Three-year follow-up analysis of axicabtagene ciloleucel in relapsed/refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (ZUMA-5)

SOHO State of the Art Updates and Next Questions | The Current State of CAR T-Cell Therapy and Bispecific Antibodies in Mantle Cell Lymphoma

MCL remains incurable, and patients who relapse post BTK inhibitors have poor outcomes. BsAbs and CAR T cell therapy are novel strategies to treat patients with R/R MCL. These therapies exhibit favorable outcomes and side effect profiles in a previously dismal space. This review looks to detail the current data available for BsAbs and CAR T cell therapy in R/R MCL, and how are current treatment paradigm is shifting to incorporate these novel agents.

An evaluation of epcoritamab as a treatment for relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma

INTRODUCTION

The treatment landscape for relapsed refractory (RR) follicular lymphoma (FL) is rapidly evolving, and chemo-free immunotherapeutic strategies represent the major players in the field. CD20×CD3 bispecific antibodies are effective and easily manageable agents that are able to redirect the cytotoxic activity of T-cells against lymphoma cells by creating an immunological synapse.

AREAS COVERED

In this paper we will review the efficacy and safety profile of the bispecific antibody epcoritamab in RR FL, either as monotherapy (as it was recently approved in United States and Europe) and in combination with other agents. We will discuss its potential role among the existing treatment options in this setting, particularly in relation with other approved bispecific antibodies and with CAR-T cell therapy. Presented data were obtained by literature search on Pubmed and updated with most recent evidence presented at international hematology meetings (2022-2024).

EXPERT OPINION

the optimal treatment sequencing in FL is still an open issue, however epcoritamab effectively combines key aspects such as high, rapid and durable responses, good tolerability, predictable cytokine release syndrome (CRS) kinetics, and ease of administration, representing an appealing option for patients and clinicians. Future efforts should aim at positioning epcoritamab-based treatments in earlier lines of FL.

Advances in Personalized Treatment and Prognostic Factors of Follicular Lymphoma

OPINION STATEMENT

Follicular lymphoma is the most prevalent form of indolent B-cell lymphoma, characterized by gradual disease progression and potential survival over several decades. Although the overall prognosis is typically favorable, some patients remain at risk for disease progression or transformation into a more aggressive variant. Recent advancements in the treatment of relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma include cereblon modulators, kinase inhibitors, chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapies, and antibody-drug conjugates. Ongoing research into novel prognostic markers may improve the identification of patients at high risk for early progression, multiple relapses, or histological transformation, facilitating more precise and individualized treatment strategies.

The Current State of Bispecific Antibodies and T-Cell Directed Therapy in NHL

Relapsed/refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma (r/r/NHL) is an aggressive disease with overall poor response rates to chemo-immunotherapy and autologous stem-cell transplant, especially in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Major improvements in this disease space have come through the incorporation of novel immune therapies, including CD19/CD20 directed CAR-T cells and bispecific antibodies. These exciting new therapies continue to change the landscape of treatment for r/r NHL and have been incorporated in earlier lines of therapy with demonstrated efficacy and patient safety. In this review, the role of these treatments in the management of relapsed/refractory NHL is discussed in detail along with future directions of research.

Measurable Residual Disease Testing During Treatment with Bispecific Antibodies for Lymphoma

The introduction of bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) has led to significant improvements in survival for patients with relapsed and refractory B-cell lymphomas. Despite these advances, there remains a significant number of patients who experience disease progression after these novel therapies. Predicting which patients may respond to certain treatments and the durability of their responses remains challenging. Measurable residual disease (MRD) has become easier to detect and quantify through the use of genomic next-generation sequencing tools and has been studied as a possible biomarker to predict long-term outcomes and risk-stratify patients after BsAb therapy in several lymphoma subtypes. Here, we review recent data demonstrating that MRD negativity is associated with radiographic response and improved progression-free survival. Because of heterogeneity in assay choice, assessment timing, and technical parameters, further work is needed before MRD testing is ready to be incorporated into clinical practice in the context of BsAb treatment for B-cell lymphomas.

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.

An anti-CD19-exosome delivery system navigates the blood-brain barrier for targeting of central nervous system lymphoma

BACKGROUND

High-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) serves as the cornerstone of central nervous system lymphoma (CNSL) treatment, but its efficacy is limited due to low blood-brain barrier (BBB) penetration and adverse effects. This study is focused on an exosome-based drug delivery approach aimed at enhancing BBB permeability, thereby reducing the required dosage of methotrexate (MTX) while ensuring specific targeting of CNSL.

METHODS

Human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hAMSCs) were modified with a lentiviral vector encoding anti-CD19, incorporated into exosomes characterized by colloidal gold immunoelectron microscopy and Nano flow cytometry. MTX loaded into anti-CD19-Exos via co-incubation, assessed for loading and encapsulation efficiencies using HPLC. In vitro BBB model constructed using hCMEC/D3 and astrocytes to investigate BBB permeability. In vivo efficacy of anti-CD19-Exo-MTX evaluated in intracranial CNSL models using MRI. Biodistribution tracked with DiR-labeled exosomes, drug concentration in CSF measured by HPLC. LC-MS/MS identified and characterized exosomal proteins analyzed using GO Analysis. Neuroprotective effects of exosomal proteins assessed with TUNEL and Nissl staining on hippocampal neurons in CNSL models. Liver and kidney pathology, blood biochemical markers, and complete blood count evaluated exosomal protein effects on organ protection and MTX-induced myelosuppression.

RESULTS

We generated anti-CD19-Exo derived from hAMSCs. These adapted exosomes effectively encapsulated MTX, enhancing drug accessibility within lymphoma cells and sustained intracellular accumulation over an extended period. Notably, anti-CD19-Exo-MTX interacted with cerebrovascular endothelial cells and astrocytes of the BBB, leading to endocytosis and facilitating the transportation of MTX across the barrier. Anti-CD19-Exo-MTX outperformed free MTX in vitro, exhibiting a more potent lymphoma-suppressive effect (P < 0.05). In intracranial orthotopic CNSL models, anti-CD19-Exo-MTX exhibited a significantly reduced disease burden compared to both the MTX and Exo-MTX groups, along with prolonged overall survival (P < 0.05). CSF drug concentration analysis demonstrated enhanced stability and longer-lasting drug levels for anti-CD19-Exo-MTX. Anti-CD19-Exo-MTX exhibited precise CNSL targeting with no organ toxicity. Notably, our study highlighted the functional potential of reversal effect of hAMSCs-exosomes on MTX-induced neurotoxicity, hepatic and renal impairment, and myelosuppression.

CONCLUSIONS

We present anti-CD19-Exo-MTX as a promising exosome-based drug delivery platform that enhances BBB permeability and offers specific targeting for effective CNSL treatment with reduced adverse effects.

Leveraging the Immunomodulatory Potential of Ibrutinib for Improved Outcomes of T Cell-Mediated Therapies of B Cell Malignancies: A Narrative Review

Standard treatment options for B cell malignancies include immunochemotherapies and/or targeted therapies, which often provide temporary disease remission. However, many patients do not achieve complete remission with these treatments, develop resistance, and eventually experience disease relapse. New immunomodulatory treatments, such as T cell-based therapies, show promise in treating various types of blood cancers, including B cell malignancies. However, their effectiveness is often limited by the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and altered function of patient-derived T cells. Ibrutinib, a Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been shown to restore immune balance and function in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Ibrutinib is being studied as adjuvant or combinatorial therapy with chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells or T cell-engaging bispecific antibodies for the treatment of B cell malignancies. Current evidence suggests that ibrutinib could be beneficial when used before, during, or after CAR T cell administration, potentially providing higher complete response rates and reduced toxicity. In conclusion, existing evidence strongly supports the combined use of ibrutinib and T cell therapies. However, additional clinical trials are needed to further validate the effectiveness of this treatment strategy in patients with various B cell malignancies.

Long-term 3-year follow-up of mosunetuzumab in relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma after ≥2 prior therapies

ABSTRACT

Mosunetuzumab, a CD20×CD3 T-cell engaging bispecific antibody, redirects T cells to eliminate malignant B cells. We present updated efficacy and safety data of a pivotal phase 1/2 study after a median follow-up of 37.4 months in 90 patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma (FL) and ≥2 prior lines of therapy treated with fixed-duration mosunetuzumab. Investigator-assessed complete response (CR) rate and objective response rate were 60.0% (95% confidence interval [CI], 49.1-70.2) and 77.8% (95% CI, 67.8-85.9), respectively. Among 70 responders, median duration of response was 35.9 months (95% CI, 20.7 to not estimable [NE]). Among 54 patients who achieved CR, 49 remained in CR at the end of treatment; median duration of CR was not reached (NR; 95% CI, 33.0 to NE); Kaplan-Meier-estimated 30-month remission rate was 72.4% (95% CI, 59.2-85.6). Estimated 36-month overall survival (OS) rate was 82.4% (95% CI, 73.8-91.0); median OS was NR (95% CI, NE to NE). Median progression-free survival was 24.0 months (95% CI, 12.0 to NE). Median time to CD19+ B-cell recovery was 18.4 months (95% CI, 12.8-25.0) after 8 cycles of mosunetuzumab treatment. No new cytokine release syndrome events or fatal, serious, or grade ≥3 adverse events were reported. With extended follow-up, mosunetuzumab demonstrated high response rates, durable remissions, and manageable safety with no long-term concerns. This supports outpatient mosunetuzumab administration as an off-the-shelf, fixed-duration, safe, and effective treatment for patients with R/R FL, including those with high-risk disease. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02500407.

Outcomes of CD19 CAR T in Transformed Indolent Lymphoma Compared to De Novo Aggressive Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has revolutionized treatment of aggressive large B-cell lymphoma (aLBCL). Patients with transformed indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (tiNHL) were included in key CAR trials, but outcomes of CAR for this distinct, historically high-risk group are poorly understood. We conducted a multicenter retrospective study of 1182 patients with aLBCL receiving standard-of-care CAR T between 2017 and 2022, including 338 (29%) with tiNHL. Rates of grade ≥ 3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS) were similar between tiNHL and de novo cohorts (7% vs. 8%, p = 0.6), while grade ≥ 3 immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome was lower in tiNHL (21% vs. 27%, p = 0.02). Overall response rate was similar in both cohorts (83% vs. 81%, p = 0.3), while complete response rate was higher in tiNHL (67% vs. 59%, p = 0.017). With a median follow-up of 22.3 months, the progression/relapse-free (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were similar between the tiNHL and de novo cohorts (24-month PFS 41% [95% CI: 35%-46%] vs. 38% [95% CI: 35%-42%]; 24-month OS 58% [95% CI: 52%-63%] vs. 52% [95% CI: 48%-56%], respectively). After adjusting for key risk factors, there was a trend toward a lower hazard of disease progression, relapse or death post-CAR for tiNHL patients compared to de novo aLBCL patients (HR: 0.84 [95% CI: 0.69-1.0], p = 0.07). Elevated LDH, advanced stage, prior bendamustine within 12 months of CAR, receipt of bridging therapy, CNS involvement, and ≥ 3 prior lines of therapy were each associated with inferior PFS. In conclusion, CAR T therapy is highly effective with an acceptable toxicity profile in patients with tiNHL.

Advances in the Pathogenesis, Diagnosis, Treatment, and Prognosis of Marginal Zone Lymphoma

OPINION STATEMENT

The management of marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), an indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, requires a personalized and adaptive approach due to its clinical and prognostic heterogeneity. We believe treatment should emphasize a balanced strategy considering the subtype, disease burden, symptoms, and actionable genetic or environmental factors, such as infections or autoimmune diseases. For asymptomatic patients with low tumor burden or disseminated disease, a watch-and-wait approach remains appropriate, given MZL's indolent nature and the risks of overtreatment. Conversely, for symptomatic or high-burden cases, early intervention with chemoimmunotherapy is recommended for effective disease control. Surgery remains essential for both diagnosis and the treatment of localized disease. Incorporating molecular profiling and prognostic models, such as MZL-IPI and POD24, is crucial for decision-making and risk stratification. Testing for infectious agents like Helicobacter pylori or Hepatitis C virus should be standard practice, as eradication therapy offers a targeted, less toxic, and effective option in select patients. With ongoing advancements in understanding dysregulated signaling pathways and the tumor microenvironment, we anticipate novel targeted therapies and combination regimens will further improve outcomes. We advocate for molecular testing at diagnosis to identify actionable biomarkers, particularly for patients with refractory or relapsed disease. Finally, MZL management requires vigilant follow-up with adjustments based on evolving disease features. Treatment decisions should integrate patient preferences, clinical context, and the latest evidence to maximize survival while preserving quality of life.

Strategies following failure of CAR-T-cell therapy in non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Several CD19 CAR-T-cell drugs are approved for safety and efficacy in advanced B-cell cancers with encouraging results. However, primary refractory and relapse are common. We critically analyze long-term data on efficacy of CD19 CAR-T-cell therapies in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas from clinical trials with those of so-called real world data. We identify co-variates associated with efficacy, discuss mechanisms of relapse, summarize the data on the results of post-failure therapy including allotransplants, monoclonal and bi-specific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, immune checkpoint-inhibitors and repeat infusions of CAR-T-cells. We conclude, save for allotransplants, there are few data strongly supporting any of these interventions. Most trial are with few heterogeneously-treated subjects with diverse interventions and brief follow-up. Interventions need to be tailored to the cause(s) of CAR-T-cell failure. Prestly, there is not a convincingly safe and effective therapy of people failing initial CAR-T-cell therapy of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

SOHO State of the Art Updates and Next Questions | Novel Immunotherapy Combinations for the Treatment of Indolent B-Cell Lymphoma

Chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) is the standard frontline treatment for advanced indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas (iNHL). While lenalidomide-based immunotherapy remains the standard of care for relapsed iNHL, its frontline use is limited, due to nonsuperiority as compared to CIT. Agents that engage T-cells, polarize macrophage phenotype to a more antitumoral phenotype, and/or to target epigenetic pathways could enhance immunotherapy. We summarize in this review safety plus efficacy data from published and/or ongoing clinical trials investigating the combination of lenalidomide-based immunotherapy with T-cell engagers (including anti-CD3/CD20 bispecific antibodies), macrophage-targeting agents (including BTK inhibitors and anti-CD47 antibodies), and epigenetic modifiers (including EZH2 inhibitors). We also summarize the activity in iNHL of agents targeting antigens other than CD20 (including CD19 and CD79b), and novel immunotherapies and cellular therapies (including NK-cell based treatments). The therapeutic landscape of iNHL is soon to significantly change.

Indolent lymphoma: addressing the needs of survivors

Over the past two decades, there has been a continuous improvement in outcome for patients with indolent lymphoma (iNHL) resulting in a gradual accumulation of survivors. While life expectancy in the current era approaches that of the lymphoma-free population, patients continue to experience lifelong complications of the disease and its treatment affecting general health, emotional, psychological and social wellbeing, relationships, employment, finances, and fitness. Contemporary care models while suited to the management of lymphoma are often lacking when it comes to identification and management of these additional needs. Given improvements in physical survival achieved over the past decades, it is timely for us to focus on other issues affecting patient wellbeing including immunodeficiency and infection, second cancers, cardiovascular disease, bone health, psychological wellbeing, and sexual health. Many of these aspects are in the domain of the primary care physician; however, there is limited guidance on how these issues should be addressed. It is now time for us to engage our patients, their caregivers, and other healthcare providers in care aspects beyond the lymphoma diagnosis, so they can anticipate a rich and full life, free from both direct and indirect consequences of the lymphoma diagnosis.

Comprehensive Review of Early and Late Toxicities in CAR T-Cell Therapy and Bispecific Antibody Treatments for Hematologic Malignancies

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (or CAR-T) therapy and bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) have revolutionized the treatment of hematologic malignancies, offering new options for relapsed or refractory cases. However, these therapies carry risks of early complications, such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), and delayed issues like graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), infections, and secondary cancers. Effective management requires early diagnosis using advanced biomarkers and imaging, along with prompt interventions involving immunosuppressants, corticosteroids, and cytokine inhibitors. A multidisciplinary approach is essential, integrating hematologists, oncologists, and infectious disease specialists, with emerging strategies like targeted biologics and personalized medicine showing promise in balancing efficacy with toxicity management. Ongoing research is critical to refine diagnostics and treatments, ensuring that these therapies not only extend survival but also improve patients' quality of life. This review provides critical insights for healthcare professionals to quickly recognize and treat complications of CAR-T and BsAbs therapies. By focusing on early detection through biomarkers and imaging and outlining timely therapeutic interventions, it aims to equip the multidisciplinary care team with the knowledge necessary to manage the challenges of these advanced treatments effectively, ultimately optimizing patient outcomes.

Building the future management of follicular lymphoma with T-cell-redirecting strategies

ABSTRACT

Follicular lymphoma (FL) usually requires multiple lines of therapy, and disease control remains largely insufficient with conventional chemoimmunotherapy. Several T-cell-redirecting strategies recently approved in the relapsed/refractory setting have the potential to improve outcomes and change the treatment algorithm in FL. This review focuses on the role of chimeric antigen receptor T cells and bispecific antibodies in FL, paying special attention to sequencing approaches and future directions.

Comparative Analysis of Bispecific Antibodies and CAR T-Cell Therapy in Follicular Lymphoma

The treatment landscape for relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma (RR-FL) is marked by a pivotal debate between chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy and bispecific antibodies (BsAbs). While both CAR-T therapy and BsAbs target similar immunobiology and molecular markers, their efficacy comparisons are hindered by the lack of direct clinical trial comparisons. Key trials, such as the ZUMA-5 study, underscore axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel)'s efficacy in treating RR-FL, achieving a 79% complete response rate with a median duration of response exceeding 3 years. Similarly, lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel) in the TRANSCEND FL study reports a 94% complete response rate, emphasizing robust outcomes in heavily pretreated patients. Among BsAbs, mosunetuzumab showed promise in the GO29781 trial, with a 62% overall response rate in heavily pretreated RR-FL patients. Thus, CAR-T therapy offers potential curative benefits with a single infusion. However, its efficacy is tempered by significant adverse events such as cytokine release syndrome (CRS), neurotoxicity, and cytopenias, requiring specialized management and patient monitoring. In contrast, BsAbs provide a more tolerable treatment option counterbalancing by lower response rates and frequent dosing requirements. Personalized treatment strategies are crucial because of these distinct efficacy and safety profiles. When considering cost-effectiveness, both therapies need to be evaluated in the context of their clinical outcomes and quality of life improvements. Cost-effectiveness considerations are essential; while CAR-T therapies incur higher initial costs, their potential for long-term remission may mitigate expenses associated with repeated treatments or hospitalizations. Future research into resistance mechanisms and optimal therapeutic sequencing will further refine RR-FL management strategies.

Loncastuximab tesirine with rituximab in patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma: a single-centre, single-arm, phase 2 trial

BACKGROUND

Preliminary data suggest promising activity of loncastuximab tesirine in follicular lymphoma, and synergistic activity between rituximab-induced cytotoxicity and loncastuximab tesirine. In this study, we evaluated loncastuximab tesirine combined with rituximab for second-line and later treatment of follicular lymphoma.

METHODS

We did a single-arm, investigator-initiated, phase 2 trial at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center in Miami, FL, USA. We recruited patients aged 18 years or older with histologically confirmed relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (grade 1-3A) treated with one or more lines of therapy and presenting with progression or relapse of disease within 24 months (POD24) after the first line of treatment, one or more Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes Folliculaires (GELF) criteria, or second relapse, and with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0-2. Intravenous loncastuximab tesirine was administered on day 1 of a 21-day cycle, at 0·15 mg/kg for two cycles, then 0·075 mg/kg thereafter. Intravenous rituximab was administered on day 1 of cycle 1, at 375 mg/m2 for four once-weekly doses, followed by one dose every 8 weeks on cycles 5, 6, and 7. At week 21, patients with a complete response discontinued loncastuximab tesirine and received two more doses of rituximab once every 8 weeks. Patients with a partial response at week 21 continued both agents for 18 more weeks. The primary endpoint was complete response rate at week 12 assessed by the Lugano 2014 classification in patients who had received at least three doses of loncastuximab tesirine. The safety analysis included all patients who received one or more doses of loncastuximab tesirine. The trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04998669, and is ongoing (open to recruitment); the data cutoff for this analysis was Sept 13, 2024.

FINDINGS

Between Jan 28, 2022, and June 3, 2024, we enrolled 39 patients (median age 68 years [IQR 58-77]; 21 [54%] male patients and 18 [46%] female patients). All patients presented with one or more GELF criteria (n=36 [92%]) or POD24 after the first line of treatment (n=20 [51%]) at baseline. As of Sept 13, 2024, the median follow-up was 18·2 months (95% CI 12·0-19·3). Week 12 complete response rate was 67% (n=26 of 39). The most common grade 3 or worse treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) were lymphopenia (eight [21%] of 39 patients) and neutropenia (five [13%] patients; one of whom had a serious grade 3 TEAE of febrile neutropenia that was considered to be related to study treatment). Generalised and peripheral oedema was predominantly grade 1-2 and all cases of oedema were treatable with diuretics. Serious TEAEs that were considered to be related to study drugs occurred in four (10%) of 39 patients. No fatal TEAEs occurred.

INTERPRETATION

Loncastuximab tesirine with rituximab showed clinically meaningful activity in relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, and had a manageable safety profile.

FUNDING

ADC Therapeutics and Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center.

Follicular lymphoma research: an open dialogue for a collaborative roadmap

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the second most common type of lymphoma (20% of all non-Hodgkin lymphomas), derived from germinal centre (GC) B cells, and is characterised by its significant clinical, prognostic and biological heterogeneity, leading to complexity in management. Despite significant biological investigation and indisputable clinical progress since the advent of the immunotherapy era more than 20 years ago, much remains to be done to understand and cure this lymphoma. Today, FL is metaphorically a giant puzzle on the table with patches of sky, landscape and foliage clearly appearing. However, many of the remaining pieces are held by various stakeholders (e.g. clinicians, pathologists, researchers, drug developers) without global agreement on what the gaps are, or any clear blueprint on how to solve the puzzle of understanding the heterogeneity of this disease and create curative and tailored therapies. With the advent of new investigation and drug technologies, together with recent advances in our capacity to manage big data, the time seems ripe for a change of scale. More than ever, this will require collaboration between and within all stakeholders to overcome the current bottlenecks in the field. As for every investigator, we acknowledge that this first draft is necessarily biased, incomplete and some FL expert readers might recognise some remaining gaps not addressed. We hope they will reply to make this effort a collaborative one to assemble all the pieces in the most ideal fashion. As such, this review intends to be a first step and an interactive platform to a collaborative roadmap towards better understanding and care of FL.

Approved CAR-T therapies have reproducible efficacy and safety in clinical practice

CAR-T cell therapy has established itself as a highly effective treatment for hematological malignancies. There are currently six commercial CAR-T products that have been FDA approved for diseases such as B-ALL, LBCL, MCL, FL, MM, and CLL/SLL. "Real-world" studies allow us to evaluate outcomes from the general population to determine their efficacy and safety compared to those who were included in the original trials. Based on several well conducted "Real-world" studies that represent diverse populations, we report that outcomes from the original trials that led to the approval of these therapies are comparable to those in practice.

CAR T Cells and T-Cell Therapies for Cancer: A Translational Science Review

Importance

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells are T lymphocytes that are genetically engineered to express a synthetic receptor that recognizes a tumor cell surface antigen and causes the T cell to kill the tumor cell. CAR T treatments improve overall survival for patients with large B-cell lymphoma and progression-free survival for patients with multiple myeloma.

Observations

Six CAR T-cell products are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for 6 hematologic malignancies: B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and multiple myeloma. Compared with standard chemotherapy followed by stem cell transplant, CAR T cells improved 4-year overall survival in patients with large B-cell lymphoma (54.6% vs 46.0%). Patients with pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia achieved durable remission after CAR T-cell therapy. At 3-year follow-up, 48% of patients were alive and relapse free. In people with multiple myeloma treated previously with 1 to 4 types of non-CAR T-cell therapy, CAR T-cell therapy prolonged treatment-free remissions compared with standard treatments (in 1 trial, CAR T-cell therapy was associated with progression-free survival of 13.3 months compared with 4.4 months with standard therapy). CAR T-cell therapy is associated with reversible acute toxicities, such as cytokine release syndrome in approximately 40% to 95% of patients, and neurologic disorders in approximately 15% to 65%. New CAR T-cell therapies in development aim to increase efficacy, decrease adverse effects, and treat other types of cancer. No CAR T-cell therapies are FDA approved for solid tumors, but recently, 2 other T lymphocyte-based treatments gained approvals: 1 for melanoma and 1 for synovial cell sarcoma. Additional cellular therapies have attained responses for certain solid tumors, including pediatric neuroblastoma, synovial cell sarcoma, melanoma, and human papillomavirus-associated cancers. A common adverse effect occurring with these T lymphocyte-based therapies is capillary leak syndrome, which is characterized by fluid retention, pulmonary edema, and kidney dysfunction.

Conclusions and Relevance

CAR T-cell therapy is an FDA-approved therapy that has improved progression-free survival for multiple myeloma, improved overall survival for large B-cell lymphoma, and attained high rates of cancer remission for other hematologic malignancies such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia, follicular lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma. Recently approved T lymphocyte-based therapies demonstrated the potential for improved outcomes in solid tumor malignancies.

Sequencing bispecific antibodies and CAR T cells for FL

Treatment for relapsed/refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma (FL) has evolved over recent years with the introduction of multiple novel immunotherapies: anti-CD3  ×  CD20 bispecific antibody (BsAb) T-cell engagers and anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CAR T). Both drug classes are highly active, and their adverse event profiles overlap considerably, with cytokine release syndrome, cytopenias, and infections being most common. However, key differences include accessibility and logistical considerations as well as distinct neurologic toxicities, which make recommending a BsAb or CAR T a nuanced decision for each patient with R/R FL. Notably, patients could receive both classes of therapies in sequence; however, data guiding this decision are sparse. Considering the 3 most advanced agents in each class, we generally favor BsAbs before CAR T as the standard-of-care third-line treatment for the typical patient with R/R FL without concern for aggressive histologic transformation (HT). This is based on a 3-year follow-up of the mosunetuzumab phase 2 trial in R/R FL highlighting durable complete responses after a time-limited therapy with an acceptable safety profile for patients of all ages and reasonable performance status. We generally prioritize CAR T before BsAbs for patients with proven or suspected HT given the curative-potential of this approach based on trial data from R/R diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; it is unknown whether BsAbs offer the same long-term benefit in transformed FL. Overall, with the ability to personalize the sequencing of BsAbs and CAR T, the recently expanding portfolio of highly effective immunotherapies for R/R FL is poised to offer considerable benefit to this patient population.

CARs for lymphoma

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy has revolutionized treatment options for B-cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL). CD19-targeting CAR-T cell therapy is approved for treatment in Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma, Follicular Lymphoma, Mantle Cell Lymphoma, and Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia/Small Lymphocytic Lymphoma. CAR-T cells demonstrate robust and durable responses even in heavily pretreated patients. Clinicians should monitor for Cytokine Release Syndrome (CRS) and Immune Effector Cell Neurotoxicity Syndrome (ICANS), as well as cytopenias, infection, and secondary malignancies. Ongoing questions remain in improving manufacturing efficacy, sequencing CAR-T cells amongst other therapies including bi-specific antibodies (BiTEs), and predicting optimal responders. In addition, novel CARs are being developed with alternative targets or that secrete activating cytokines (i.e. "armored CARs"). CAR-T cells represent an effective lymphoma therapy and should be considered for eligible patients.

Advancing CAR T-cell therapies: Preclinical insights and clinical translation for hematological malignancies

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has achieved significant success in achieving durable and potentially curative responses in patients with hematological malignancies. CARs are tailored fusion proteins that direct T cells to a specific antigen on tumor cells thereby eliciting a targeted immune response. The approval of several CD19-targeted CAR T-cell therapies has resulted in a notable surge in clinical trials involving CAR T cell therapies for hematological malignancies. Despite advancements in understanding response mechanisms, resistance patterns, and adverse events associated with CAR T-cell therapy, the translation of these insights into robust clinical efficacy has shown modest outcomes in both clinical trials and real-world scenarios. Therefore, the assessment of CAR T-cell functionality through rigorous preclinical studies plays a pivotal role in refining therapeutic strategies for clinical applications. This review provides an overview of the various in vitro and animal models used to assess the functionality of CAR T-cells. We discuss the findings from preclinical research involving approved CAR T-cell products, along with the implications derived from recent preclinical studies aiming to optimize the functionality of CAR T-cells. The review underscores the importance of robust preclinical evaluations and the need for models that accurately replicate human disease to bridge the gap between preclinical success and clinical efficacy.

Third-generation anti-CD19 CAR T cells for relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia: a phase 1/2 study

Third-generation chimeric antigen receptor T cells (CARTs) for relapsed or refractory (r/r) chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) may improve efficacy compared to second-generation CARTs due to their enhanced CAR design. We performed the first phase 1/2 investigator-initiated trial evaluating escalating doses of third-generation CARTs (HD-CAR-1) targeting CD19 in patients with r/r CLL and B-cell lymphoma. CLL eligibility criteria were failure to two therapy lines including at least one pathway inhibitor and/or allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation. Nine heavily pretreated patients received HD-CAR-1 at dose levels ranging from 1 × 106 to 200 × 106 CART/m2. In-house HD-CAR-1 manufacturing was successful for all patients. While neurotoxicity was absent, one case of grade 3 cytokine release syndrome was observed. By day 90, six patients (67%) attained a CR, five of these (83%) with undetectable MRD. With a median follow-up of 27 months, 2-year PFS and OS were 30% and 69%, respectively. HD-CAR-1 products of responders contained significantly more CD4 + T cells compared to non-responders. In non-responders, a strong enrichment of effector memory-like CD8 + T cells with high expression of CD39 and/or CD197 was observed. HD-CAR-1 demonstrated encouraging efficacy and exceptionally low treatment-specific toxicity, presenting new treatment options for patients with r/r CLL. Trial registration: #NCT03676504.

Second Primary Malignancies after CAR T-Cell Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of 5,517 Lymphoma and Myeloma Patients

PURPOSE

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy is a potent immunotherapy for hematologic malignancies, but patients can develop long-term adverse events, including second primary malignancies (SPM) that impact morbidity and mortality. To delineate the frequency and subtypes of SPMs following CAR-T in lymphoma and myeloma, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis.

EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN

A literature search was conducted in the MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases. Following the extraction of SPM cases and assignment of malignant origin, we analyzed SPM point estimates using random effects models.

RESULTS

We identified 326 SPMs across 5,517 patients from 18 clinical trials and 7 real-world studies. With a median follow-up of 21.7 months, the overall SPM point estimate was 6.0% (95% confidence interval, 4.8%-7.4%). SPM estimates were associated with treatment setting (clinical trials > real-world studies), duration of follow-up, and number of prior treatment lines, which were each confirmed as independent study-level risk factors of SPM in a meta-regression model. A subgroup meta-analysis of the four trials that randomized CAR-T versus standard-of-care revealed a similar risk of SPM with either treatment strategy (P = 0.92). In a distribution analysis of SPM subtypes, hematologic malignancies were the most common entity (37%), followed by solid tumors (27%) and non-melanoma skin cancers (16%). T-cell malignancies represented a small minority of events (1.5%). We noted disease- and product-specific variations in SPM distribution.

CONCLUSIONS

These data raise awareness of SPM as a clinically relevant long-term adverse event in patients receiving CAR T-cell therapy. However, our findings do not indicate that SPM frequency is higher with CAR-T versus previous standard-of-care strategies.

The landscape of T-cell engagers for the treatment of follicular lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma (FL), the second most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, relies on interactions with immune elements in the tumor microenvironment, including T-follicular helper cells and follicular dendritic cells, for its survival and progression. Despite its initial responsiveness to chemoimmunotherapy, FL is generally considered incurable. Strategies to improve immune-mediated control of FL could significantly benefit this population, particularly as it includes many elderly and comorbid patients. Immune cell engagers, especially bispecific antibodies (BsAbs), are crucial in targeting FL by bridging tumor and effector cells, thereby triggering T-cell activation and cytotoxic killing. CD3 × CD20 BsAbs have shown the most promise in clinical development for B-NHL patients, with structural variations affecting their target affinity and potency. This review summarizes the current clinical trials of BsAbs for relapsed/refractory FL, highlighting the approval of some agents, their role in first-line treatment or combination therapies, their toxicity profiles, and the future of this therapeutic approach compared to other immune cell therapies.

CAR T-cell therapy in cancer: Integrating nursing perspectives for enhanced patient care

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy represents a significant advancement in cancer treatment, particularly for hematologic malignancies. Various cancer immunotherapy strategies are presently being explored, including cytokines, cancer vaccines, immune checkpoint inhibitors, immunomodulators monoclonal antibodies, etc. The therapy has shown impressive efficacy in treating conditions such as acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and multiple myeloma, often leading to complete remission in refractory cases. However, the clinical application of CAR T-cell therapy is accompanied by challenges, notably severe side effects. Effective management of these adverse effects requires meticulous monitoring and prompt intervention, highlighting the critical role of nursing in this therapeutic process. Nurses play a crucial role in patient education, monitoring, symptom management, care coordination, and psychosocial support, ensuring safe and effective treatment. As research advances and new CAR T-cell therapies are developed, the role of nursing professionals remains pivotal in optimizing patient outcomes. The continued evolution of CAR T-cell therapy promises improved outcomes, with nursing professionals integral to its success.

The winding road: Infectious disease considerations for CAR-T and other novel adoptive cellular therapies in the era of COVID-19

Adoptive cellular therapies (ACT) are novel, promising treatments for life-threatening malignancies. In addition to the better known chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells, ACTs include tumor infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), cancer antigen-specific T cell receptors (TCRs), and CAR-NK (natural killer) cells. In key historic milestones, several adoptive therapies recently received FDA approvals, including 6 CAR-T products for the treatment of hematologic malignancies and the first TIL therapy for the treatment for metastatic melanoma. The rapid pace of clinical trials in the field and the discoveries they provide are ushering in a new era of cancer immunotherapy. However, the potential complications of these therapies are still not fully understood. In particular, patients receiving ACT may be at increased risk for severe infections due to immunocompromise resulting from their underlying malignancies, which are further compounded by the immune derangements that develop in the setting of cellular immunotherapy and/or the preconditioning treatment needed to enhance ACT efficacy. Moreover, these treatments are being readily implemented at a time following the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it remains unclear what additional risks these patients may face from SARS-CoV-2 and similar infections. Here, we examine the evidence for infectious complications with emerging adoptive therapies, and provide a focused review of the epidemiology, complications, and clinical management for COVID-19 in CAR-T recipients to understand the risk this disease may pose to recipients of other forms of ACT.

CARs Moving Forward: The Development of CAR T-Cell Therapy in the Earlier Treatment Course of Hematologic Malignancies

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) has revolutionized the treatment of hematologic malignancies. There are several approvals in lymphomas, leukemias and myeloma. Randomized clinical trials have shown that CAR-T cell therapy improves survival over standard of care in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and multiple myeloma (MM), changing dramatically the current treatment paradigm. Current efforts are directed in improving outcomes in the frontline setting and confirmatory randomized trials are ongoing.

Recent developments in CD19-targeted therapies for follicular lymphoma

INTRODUCTION

CD19 has emerged as an important and novel therapeutic target in follicular lymphoma. CD19-directed therapies, including monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, and CAR T-cell therapies, offer promising avenues for treating follicular lymphoma and improving outcomes.

AREAS COVERED

We review the role and rationale of targeting CD19 in follicular lymphoma and different interventions of CD19 targeting, such as cell therapy, bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and monoclonal antibodies. We finalize with a discussion on how these therapies may influence the treatment landscape of follicular lymphoma.

EXPERT OPINION

CD19 is an attractive target for therapeutic development in follicular lymphoma. Given its effectiveness, it will continue to move forward as a promising therapy for this disease.

[Chinese expert consensus on the diagnosis and management of elderly patients with follicular lymphoma (2024)]

In the general population of China, the number of older patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) will continue to increase with age. The treatment of elderly patients with FL is based on individual principles, which focuses on the improvement of tumor-related symptoms and quality of life. To improve the diagnosis and treatment of elderly patients with FL in China, several organizations (i.e., Hematology Oncology Committee of China Anti-Cancer Association, etc.) have gathered relevant experts to formulate this consensus.

The rules of T-cell engagement: current state of CAR T cells and bispecific antibodies in B-cell lymphomas

ABSTRACT

T-cell engaging-therapies have transformed the treatment landscape of relapsed and refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas by offering highly effective treatments for patients with historically limited therapeutic options. This review focuses on the advances in chimeric antigen receptor-modified T cells and bispecific antibodies, first providing an overview of each product type, followed by exploring the primary data for currently available products in large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, and mantle cell lymphoma. This review also highlights key logistical and sequencing considerations across diseases and product types that can affect clinical decision-making.

Current and future therapies for follicular lymphoma

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an indolent, germinal center B cell-derived lymphoid neoplasm, for which recent advances in treatment have substantially improved patient survival. However, FL remains an incurable and heterogeneous disease, with groups of patients experiencing early disease progression, histologic transformation, or a high risk of treatment-related toxicity. Additionally, FL is a continually relapsing disease, and response rates and disease-control intervals decrease with each subsequent line of therapy. In this review, we explore the current treatment landscape for relapsed or refractory FL and promising therapies in development, highlighting the efficacy and potential risks of each treatment. We provide a real-world perspective on the unmet needs of patients with FL. Novel therapeutic approaches in development offer a wide array of options for clinicians when treating relapsed or refractory FL. A nuanced approach is required to address the needs of individual patients, taking into consideration both the risks and benefits of each treatment option, as well as patient preferences.

Finding Your CAR: The Road Ahead for Engineered T Cells

Adoptive cellular therapy using chimeric antigen receptors (CARs) has transformed immunotherapy by engineering T cells to target specific antigens on tumor cells. As the field continues to advance, pathology laboratories will play increasingly essential roles in the complicated multi-step process of CAR T-cell therapy. These include detection of targetable tumor antigens by flow cytometry or immunohistochemistry at the time of disease diagnosis and the isolation and infusion of CAR T cells. Additional roles include: i) detecting antigen loss or heterogeneity that renders resistance to CAR T cells as well as identifying alternative targetable antigens on tumor cells, ii) monitoring the phenotype, persistence, and tumor infiltration properties of CAR T cells and the tumor microenvironment for factors that predict CAR T-cell therapy success, and iii) evaluating side effects and biomarkers of CAR T-cell cytotoxicity such as cytokine release syndrome. This review highlights existing technologies that are applicable to monitoring CAR T-cell persistence, target antigen identification, and loss. Also discussed are emerging technologies that address new challenges such as how to put a brake on CAR T cells. Although pathology laboratories have already provided companion diagnostic tests important in immunotherapy (eg, programmed death-ligand 1, microsatellite instability, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 testing), it draws attention to the exciting new translational research opportunities in adoptive cellular therapy.

Safety and activity of lenalidomide in combination with obinutuzumab in patients with relapsed indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a single group, open-label, phase 1/2 trial

Background

Rituximab and lenalidomide is a preferred option for relapsed indolent B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Obinutuzumab may be a superior combination partner with lenalidomide given enhanced antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity and phagocytosis compared to rituximab. Our aim was to determine the recommended phase 2 dose, safety, and activity of lenalidomide in combination with fixed dose of obinutuzumab in relapsed and refractory indolent B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Methods

In this single-arm, open-label, phase 1/2 trial, we enrolled patients with relapsed or refractory WHO Grade 1-3A follicular lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma and small lymphocytic lymphoma and adequate performance status (ECOG 0-2) at the MD Anderson Cancer Center. We excluded patients with evidence of ongoing transformation to aggressive lymphoma. During phase 1, 1000 mg intravenous obinutuzumab was administered with three predefined levels of oral lenalidomide in a 3 + 3 dose escalation design to establish lenalidomide 20 mg as the recommended phase 2 dose. During phase 2, patients received induction therapy with six 28-day cycles of lenalidomide 20 mg with intravenous obinutuzumab 1000 mg. In accordance with our prior experience with lenalidomide plus rituximab, patients who were responding to the combination could receive up to 6 additional cycles (up to 12 cycles in total) of combination therapy. Dosing of obinutuzumab was continued in all responding patients after cycle 6 every 2 months for a total of 30 months from the start of therapy. The decision of number of cycles of combination therapy beyond 6 was at discretion of the investigator and was included to allow individualisation of therapy to maximise response while minimising exposure. The co-primary objectives were to evaluate the safety and overall response, defined as the proportion of patients who achieved a complete or partial response in relapsed and refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma at the end of induction therapy, according to Cheson and colleagues (2007 criteria). The secondary endpoints were complete response after induction therapy and time to event endpoints including time to progression, progression free survival, and overall survival. Analyses were intent to treat in the efficacy cohort and per-treated in the safety population in all patients who received at least one dose of either investigational agent. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT01995669.

Findings

Between June 03, 2014, and 07 March 2019, we completed planned enrolment, and 66 patients started therapy including 9 patients in phase 1 and 57 patients in phase 2. All patients were evaluated for safety and the 60 patients treated at the recommended phase 2 dose of lenalidomide 20 mg were evaluable for activity. Grade 3-4 haematological toxicities included neutropenia 21% (14/66) and thrombocytopenia 11% (7/66) with no cases of febrile neutropenia. Grade 3-4 non-haematological toxicities included lung infection 8% (5/66), fatigue 8% (5/66) and rash 6% (4/66). By Cheson 2007 criteria, 90% (54/60, 95% CI: 79-96) achieved an overall response at the end of induction meeting the prespecified activity endpoint. Complete responses were seen in 33% (20/60, 95% CI: 22-47) at the end of induction. Median progression free survival, time to progression and overall survival have not been reached after median follow-up of 41.7 months. Estimated 4-year progression free survival rates were 55% (95% CI: 42-73), time to progression of 56% (95% CI: 43-74) and overall survival of 84% (95% CI: 74-95).

Interpretation

Our findings suggest that oral lenalidomide with obinutuzumab is safe and highly active in patients with relapsed and refractory indolent B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma and is associated with prolonged remission duration. The study is limited by the lack of a control arm leading to cross-trial comparisons to evaluate activity. Future randomised trials comparing this regime to rituximab and lenalidomide are warranted.

Funding

Genentech and an MD Anderson Core grant.

Lisocabtagene maraleucel in follicular lymphoma: the phase 2 TRANSCEND FL study

An unmet need exists for patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma (FL) and high-risk disease features, such as progression of disease within 24 months (POD24) from first-line immunochemotherapy or disease refractory to both CD20-targeting agent and alkylator (double refractory), due to no established standard of care and poor outcomes. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy is an option in R/R FL after two or more lines of prior systemic therapy, but there is no consensus on its optimal timing in the disease course of FL, and there are no data in second-line (2L) treatment of patients with high-risk features. Lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel) is an autologous, CD19-directed, 4-1BB CAR T cell product. The phase 2 TRANSCEND FL study evaluated liso-cel in patients with R/R FL, including 2L patients who all had POD24 from diagnosis after treatment with anti-CD20 antibody and alkylator ≤6 months of FL diagnosis and/or met modified Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes Folliculaires criteria. Primary/key secondary endpoints were independent review committee-assessed overall response rate (ORR)/complete response (CR) rate. At data cutoff, 130 patients had received liso-cel (median follow-up, 18.9 months). Primary/key secondary endpoints were met. In third-line or later FL (n = 101), ORR was 97% (95% confidence interval (CI): 91.6‒99.4), and CR rate was 94% (95% CI: 87.5‒97.8). In 2L FL (n = 23), ORR was 96% (95% CI: 78.1‒99.9); all responders achieved CR. Cytokine release syndrome occurred in 58% of patients (grade ≥3, 1%); neurological events occurred in 15% of patients (grade ≥3, 2%). Liso-cel demonstrated efficacy and safety in patients with R/R FL, including high-risk 2L FL. ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04245839 .

Epcoritamab monotherapy in patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (EPCORE NHL-1): a phase 2 cohort of a single-arm, multicentre study

BACKGROUND

A standard of care and optimal duration of therapy have not been established for patients with multiply relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma. The aim of this study was to evaluate epcoritamab, a novel CD3 × CD20 bispecific antibody, in the third-line and later setting of follicular lymphoma.

METHODS

EPCORE NHL-1 is a multicohort, single-arm, phase 1-2 trial conducted at 88 sites across 15 countries. Here, we report the primary analysis of patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma in the phase 2 part of the trial, which included the pivotal (dose expansion) cohort and the cycle 1 optimisation cohort. Eligible patients were aged 18 years or older, had relapsed or refractory CD20+ follicular lymphoma (grade 1-3A), an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of up to 2, and had received at least two previous lines of therapy (including an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody and an alkylating agent or lenalidomide). Patients were treated with subcutaneous epcoritamab 48 mg in 28-day cycles: weekly in cycles 1-3, biweekly in cycles 4-9, and every 4 weeks until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. To mitigate the risk and severity of cytokine release syndrome, in the pivotal cohort, cycle 1 consisted of a step-up dosing regimen of a 0·16-mg priming dose on day 1 and a 0·80-mg intermediate dose on day 8, followed by subsequent 48-mg full doses and prophylactic prednisolone 100 mg; in the cycle 1 optimisation cohort, a second intermediate dose of 3 mg on day 15, adequate hydration, and prophylactic dexamethasone 15 mg were evaluated during cycle 1 to further reduce risk and severity of cytokine release syndrome. Primary endpoints were independently reviewed overall response rate for the pivotal cohort and the proportion of patients with grade 2 or worse and any-grade cytokine release syndrome for the cycle 1 optimisation cohort. Analyses were done in all enrolled patients who had received at least one dose of epcoritamab. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03625037, and is ongoing.

FINDINGS

Between June 19, 2020, and April 21, 2023, 128 patients (median age 65 years [IQR 55-72]; 49 [38%] female and 79 [62%] male) were enrolled and treated in the pivotal cohort (median follow-up 17·4 months [IQR 9·1-20·9]). The overall response rate was 82·0% (105 of 128 patients; 95% CI 74·3-88·3), with a complete response rate of 62·5% (80 of 128; 95% CI 53·5-70·9). The most common grade 3-4 treatment-emergent adverse event was neutropenia in 32 (25%) of 128 patients. Grade 1-2 cytokine release syndrome was reported in 83 (65%) of 128 patients; grade 3 cytokine release syndrome was reported in two (2%). Immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome was reported in eight (6%) of 128 patients (five [4%] grade 1; three [2%] grade 2). Between Oct 25, 2022, and Jan 8, 2024, 86 patients (median age 64 years [55-71]; 37 [43%] female and 49 [57%] male) were enrolled and treated in the cycle 1 optimisation cohort. The incidence of cytokine release syndrome was 49% (42 of 86 patients; eight [9%] grade 2; none of grade 3 or worse), with no reported immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome.

INTERPRETATION

Epcoritamab monotherapy showed clinically meaningful activity in patients with multiply relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma, and had a manageable safety profile.

FUNDING

Genmab and AbbVie.

The Rebirth of Radioimmunotherapy of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: The Phoenix of Nuclear Medicine?

In Greek mythology, The Phoenix is an immortal bird that dies, but then achieves new life by rising from the ashes of its predecessor. Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) of B-cell Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is a field which once began to fly high-with FDA approval of the anti-CD20 RITs Zevalin® and Bexxar® in 2002 and 2003 respectively, as safe and effective therapies of NHL. However, despite their therapeutic efficacy, Bexxar® was withdrawn from the market by the manufacturer in 2014 due to limited commercial demand and Zevalin® has had very limited to no availability of late. I-131 rituximab is used to a limited extent in Australia, India and other countries, as well. But has RIT of NHL been (perhaps prematurely) left for dead by many? Given the current great clinical and commercial interest in radiopharmaceutical therapies of cancer, notably PSMA and SSTR targeting agents in prostate and neuroendocrine cancers, can radioimmunotherapy of NHL-like the mythical Phoenix-now rise from its ashes in an even better form to fly higher, faster, farther and longer than before?

Efficacy and safety of bendamustine-containing bridging therapy in R/R LBCL patients receiving CD19 CAR T-cells

Bridging therapy (BT) after leukapheresis is required in most relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) patients receiving chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells. Bendamustine-containing regimens are a potential BT option. We aimed to assess if this agent had a negative impact on CAR-T outcomes when it was administered as BT. We included R/R LBCL patients from six centers who received systemic BT after leukapheresis from February 2019 to September 2022; patients who only received steroids or had pre-apheresis bendamustine exposure were excluded. Patients were divided into two BT groups, with and without bendamustine. Separate safety and efficacy analyses were carried out for axi-cel and tisa-cel. Of 243 patients who received BT, bendamustine (benda) was included in 62 (26%). There was a higher rate of BT progressors in the non-benda group (62% vs. 45%, p = 0.02). Concerning CAR-T efficacy, complete responses were comparable for benda versus non-benda BT cohorts with axi-cel (70% vs. 53%, p = 0.12) and tisa-cel (44% vs. 36%, p = 0.70). Also, 12-month progression-free and overall survival were not significantly different between BT groups with axi-cel (56% vs. 43% and 71% vs. 63%) and tisa-cel (25% vs. 26% and 52% vs. 48%); there were no differences when BT response was considered. CAR T-cell expansion for each construct was similar between BT groups. Regarding safety, CRS G ≥3 (6% vs. 6%, p = 0.79), ICANS G ≥3 (15% vs. 17%, p = 0.68), severe infections, and neutropenia post-infusion were comparable among BT regimens. BT with bendamustine-containing regimens is safe for patients requiring disease control during CAR T-cell manufacturing.

Late events after anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy for relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Background

The short-term complications from chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy (CART) are well characterized, but the long-term complications still need to be further investigated. Therefore, herein, we will review the currently available literature published on the late adverse events following CART.

Methods

We reviewed published data available from pivotal trials and real-world experiences with anti-CD19 CART (CART19) for adults with lymphoma. We defined late events as occurring or persisting beyond 1 month after CART infusion. We focused our literature review on the following late-event outcomes post-CART19: cytopenia, immune reconstitution, infections, and subsequent malignancies.

Results

Grade 3-4 cytopenia beyond 30 days occurs in 30%-40% of patients and beyond 90 days in 3%-22% of patients and is usually managed with growth-factor and transfusion support, along with neutropenic prophylaxis. B-cell aplasia and hypogammaglobulinemia are expected on-target off-tumor effects of CART19, 44%-53% of patients have IgG < 400 mg/dL, and approximately 27%-38% of patients receive intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) replacement. Infections beyond the initial month from CART19 are not frequent and rarely severe, but they are more prevalent and severe when patients receive subsequent therapies post-CART19 for their underlying disease. Late neurotoxicity and neurocognitive impairment are uncommon, and other causes should be considered. T-cell lymphoma (TCL) after CART is an extremely rare event and not necessarily related to CAR transgene. Myeloid neoplasm is not rare post-CART, but unclear causality given heavily pretreated patient population is already at risk for therapy-related myeloid neoplasm.

Conclusion

CART19 is associated with clinically significant long-term effects such as prolonged cytopenia, hypogammaglobulinemia, and infections that warrant clinical surveillance, but they are mostly manageable with a low risk of non-relapse mortality. The risk of subsequent malignancies post-CART19 seems low, and the relationship with CART19 and/or prior therapies is unclear; but regardless of the possible causality, this should not impact the current benefit-risk ratio of CART19 for relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

[T-cell recruiting immunotherapies in B-cell lymphoma - the future backbone for all therapy lines?]

The introduction of immunologically targeted therapies has represented a significant advancement in the treatment of B-cell lymphomas, particularly aggressive B-cell lymphoma. CD19 CAR-T cells such as Axicabtagen-Ciloleucel (Axi-cel) and Lisocabtagen Maraleucel (Liso-cel) have been approved since 2022 and 2023, respectively, for second-line therapy of Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphomas (DLBCL), when there is primary refractory disease or relapse within 12 months after the end of first-line therapy. These therapies result in a significant improvement in progression-free survival compared to the previous standard therapy (salvage chemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation). Especially in elderly patients or patients with underlying medical conditions, CAR-T cell therapies like Axi-cel and Liso-cel demonstrate acceptable tolerability and high efficacy.Furthermore, bispecific T-cell-engaging antibodies ("bispecifics") such as Glofitamab, Epcoritamab, and Mosunetuzumab also represent promising treatment options for patients with relapsed disease after failure of second- or later line therapy and show efficacy even in a subset of patients relapsing after CD19 CAR-T cells. However, randomized study results for these substances are not yet available. They are expected to be used in earlier lines of therapy in the future, especially in combination with standard chemotherapy regimens. Common side effects of bispecific antibody therapies are cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune-mediated cytopenias, whereas immune-cell associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) is relatively rare compared to CD19 CAR T cells. In summary, bispecifics represent a novel, highly effective immunotherapy for the treatment of lymphomas with a very favourable toxicity profile.

Budget Impact of Introducing Fixed-Duration Mosunetuzumab for the Treatment of Relapsed or Refractory Follicular Lymphoma After Two or More Lines of Systemic Therapy in the USA

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to assess the budget impact of introducing fixed-duration mosunetuzumab as a treatment option for adult patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma after at least two prior systemic therapies and to estimate the total cumulative costs per patient in the USA.

METHODS

A 3-year budget impact model was developed for a hypothetical 1-million-member cohort enrolled in a mixed commercial/Medicare health plan. Comparators were: axicabtagene ciloleucel, tisagenlecleucel, tazemetostat, rituximab plus lenalidomide, copanlisib, and older therapies (rituximab or obinutuzumab ± chemotherapy). Costs per patient comprised treatment-associated costs including the drug, its administration, adverse events, and routine care. Dosing and safety data were ascertained from respective package inserts and clinical trial data. Drug costs (March 2023) were estimated based on the average wholesale acquisition cost reported in AnalySource®, and all other costs were based on published sources and inflated to 2022 US dollars. Market shares were obtained from Genentech internal projections and expert opinion. Budget impact outcomes were presented on a per-member per-month basis.

RESULTS

Compared with a scenario without mosunetuzumab, its introduction over 3 years resulted in a budget increase of $69,812 (1% increase) and an average per-member per-month budget impact of $0.0019. Among the newer therapies, mosunetuzumab had the second-lowest cumulative per patient cost (mosunetuzumab = $202,039; axicabtagene ciloleucel = $505,845; tisagenlecleucel = $476,293; rituximab plus lenalidomide = $263,520; tazemetostat = $250,665; copanlisib = $127,293) and drug costs, and its introduction only increased total drug costs by 0.1%. By year 3, the cumulative difference in the per patient cost with mosunetuzumab was -$303,805 versus axicabtagene ciloleucel, -$274,254 versus tisagenlecleucel, -$61,481 versus rituximab plus lenalidomide, -$48,625 versus tazemetostat, and $74,747 versus copanlisib. Older therapies were less costly with 3-year cumulative costs that ranged from $36,512 to $147,885.

CONCLUSIONS

Over 3 years, the estimated cumulative per patient cost of mosunetuzumab is lower than most available newer therapies, resulting in a small increase in the budget after its formulary adoption for the treatment of relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma.

Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-Cell Therapy in Hematologic Malignancies: Clinical Implications and Limitations

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy has become a powerful treatment option in B-cell and plasma cell malignancies, and many patients have benefited from its use. To date, six CAR T-cell products have been approved by the FDA and EMA, and many more are being developed and investigated in clinical trials. The whole field of adoptive cell transfer has experienced an unbelievable development process, and we are now at the edge of a new era of immune therapies that will have its impact beyond hematologic malignancies. Areas of interest are, e.g., solid oncology, autoimmune diseases, infectious diseases, and others. Although much has been achieved so far, there is still a huge effort needed to overcome significant challenges and difficulties. We are witnessing a rapid expansion of knowledge, induced by new biomedical technologies and CAR designs. The era of CAR T-cell therapy has just begun, and new products will widen the therapeutic landscape in the future. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical applications of CAR T-cells, focusing on the approved products and emphasizing their benefits but also indicating limitations and challenges.

CAR-T Cell Therapy for Follicular Lymphomas

Follicular lymphoma is the second most diagnosed lymphoma in Western Europe. Significant advancements have considerably improved the survival of FL patients. However, 10-20% of these patients are refractory to standard treatments, and most of them will relapse. The treatment of follicular lymphoma patients with multiply relapsed or refractory disease represents an area of high-unmet needing new treatments with stronger efficacy. Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy targeting B-cell antigens, such as CD19 or CD20, is emerging as an efficacious treatment for R/R follicular lymphoma patients, particularly for those with early relapse and refractory to alkylating agents and to anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, resulting in a high rate of durable responses in a high proportion of patients.