1-14, rituximab 375 mg/m2 D1, cisplatin 60 mg/m2 D1, gemcitabine 750 mg/m2 D1 and D8, and dexamethasone 20 mg D1-3, up to 6 cycles (induction phase), followed by lenalidomide 10 mg (or last lenalidomide dose received) D1-21 every 28 days (maintenance phase). Primary endpoint was overall response rate (ORR). Secondary endpoints included progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), safety, and monitorization of key circulating immune biomarkers (EU Clinical Trials Register number: EudraCT 2014-001620-29).

RESULTS

After a median follow-up of 37 months, ORR was 60.2% [37.1% complete responses (CR) and 23.1% partial responses (PR)]. Median OS was 12 months (47 vs. 6 months in CR vs. no CR); median PFS was 9 months (34 vs. 5 months in CR vs. no CR). In the primary refractory population, ORR was 45.5% (21.2% CR and 24.3% PR). Most common grade 3-4 adverse events were thrombocytopenia (60.2%), neutropenia (60.2%), anemia (26.9%), infections (15.3%), and febrile neutropenia (14.1%). Complete responses were associated with a sharp decrease in circulating myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells.

CONCLUSIONS

R2-GDP schedule is feasible and highly active in R/R DLBCL, including the primary refractory population. Immune biomarkers showed differences in responders versus progressors.

All-Oral Low-Dose Chemotherapy TEPIP is Effective and Well-Tolerated in Relapsed/Refractory Patients With Aggressive B-Cell Lymphoma

Purpose

Treatment options in patients (pts.) with advanced relapsed and refractory aggressive B-cell lymphoma are limited. Palliative all-oral chemotherapy regimens reduce in-patient visits and contribute to quality of life. The all-oral low-dose chemotherapy regimen TEPIP comprises the conventional chemotherapy agents trofosfamide, etoposide, procarbazine, idarubicin and prednisolone.

Methods

Safety and efficacy of TEPIP was evaluated in an observational retrospective, single-center study at the University Medical Center Regensburg between 2010 and 2020. Treatment with TEPIP was applied for 7 or 10 days during a 28-days period. In a subgroup of fit and therapy-motivated pts. rituximab was added. End points were overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS). Adverse events ≥ CTCAE grade III were reported.

Results

35 highly pre-treated pts. with aggressive B-cell lymphoma were enrolled. Median age at TEPIP start was 67 years and 85% of pts. received TEPIP as ≥ third treatment line. Overall response rate (ORR) was 23% (CR 17%). Pts. benefited from additional rituximab administration (ORR 67%) and a lower number of pre-treatments (ORR 41%). The OS was 3.3 months (m) with a 1y-OS of 25.7% and the PFS amounted to 1.3 m with a 1y-PFS of 8.8%. OS and PFS were significantly prolonged in pts. that responded to treatment or additionally received rituximab. Adverse events were mainly hematological and occurred in 49% of pts.

Conclusion

TEPIP was well-tolerated and induced respectable response in a difficult-to-treat patient cohort. In particular, the all-oral administration enables out-patient use with palliative intent.

Outcomes of relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and influence of chimaeric antigen receptor T trial eligibility criteria in second line-A population-based study of 736 patients

Several recently published trials investigate novel therapies for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL). To estimate the benefit of these therapies in the real‐world setting, comprehensive data on patients treated in clinical routine are needed. We report outcomes for 736 R/R DLBCL patients identified among all curatively treated DLBCL patients in Sweden in the period 2007–2014. Survival and associations with disease characteristics, second‐line treatment and fulfilment of chimaeric antigen receptor (CAR) T‐cell trial criteria were assessed. Median overall survival (OS) was 6.6 months (≤70 years 9.6 months, >70 years 4.9 months). Early relapse (≤12 months) was strongly associated with selection of less intensive treatment and poor survival. Among patients of at most 70 years of age, 63% started intensive second‐line treatment and 34% received autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Two‐year OS among transplanted patients was 56% (early relapse ≤12 months 40%, late relapse >12 months 66%). A minority of patients 76 years (n = 178/506, 35%) fitted CAR T trial criteria. Median progression‐free survival (PFS) for patients with early relapse fitting trial criteria was 4.8 months. In conclusion, most R/R DLBCL manifest early and are often ineligible for or cannot complete intensive regimens resulting in dismal survival. Real‐world patients eligible for CAR T trials also did poorly, providing a benchmark for efficacy of novel therapies.

Tumor Immune Microenvironment in Lymphoma: Focus on Epigenetics

Lymphoma is a neoplasm arising from B or T lymphocytes or natural killer cells characterized by clonal lymphoproliferation. This tumor comprises a diverse and heterogeneous group of malignancies with distinct clinical, histopathological, and molecular characteristics. Despite advances in lymphoma treatment, clinical outcomes of patients with relapsed or refractory disease remain poor. Thus, a deeper understanding of molecular pathogenesis and tumor progression of lymphoma is required. Epigenetic alterations contribute to cancer initiation, progression, and drug resistance. In fact, over the past decade, dysregulation of epigenetic mechanisms has been identified in lymphomas, and the knowledge of the epigenetic aberrations has led to the emergence of the promising epigenetic therapy field in lymphoma tumors. However, epigenetic aberrations in lymphoma not only have been found in tumor cells, but also in cells from the tumor microenvironment, such as immune cells. Whereas the epigenetic dysregulation in lymphoma cells is being intensively investigated, there are limited studies regarding the epigenetic mechanisms that affect the functions of immune cells from the tumor microenvironment in lymphoma. Therefore, this review tries to provide a general overview of epigenetic alterations that affect both lymphoma cells and infiltrating immune cells within the tumor, as well as the epigenetic cross-talk between them.

Management of relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma in patients ineligible for CAR-T cell therapy

INTRODUCTION

Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) therapy has revolutionized the treatment of relapsed/refractory large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL). However, patients who are excluded or have no access to CAR-T represent a challenge for clinicians and have generally a dismal outcome. The landscape for this category of patients is constantly evolving: new agents have been approved in the last 2-3 years, alone or in combination, and novel treatment modalities are under investigations.

AREAS COVERED

Thereafter, we reviewed the currently available therapeutic strategies: conventional chemotherapy, Antibody-drug conjugate ADC (mainly polatuzumab and loncastuxumab), bispecific antibodies (CD19/CD3 and focus on novel CD20/CD3 Abs), immunomodulatory drugs (covering tafasitamab and lenalidomide, checkpoint inhibitors mainly in PMBL), small molecules (selinexor, BTK and PI3K inhibitors), and the role of radiotherapy.

EXPERT OPINION

Navigating this scenario, will uncover new challenges, including identifying an ideal sequence for these therapies, the most effective combinations, and search for consistent predictive factors to help selecting the appropriate population of LBCL patients. At present, supporting clinical research for CAR-T ineligible patients, a new and challenging group, must remain a major focus that is complementary to advances in CAR T-cell therapy.

Rituximab in combination with adapted-dose of ifosfamide and etoposide as salvage treatment in elderly refractory/relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma patients non-candidate for high dose therapy: a retrospective study

We retrospectively reviewed for 72 relapsed/refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients ineligible for autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) treated between 2004 and 2017, efficacy and safety profile of rituximab (375 mg/m²) in combination with etoposide (300 mg/m²) and ifosfamide (1500 mg/m²) at 2, 3, or 4-week intervals. Median age was 79 years (range, 64-92). The median number of previous line was 1 (range 1-8). Patients received a median of six cycles (1-12). Fourteen patients (19%) presented partial and 14 complete responses (19%). Among the 369 cycles, nine patients developed febrile neutropenia (13%), 14 a grade 3-4 neutropenia (19%), 7 a grade 3-4 thrombocytopenia (10%) without grade 3-4 non-hematological toxicity. With a median follow up of 7.8 months, the median progression-free survival, overall survival, and duration of response were 4.4 months, 9.4 months, and 12 months, respectively. This regimen represents a therapeutic option in R/R DLBCL patients ineligible to ASCT.