Primary gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A multicentre retrospective study

Primary gastric diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (PG-DLBCL) accounts for the majority of extra-nodal DLBCL. Even so, literature is lacking on early, localised presentations. We studied a cohort of patients with stage I disease, diagnosed between 2006 and 2018, from six centres between Australia, Canada and Denmark. Our goal was to characterise outcomes, review treatment and investigate the role of interim positron emission tomography (iPET). Thirty-seven eligible patients were identified. The median duration of follow-up was 42.2 months. All received chemoimmunotherapy with 91.9% (n = 34) given rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone (R-CHOP). 35.1% (n = 13) underwent consolidative radiotherapy. Eighteen patients were H. pylori positive and 11 had the documentation of H. pylori eradication therapy. The 4-year progression-free survival and overall survival of R-CHOP was 88% (95% CI: 71-95) and 91% (95% CI: 75-97) respectively. All patients who achieved a partial metabolic response or complete metabolic response on iPET went on to achieve complete response at the end of treatment. R-CHOP-based therapy with iPET assessment appears to offer favourable outcomes, with radiotherapy and H. pylori eradication therapy implemented on a case-by-case basis.

Poor outcomes for trial-ineligible patients receiving polatuzumab for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in routine care: An Australian Lymphoma and Related Diseases Registry project

Polatuzumab vedotin (Pola) is an approved therapy in combination with rituximab and bendamustine for relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (RR-DLBCL) based on positive results of the landmark phase II randomised G029365 trial. However, trial results for many approved novel therapies in RR-DLBCL have not been replicated in routine care cohorts, as RR-DLBCL patient populations are heterogeneous and trial eligibility is increasingly restrictive. We evaluated outcomes from pola ± bendamustine and rituximab in patients with RR-DLBCL enrolled in a compassionate access program with no alternative treatment options identified via the Australasian Lymphoma and Related Diseases Registry according to their eligibility for the original phase II published study. Of 58 eligible patients, 74% met the criteria deeming them ineligible for the G029365 original study at the time of pola's commencement. Median progression-free survival and overall survival in our cohort were 2.3 and 3.5 months, respectively. In contrast to the landmark trial cohort, more of our patients ceased therapy prior to completion, the majority due to progressive disease and only 8/58 received any subsequent treatment. Dismal outcomes in this Australian real-world population demonstrate trial eligibility is challenging to meet, and newer treatments can be difficult to deliver in routine care. Clinically applicable results from therapeutic studies require trial cohorts to reflect representative clinical populations wherever possible, and more research is required to address the benefit of novel agents in the increasing majority who are ineligible for modern studies.

International Prognostic Score for Nodular Lymphocyte-Predominant Hodgkin Lymphoma

PURPOSE

Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) is a rare cancer, and large international cooperative efforts are needed to evaluate the significance of clinical risk factors and immunoarchitectural patterns (IAPs) for all stages of pediatric and adult patients with NLPHL.

METHODS

Thirty-eight institutions participated in the Global nLPHL One Working Group retrospective study of NLPHL cases from 1992 to 2021. We measured progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), transformation rate, and lymphoma-specific death rate. We performed uni- and multivariable (MVA) Cox regression stratified by management to select factors for the lymphocyte-predominant international prognostic score (LP-IPS) validated by five-fold cross-validation.

RESULTS

We identified 2,243 patients with a median age of 37 years (IQR, 23-51). The median follow-up was 6.3 years (IQR, 3.4-10.8). Most had stage I to II (72.9%) and few B symptoms (9.9%) or splenic involvement (5.4%). IAP was scored for 916 (40.8%). Frontline management included chemotherapy alone (32.4%), combined modality therapy (30.5%), radiotherapy alone (24.0%), observation after excision (4.6%), rituximab alone (4.0%), active surveillance (3.4%), and rituximab and radiotherapy (1.1%). The PFS, OS, transformation, and lymphoma-specific death rates at 10 years were 70.8%, 91.6%, 4.8%, and 3.3%, respectively. On MVA, IAPs were not associated with PFS or OS, but IAP E had higher risk of transformation (hazard ratio [HR], 1.81; P < .05). We developed the LP-IPS with 1 point each for age ≥45 years, stage III-IV, hemoglobin <10.5 g/dL, and splenic involvement. Increasing LP-IPS was significantly associated with worse PFS (HR, 1.52) and OS (HR, 2.31) and increased risk of lymphoma-specific death (HR, 2.63) and transformation (HR, 1.41).

CONCLUSION

In this comprehensive study of all ages of patients with NLPHL, we develop the LP-IPS to identify high-risk patients and inform upcoming prospective clinical trials evaluating de-escalation of therapy for patients with low LP-IPS scores (<2).

Impact and utility of follicular lymphoma GELF criteria in routine care: an Australasian Lymphoma Alliance study

Follicular Lymphoma (FL) treatment initiation is largely determined by tumor burden and symptoms. In the pre-rituximab era, the Group d'Etude des Lymphomes Folliculaires (GELF) developed widely adopted criteria to identify high tumor burden FL patients to harmonize clinical trial populations. The utilization of GELF criteria (GELFc) in routine therapeutic decision-making is poorly described. This multicenter retrospective study evaluated patterns of GELFc at presentation and GELFc utilization in therapeutic decision-making in newly diagnosed, advanced stage rituximab-era FL. Associations between GELFc, treatment given, and patient survival were analyzed in 300 eligible cases identified between 2002-2019. 163 (54%) had ≥1 GELFc at diagnosis. The presence or cumulative number of GELFc did not predict PFS in patients undergoing watch-and-wait (WW) or those receiving systemic treatment. Of interest, in patients with ≥1 GELFc, 16/163 (10%) underwent initial watch-and-wait (comprising 22% of the watchand- wait cohort). In those receiving systemic therapy +/- radiotherapy, 74/215 (34%) met no GELFc. Our data suggest clinicians are using adjunctive measures to make decisions regarding treatment initiation in a significant proportion of patients. By restricting FL clinical trial eligibility only to those meeting GELFc, reported outcomes may not be applicable to a significant proportion of patients treated in routine care settings.

Antibody and immunotherapy in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common lymphoma and a heterogeneous B-cell disease. The majority of patients with newly diagnosed disease are cured with first-line combination immunochemotherapy treatment however, those who experience treatment failure have dismal outcomes. Antibody therapies and immunotherapy have provided the single most major advance in the treatment of DLBCL in the last 4 decades. Rituximab, the first immunotherapy, and a monoclonal antibody targeting CD20, improved DLBCL overall survival when added to chemotherapy 2 decades ago. Since then, the advent of further "naked" monoclonal antibodies that target malignant B-cells or stimulate the immune system to kill cancer, as well as antibody-drug conjugates and bispecific antibodies have all entered the DLBCL armamentarium; with 5 antibody therapy approvals in the last 6 years alone. Here we review the literature on antibodies and immunotherapies for DLBCL and the future directions involving this successful group of drugs.

Outcomes in grade 3B follicular lymphoma: an international study led by the Australasian Lymphoma Alliance

Grade (G) 3B follicular lymphoma (FL) is a rare FL subtype which exists on a histological continuum between 'lowgrade' (Grade 1, 2 and 3A FL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) appearing to share features with each. Clinical characteristics and outcomes are poorly understood due to lack of adequate representation in prospective trials and large-scale analyses. We analyzed 157 G3BFL cases from 18 international centers, and two comparator groups; G3AFL (n=302) and DLBCL (n=548). Composite histology with DLBCL or low-grade FL occurred in approximately half of the G3BFL cases. With a median of 5 years follow-up, the overall survival and progression-free survival of G3BFL patients was better than that of DLBCL patients (P<0.001 and P<0.001, respectively); however, G3BFL patients were younger (P<0.001) with better performance status (P<0.001), less extranodal disease (P<0.001) and more frequently had normal lactate dehydrogenase (P<0.001) at baseline. The overall and progression-free survival of patients with G3BFL and G3AFL were similar (P=0.83 and P=0.80, respectively). After frontline immunochemotherapy, 24% of G3BFL relapsed; relapse rates were 63% in the DLBCL cohort and 19% in the low-grade FL cohort. Eight percent of relapses occurred beyond 5 years. In this G3BFL cohort, the revised International Prognostic Index successfully delineated risk groups, but the Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index did not. We conclude that patients with immunochemotherapy-treated G3BFL have similar survival outcomes to those with G3AFL, yet a favorable baseline profile and distinctly superior prognosis compared to patients with DLBCL.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Large B-cell lymphoma, the prototype of aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas, is both the most common lymphoma and accounts for the highest global burden of lymphoma-related deaths. For nearly 4 decades, the goal of treatment has been "cure", first based on CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone), and subsequently with rituximab plus CHOP. However, there is significant clinical, pathologic, and biologic heterogeneity, and not all patients are cured. Understanding and incorporating this biologic heterogeneity into treatment decisions unfortunately is not yet standard of care. Despite this gap, we now have significant advances in frontline, relapsed, and refractory settings. The POLARIX trial shows, for the first time, improved progression-free survival in a prospective randomized phase 3 setting. In the relapsed and refractory settings, there are now many approved agents/regimens, and several bispecific antibodies poised to join the arsenal of options. While chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy is discussed in detail elsewhere, it has quickly become an excellent option in the second-line setting and beyond. Unfortunately, special populations such as older adults continue to have poor outcomes and be underrepresented in trials, although a new generation of trials aim to address this disparity. This brief review will highlight the key issues and advances that offer improved outcomes to an increasing portion of patients.

Clinical characteristics of Australian treatment-naïve patients with classical Hodgkin lymphoma from the lymphoma and related diseases registry

Comprehensive clinical characteristics of Australian patients with classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL) have not previously been systematically collected and described. We report real-world data of 498 eligible patients from the first 5 years of the Lymphoma and Related Diseases Registry (LaRDR), including baseline characteristics, histologic subtype, and treatment patterns in first-line therapy. Patient demographics and distribution of histopathological subtypes of cHL are similar to reported international cohorts. Doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (ABVD) was the most common therapy for both early and advanced-stage disease, and 48% of patients with the early-stage disease received radiotherapy. Treatment patterns are consistent with international guidelines. In comorbid patients ≥60 years of age with advanced-stage disease, there is greater variation in treatment. In patients with a recorded response, the objective response rate (ORR) was 96% in early-stage disease, and 88% in advanced-stage disease. Early progression-free survival data suggest Australian patients with cHL have good outcomes, similar to other international studies.

Immune priming with avelumab and rituximab prior to R-CHOP in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: the phase II AvR-CHOP study

Immune evasion, due to abnormal expression of programmed-death ligands 1 and 2 (PD-L1/PD-L2), predicts poor outcomes with chemoimmunotherapy in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) has limited efficacy at relapse but may sensitise relapsed lymphoma to subsequent chemotherapy. ICI delivery to immunologically intact patients may thus be the optimal use of this therapy. In the phase II AvR-CHOP study, 28 patients with treatment-naive stage II-IV DLBCL received sequential avelumab and rituximab priming ("AvRp;" avelumab 10 mg/kg and rituximab 375 mg/m2 2-weekly for 2 cycles), R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisolone for 6 cycles) and avelumab consolidation (10 mg/kg 2-weekly for 6 cycles). Grade 3/4 immune-related adverse events occurred in 11%, meeting the primary endpoint of a grade ≥3 irAE rate of <30%. R-CHOP delivery was not compromised but one patient ceased avelumab. Overall response rates (ORR) after AvRp and R-CHOP were 57% (18% CR) and 89% (all CR). High ORR to AvRp was observed in primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (67%; 4/6) and molecularly-defined EBV-positive DLBCL (100%; 3/3). Progression during AvRp was associated with chemorefractory disease. Two-year failure-free and overall survival were 82% and 89%. An immune priming strategy with AvRp, R-CHOP and avelumab consolidation shows acceptable toxicity with encouraging efficacy.

Diagnosis and management of primary central nervous system lymphoma: a Consensus Practice Statement from the Australasian Lymphoma Alliance

Primary central nervous system lymphoma is a clinicopathological disease entity that accounts for 1 % of all non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Advanced patient age, adverse disease biology and complexities of diagnosis and treatment render outcomes markedly inferior to systemic NHL. Despite this, an increasing evidence base including limited randomised controlled clinical trial data is informing optimal therapeutic strategies with methotrexate-based induction chemotherapy schedules and intensified consolidation in selected patients. This practice statement represents an evidence-based review of the literature and has been devised to assist healthcare professionals in the diagnosis and management of this disease. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Management and Outcomes of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma Post-transplant Lymphoproliferative Disorder in the Era of PET and Rituximab: A Multicenter Study From the Australasian Lymphoma Alliance

There are limited data on post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) in the era of positron emission tomography (PET) and rituximab (R). Furthermore, there is limited data on the risk of graft rejection with modern practices in reduction in immunosuppression (RIS). We studied 91 patients with monomorphic diffuse large B-cell lymphoma PTLD at 11 Australian centers: median age 52 years, diagnosed between 2004 and 2017, median follow-up 4.7 years (range, 0.5-14.5 y). RIS occurred in 88% of patients. For patients initially treated with R-monotherapy, 45% achieved complete remission, rising to 71% with the addition of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisolone (R-CHOP) for those not in complete remission. For patients initially treated with R-CHOP, the complete remission rate was 76%. There was no difference in overall survival (OS) between R-monotherapy and R-chemotherapy patients. There was no difference in OS for patients with systemic lymphoma (n = 68) versus central nervous system (CNS) involvement (n = 23) (3-y OS 72% versus 73%; P = 0.78). Treatment-related mortality was 7%. End of treatment PET was prognostic for patients with systemic lymphoma with longer OS in the PET negative group (3-y OS 91% versus 57%; P = 0.01). Graft rejection occurred in 9% (n = 4 biopsy-proven; n = 4 suspected) during the entire follow-up period with no cases of graft loss. RIS and R-based treatments are safe and effective with a low likelihood of graft rejection and high cure rate for patients achieving complete remission with CNS or systemic PTLD.

Abstract CT208: Phase I Dose Escalation Study of Radiotherapy and Durvalumab (MEDI4736) in Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL): The RaDD Study

Background: Most DLBCL & FL responds well to first line treatment, yet relapsed disease outcomes are poor. Immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI) with PD/PD1 inhibitors (PD1i) yield high response rates in some lymphomas; though single agent PD1i yields a disappointing ORR of 10% in heavily pre-treated DLBCL, some responses are durable. RT stimulates anti-tumour immunity through several mechanisms and may enhance response to ICI. Concurrent ICI & RT is synergistic in preclinical studies & solid tumours, improving local & distant (abscopal) response. RT to multiple disease sites may broaden the spectrum of tumour antigen release and overcome clonal variation between disease sites to further augment the immune response. A dose-response relationship between RT and antigen release has yet to be established. This phase I dose escalation study aims to determine the safety profile of RT in combination with durvalumab, an anti-PD-L1 monoclonal antibody, in relapsed/refractory DLBCL and FL.

Study Design and Methods: RaDD (NCT03610061) is a phase I dose escalation study to determine the safety profile of escalating dose and number of sites of RT in combination with durvalumab in relapsed/refractory (RR) DLBCL & FL. Eligible patients (pts) have received ≥ 1 prior line of therapy and are ineligible for or relapsed after autologous stem cell transplant (auto-SCT). Pts with active autoimmune disease, CNS involvement, prior allogeneic-SCT or chronic steroid use are excluded. RT dose and site escalation proceeds according to a 3+3 design with 6 dose levels (cohorts 1-6). Treatment comprises external beam RT to target site(s) daily for 5 days (Cohorts 1-5); Cohort 6 receives a further 5 daily fractions (max 30Gy). Durvalumab 1500mg IV commences day 2 of RT and continues 4-weekly until disease progression. Pts can continue until a second radiological progression if clinical benefit is ongoing. The dose limiting toxicity period is 28 days from start of RT.

The primary endpoint is the toxicity, drug pharmacokinetics, maximum tolerated dose (MTD) and recommended phase two dose (RP2D) of simultaneous RT and durvalumab. Secondary endpoints include response rates, progression-free survival and overall survival.

Correlative studies will examine the tumour-immune system interaction; an exploratory PET substudy with novel tracers for durvalumab (89Zr-Durvalumab) & CD8+ T cells (89Zr -Df-IAB22M2C) will also be performed.

Projected enrolment for determination of the MTD and RP2D is 6-30 pts pending toxicity. Recruitment will continue to 36 pts for secondary endpoint analysis. 22 pts are enrolled to date in the main study, with 2 patients enrolled in the PET-substudy.

Acknowledgements: Victorian Cancer Agency (grant funding - TRP16006), Astra Zeneca (durvalumab and funding), Celgene (funding), Imaginab (89Zr -Df-IAB22M2C).

Citation Format: Kate Manos, Richard Khor, Geoffrey Chong, Jodie Palmer, Michael MacManus, Colm Keane, Andrew M. Scott, Jake Shortt, David Ritchie, Leonid Churilov, Laura Johnston, Tom Witkowski, Allison Barraclough, Sze Ting Lee, Wendi Lin, Rachel Koldej, Eliza Hawkes. Phase I Dose Escalation Study of Radiotherapy and Durvalumab (MEDI4736) in Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL): The RaDD Study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2021; 2021 Apr 10-15 and May 17-21. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2021;81(13_Suppl):Abstract nr CT208.

Immune priming with nivolumab followed by nivolumab and rituximab in first-line treatment of follicular lymphoma: The phase 2 1st FLOR study

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Background: Standard of care immunochemotherapy in front-line (1L) follicular lymphoma (FL) is highly efficacious but not without significant toxicity. High rates of grade 3-5 adverse events (AEs), primarily infection and bone marrow suppression, are experienced in up to 75% of patients. A more tolerable but equally effective approach is required. PD-1 inhibition, in combination with rituximab (R), increases T cell anti-tumour effect & enhances NK cell antibody dependent cell cytotoxicity, with proven efficacy in relapsed FL. The concept of ‘priming’ the immune system with nivolumab (N) prior to tumour-directed therapy has rationale and evidence, but the safety of this approach in 1L FL is not described. Methods: ‘1st FLOR’ (NCT03245021) is an open-label, multi-centre, phase 2, Simon’s 2-stage study of N + R (N = 39). Key eligibility were stage III-IV grade 1-3A FL requiring 1L systemic therapy; ECOG ≤2; adequate organ function. All patients (pts) receive induction N 240mg IV 2-weekly for 4 cycles. Pts with complete response (CR) receive 4 further cycles of 240mg IV N monotherapy then 12 cycles of maintenance N 480mg IV 4-weekly. Pts with < CR had 240mg N plus 375mg/m2 IV R 2-weekly for 4 cycles followed by maintenance N+R (N 480mg 4 weekly for 12 cycles; R 12 weekly for 8 cycles). Primary endpoint (EP) was ≥ G3 toxicity rate during induction. Secondary EPs; response rate by Lugano response criteria, overall toxicity, PFS, OS. Results: Between September 2017 to March 2020, 39 pts were enrolled. Baseline characteristics included median age of 54 (range: 28-79). stage IV disease in 67%, B Symptoms & bulk (≥7cm) in 23% each, intermediate-high risk FLIPI in 74%. The primary EP was met, with only 16 pts (41%) having ≥G3 toxicity at end of induction. Non-immune AEs were predominantly G1-2; most commonly infection (67%) & fatigue (64%). G3-4 Immune-related AEs were infrequent and included pancreatitis plus hepatitis (N = 1), pancreatitis alone (N = 1), rash (N = 1), transaminitis (N = 2), hypocortisolism (N = 1), hyperglycaemia (N = 3) and asymptomatic lipase/amylase increase (N = 3). Median follow-up was 17.5 months (range: 7-39). Overall response rate was 92% (36/39) with CR in 54% (21/39). Median time to CR was 5 months (m) (range: 2-25). Nine pts (23%) discontinued treatment; 7 due to progressive disease (1 pt died of transformed FL), 2 developed constitutional symptoms (1 stable disease, 1 partial response). In 25 evaluable pts, 12m PFS & OS is 72% (CI 51-88) & 96% (CI 80-100). Biomarker analysis is in progress. Conclusions: Immune-priming with single-agent N, then combination N+R in 1L FL is associated with favourable toxicity and high ORR & CR rates potentially providing an alternative to chemotherapy. Acknowledgements: Bristol-myers Squibb provided funding and nivolumab for this study. Clinical trial information: NCT03245021.

Evolution of eligibility criteria for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma randomised controlled trials over 30 years

Eligibility criteria for randomised control trials (RCT) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) may be becoming increasingly strict. In this analysis, 42 first-line phase III RCTs enrolling DLBCL patients since 1990 were identified from PubMed and clinicaltrials.gov. Changes in 31 individual eligibility criteria were assessed using three pre-defined eras [(1) 1993-2005; (2) 2006-2013; and (3) 2014-2020]. The presence of 15/31 criteria increased significantly over time, and the total number of criteria per study also increased over time [median Era 1: 14·5, interquartile range (IQR) 12·6-16·4; Era 2: 21, 18·8-23·3; Era 3: 23, 21-25; P < 0·001]. When each trial's eligibility criteria were applied to 215 consecutive patients from an institutional database treated between 2010 and 2020, a median of 57% (IQR 47-70) of patients were hypothetically eligible for trial enrolment. The median percentage of patients eligible was 68% (56-91), 54% (37-81) and 47% (38-82) for Era 1, 2 and 3 respectively (P = 0·004). Phase III front-line DLBCL trial criteria have become increasingly restrictive over the last three decades, resulting in a diminishing proportion of trial-eligible patients, with less than 50% of our patients eligible for modern-era studies. This potentially impacts generalisability of recent trial results and will likely limit recruitment to ongoing studies.

The diagnostic and therapeutic challenges of Grade 3B follicular lymphoma

Grade 3B follicular lymphoma (G3B FL) is rare, accounting for only 5-10% of FLs. Not only has it been routinely excluded from clinical trials, but data published on diagnosis, outcomes, choice of therapies and role of imaging are conflicting. With the advent of increasingly diverse treatment options for low-grade (G1-3A) FL, and the molecular subcategorisation of high-grade B-cell lymphomas, characterisation and treatment of G3B FL is ever more important as extrapolation of data becomes more difficult. New data have emerged exploring unique genetic characteristics, specific features on positron emission tomography imaging, choice of therapy, and outcomes of G3B FL in the current era. The present review will summarise and appraise these new data, and offer recommendations based on current evidence.

Simplified Geriatric Assessment in Older Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma: The Prospective Elderly Project of the Fondazione Italiana Linfomi

PURPOSE

To prospectively validate the use of a simplified geriatric assessment (sGA) at diagnosis and to integrate it into a prognostic score for older patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

METHODS

We conducted the prospective Elderly Project study on patients with DLBCL older than 64 years who underwent our Fondazione Italiana Linfomi original geriatric assessment (oGA) (age, Cumulative Illness Rating Scale for Geriatrics, activities of daily living, and instrumental activities of daily living) before treatment. Treatment choice was left to the physician's discretion. The primary end point was overall survival (OS) (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02364050).

RESULTS

We analyzed 1,163 patients (median age 76 years), with a 3-year OS of 65% (95% CI, 62 to 68). Because at multivariate analysis on oGA, age > 80 years retained an independent correlation with OS, we also developed a new, simplified version of the GA (sGA) that classifies patients as fit (55%), unfit (28%), and frail (18%) with significantly different 3-year OS of 75%, 58%, and 43%, respectively. The sGA groups, International Prognostic Index, and hemoglobin levels were independent predictors of OS and were used to build the Elderly Prognostic Index (EPI). Three risk groups were identified: low (23%), intermediate (48%), and high (29%), with an estimated 3-year OS of 87% (95% CI, 81 to 91), 69% (95% CI, 63 to 73), and 42% (95% CI, 36 to 49), respectively. The EPI was validated using an independent external series of 328 cases.

CONCLUSION

The Elderly Project validates sGA as an objective tool to assess fitness status and defines the new EPI to predict OS of older patients with DLBCL.

7th drug hypersensitivity meeting: part one

Oral Abstracts

O1 Functionally distinct HMGB1 isoforms correlate with physiological processes in drug-induced SJS/TEN

Daniel F. Carr, Wen-Hung Chung, Rosalind E. Jenkiins, Mas Chaponda, Gospel Nwikue, Elena M. Cornejo Castro, Daniel J. Antoine, Munir Pirmohamed

O2 Hypersensitivity reactions to beta-lactams, does the t cell recognition pattern influence the clinical picture?

Natascha Wuillemin, Dolores Dina, Klara K. Eriksson, Daniel Yerly

O3 Specific binding characteristics of HLA alleles associated with nevirapine hypersensitivity

Rebecca Pavlos, Elizabeth Mckinnin, David Ostrov, Bjoern Peters, Soren Buus, David Koelle, Abha Chopra, Craig Rive, Alec Redwood, Susana Restrepo, Austin Bracey, Jing Yuan, Silvana Gaudieri, Mary Carrington, David Haas, Simon Mallal, Elizabeth Phillips

O4 Do we need to measure total ige for the interpretation of analytical results of ImmunoCAP dnd 3gAllergy specific IgE?

Douwe De Boer, Paul Menheere, Chris Nieuwhof, Judith Bons

O5 Neutrophil activation in systemic anaphylaxis: results from the multicentric NASA study

Friederike Jonsson, Luc De Chaisemartin, Vanessa Granger, Caitlin Gillis, Aurelie Gouel, Catherine Neukirch, Fadia Dib, Pascale Roland Nicaise, Dan Longrois, Florence Tubach, Sylvie Martin, Pierre Bruhns, NASA Study Group

O6 Purpuric drug eruptions due to epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs) for non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC): a clinic-pathological study of 32 cases

Kai-Lung Chen, Shu-Ling Liao, Yi-Shuan Sheen, Yung-Tsu Cho, Che-Wen Yang, Jau-Yu Liau, Chia-Yu Chu

Poster presentations: Poster Walk 1—Anaphylaxis (P01–P09)

P1 Anaphylactic reactions during anaesthesia and the perioperative period

Rita Aguiar, Anabela Lopes, Natália Fernandes, Leonor Viegas, M. A. Pereira-Barbosa

P2 Anaphylaxis to chlorhexidine: is there a cross-reactivity to alexidine?

Antonia Bünter, Nisha Gupta, Tatjana Pecaric Petkovic, Nicole Wirth, Werner J. Pichler, Oliver Hausmann

P3 Cefotaxime-induced severe anaphylaxis in a neonate

Mehtap Yazicioglu, Pinar G. Ozdemir, Gokce Ciplak, Ozkan Kaya

P4 Clinical features and diagnosis of anaphylaxis resulting from exposure to chlorhexidine

Peter John Cooke

P5 Drug-induced anaphylaxis: five-year single-center survey

Inês Mota, Ângela Gaspar, Filipe Benito-Garcia, Marta Chambel, Mário Morais-Almeida

P6 Intraoperative severe anaphylactic reaction due to patent blue v dye

Luis Marques, Eva Alcoceba, Silvia Lara

P7 Kounis syndrome in the setting of anaphylaxis to diclofenac

Leonor Carneiro-Leão, Carmen Botelho, Eunice Dias-Castro, Josefina Cernadas

P8 Perioperative anaphylaxis audit: Royal Melbourne Hospital

Katherine Nicholls, William Lay, Olivia Smith, Christine Collins, Gary Unglik, Kymble Spriggs, Priscilla Auyeung, Jeremy McComish, Jo A. Douglass

P9 Recurrent peri-operative anaphylaxis: a perfect storm

Jonny G. Peter, Paul Potter

Poster Walk 2: DH regions and patient groups (P10–P19)

P10 A rare presentation of amoxicillin allergy in a young child

Fabrícia Carolino, Eunice Dias De Castro, Josefina R. Cernadas

P11 Adverse drug reactions in children: antibiotics or virus?

Ana Sofia Moreira, Carmo Abreu, Eva Gomes

P12 Allergic reactions in invasive medical procedures

Bárbara Kong Cardoso, Elza Tomaz, Sara Correia, Filipe Inácio

P13 Antibiotic allergy in children: room for improvement

Annabelle Arnold, Natasha Bear, Kristina Rueter, Grace Gong, Michael O’Sullivan, Saravanan Muthusamy, Valerie Noble, Michaela Lucas

P14 Drug hypersensitivity reactions in children and results of diagnostic evaluation

Neringa Buterleviciute, Odilija Rudzeviciene

P15 Nonimmediate cutaneous drug reactions in children: are skin tests required?

Ana Sofia Moreira, Carmo Abreu, Eva Gomes

P16 Pediatric patients with a history of penicillin allergy and a positive penicillin skin test may not be at an increased risk for multiple drug allergies

Sara May, Thanai Pongdee, Miguel Park

P17 Proved hypersensitivity to drugs according data of Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Klinikos

Linas Griguola, Arturas Vinikovas, Simona Kašinskaite, Violeta Kvedariene

P18 Self-reported prevalence of drug hypersensitivity reactions among students in Celal Bayar University, Turkey

Ayse Aktas, Suheyla Rahman, Huseyin Elbi, Beyhan Cengiz Ozyurt

P19 Severe drug hypersensitivity reactions in pediatric age

Ozlem Cavkaytar, Betul Karaatmaca, Pinar Gur Cetinkaya, Saliha Esenboga, Umit M. Sahiner, Bulent E. Sekerel, Ozge Soyer

Poster Walk 3: Desensitisation (P20–P28)

P20 A protocol for desensitisation to valaciclovir

Celia Zubrinich, Bianca Tong, Mittal Patel, Michelle Giles, Robyn O’Hehir, Robert Puy

P21 A rare case of desensitization to modafinil

Josefina Cernadas, Luís Amaral, Fabrícia Carolino

P22 A sixteen-day desensitization protocol in delayed type hypersensitivity reactions to oral drugs

Semra Demir, Asli Gelincik, Muge Olgac, Raif Caskun, Derya Unal, Bahauddin Colakoglu, Suna Buyukozturk

P23 Desensitization to intravenous etoposide using a 12 and a 13-step protocol. Two cases report

Olga Vega Matute, Amalia Bernad, Gabriel Gastaminza, Roselle Madamba, Carlos Lacasa, M. J. Goikoetxea, Carmen D’Amelio, Jose Rifón, Nicolas Martínez, Marta Ferrer

P24 Drug desensitisation in oncology: the experience of an immunoallergology department for 5 years

Carmelita Ribeiro, Emília Faria, Cristina Frutuoso, Anabela Barros, Rosário Lebre, Alice Pego, Ana Todo Bom

P25 Filgrastim anaphylaxis: a successful desensitization protocol

Luis Amaral, Josefina Cernadas

P26 Galsulfase hypersensitivity and desensitization of a mucopolysaccharidosis VI patient

Luis Felipe Ensina, Carolina Aranda, Ines Camelo Nunes, Ana Maria Martins, Dirceu Solé

P27 Rapid drug desensitization with biologicals: one-center experience with four biologicals

Sevim Bavbek, Resat Kendirlinan, Pamir Çerçi, Seda Tutluer, Sadan Soyyigit, Zeynep Çelebi Sözener, Ömür Aydin, Reyhan Gümüsburun

P28 Successful desensitization to a high dose of methotrexate in a delayed type hypersensitivity reaction

Josefina Cernadas, Leonor Carneiro-Leão, Fabrícia Carolino, Marta Almeida

Poster Walk 4: SJS (P29–P38)

P29 Assessment of impact of infection on drug-induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions and rhabdomyolysis using the Japanese adverse drug event report database

Kimie Sai, Takuya Imatoh, Ryosuke Nakamura, Chisato Fukazawa, Yasushi Hinomura, Yoshiro Saito

P30 Characterization of erythema multiforme and severe cutaneous adverse reactions hospitalizations

Bernardo Sousa-Pinto, Cláudia Correia, Lídia Gomes, Sara Gil-Mata, Luís Araújo, Luís Delgado

P31 Effects of infection on incidence/severity of SJS/TEN and myopathy in Japanese cases analyzed by voluntary case reports

Ryosuke Nakamura, Kimie Sai, Takuya Imatoh, Yoshimi Okamoto-Uchida, Koji Kajinami, Kayoko Matsunaga, Michiko Aihara, Yoshiro Saito

P32 Efficacy of tumor necrosis factor—a antagonists in Stevens–Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis: a randomized controlled trial and immunosuppressive effects evaluation

Chuang-Wei Wang, Shih-Chi Su, Shuen-Iu Hung, Hsin-Chun Ho, Chih-Hsun Yang, Wen-Hung Chung

P33 Evolution of drug causality in Stevens–Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in Europe: analysis of 10 years RegiSCAR-Study

Maren Paulmann, Ariane Dunant, Maja Mockenhaupt, Peggy Sekula, Martin Schumacher, Sylvia Kardaun, Luigi Naldi, Teresa Bellón, Daniel Creamer, Cynthia Haddad, Bruno Sassolas, Bénédicte Lebrun-Vignes, Laurence Valeyrie-Allanore, Jean-Claude Roujeau

P34 Long-term sequelae in patients with Stevens–Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis: a 5-year analysis

Maren Paulmann, Carmen Kremmler, Peggy Sekula, Laurence Valeyrie-Allanore, Luigi Naldi, Sylvia Kardaun, Maja Mockenhaupt

P35 Major emotional complications and decreased health related quality of life among survivors of Stevens–Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis

Roni P. Dodiuk-Gad, Cristina Olteanu, Anthony Feinstein, Rena Hashimoto, Raed Alhusayen, Sonia Whyte-Croasdaile, Yaron Finkelstein, Marjorie Burnett, Shachar Sade, Robert Cartotto, Marc Jeschke, Neil H. Shear

P36 Retrospective analysis of Stevens–Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in Japanese patients: treatment and outcome

Naoko Takamura, Yumiko Yamane, Setsuko Matsukura, Kazuko Nakamura, Yuko Watanabe, Yukie Yamaguchi, Takeshi Kambara, Zenro Ikezawa, Michiko Aihara

P37 Severe physical complications among survivors of Stevens–Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis

Roni P. Dodiuk-Gad, Cristina Olteanu, Rena Hashimoto, Hall Chew, Raed Alhusayen, Sonia Whyte-Croasdaile, Yaron Finkelstein, Marjorie Burnett, Shachar Sade, Robert Cartotto, Marc Jeschke, Neil H. Shear

P38 Stevens–Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis combined with haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: a case report

Brittany Knezevic, Una Nic Ionmhain, Allison Barraclough, Michaela Lucas, Matthew Anstey

Poster Walk 5: Other organs/unexpected immune reactions (P39–P47)

P39 A case report of patient with anti-tuberculosis drug-related severe liver failure

Toru Usui, Xiaoli Meng, John Farrell, Paul Whitaker, John Watson, Neil French, Kevin Park, Dean Naisbitt

P40 Acute interstitial nephritis induced by ibuprofen

Ana Castro Neves, Susana Cadinha, Ana Moreira, J. P. Moreira Da Silva

P41 Cetuximab induced acneiform rash—two case reports

Daniela Ledic Drvar, Sandra Jerkovic Gulin, Suzana Ljubojevic Hadzavdic, Romana Ceovic

P42 Enteropathy associated with losartan

Ana Montoro De Francisco, Talía De Vicente Jiménez, Amelia García Luque, Natalia Rosado David, José Mª Mateos Galván

P43 Granuloma annulare after therapy with canakinumab

Razvigor Darlenski

P44 Hypersensitivity eosinophilic myocarditis or acute coronary syndrome? Case report

Dario Gulin, Jozica Sikic, Jasna Cerkez Habek, Sandra Jerkovic Gulin, Edvard Galic

P45 Piperacillin-induced immune haemolytic anaemia: a severe and frequent complication of antibiotic treatment in patients with cystic fibrosis

Philip Specht, Doris Staab, Beate Mayer, Jobst Roehmel

P46 Progesterone triggered pemphigus foliaceus: case report

Sandra Jerkovic Gulin, Caius Solovan, Anca Chiriac

P47 Ramipril: triggered generalized pustular psoriasis

Paola Djurinec, Kresimir Kostovic, Mirna Bradamante, Sandra Jerkovic Gulin, Romana Ceovic

Poster Walk 6: NSAIDs (P48–P56)

P48 Aspirin desensitization in cardiovascular disease—Portuguese experience

Jose Pedro Almeida, Joana Caiado, Elisa Pedro, Pedro Canas Da Silva, Manuel Pereira Barbosa

P49 Asthma and/or rhinitis to NSAIDs with good tolerance to ASA

Gador Bogas, Natalia Blanca-López, Diana Pérez-Alzate, Inmaculada Doña, José Augusto Agúndez, Elena García-Martín, José Antonio Cornejo-García, Cristobalina Mayorga, María José Torres, Gabriela Canto, Miguel Blanca

P50 Clinical characteristics of 196 patients with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAIDs) hypersensitivity

Sengül Aksakal, Aytül Zerrin Sin, Zeynep Peker Koç, Fatma Düsünür Günsen, Ömür Ardeniz, Emine Nihal Mete Gökmen, Okan Gülbahar, Ali Kokuludag

P51 Development of immediate hypersensitivity to several NSAIDs maintaining good tolerance to ASA

Natalia Pérez-Sánchez, Natalia Blanca-López, Diana Pérez-Alzate, Gador Bogas, Inmaculada Doña, María Salas, María José Torres, Miguel Blanca, Gabriela Canto

P52 Diagnosis of hypersensitivity reactions to paracetamol in a large series of cases

Inmaculada Doña, Maria Salas, Francisca Gomez, Natalia Blanca-Lopez, Diana Perez-Alzate, Gador Bogas, Esther Barrionuevo, Maria Jose Torres, Inmaculada Andreu, Miguel Ángel Miranda, Gabriela Canto, Miguel Blanca

P53 Hypersensitivity to paracetamol according to the new classification of hypersensitivity to NSAIDs

Gabija Didžiokaite, Olesia Gaidej, Simona Kašinskaite, Violeta Kvedariene

P54 Ibuprofen and other aryl propionic derivates can induce immediate selective hypersensitivity responses

Diana Perez-Alzate, Natalia Blanca-López, Maria Isabel Garcimartin, Inmaculada Doña, Maria Luisa Somoza, Cristobalina Mayorga, Maria Jose Torres, Gador Bojas, Jose Antonio Cornejo-Garcia, Maria Gabriela Canto, Miguel Blanca

P55 Subjects developing immediate responses to several NSAIDs can be selective with good tolerance to ASA

Natalia Blanca-Lopez, Diana Pérez-Alzate, Francisco Javier Ruano Perez, Inmaculada Doña, Maria Luisa Somoza, Inmaculada Andreu, Miguel Angel Miranda, Cristobalina Mayorga, Maria Jose Torres, Jose Antonio Cornejo-Garcia, Miguel Blanca, Maria Gabriela Canto

P56 Utility of low-dose oral aspirin challenges for diagnosis of aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease

Elina Jerschow, Teresa Pelletier, Zhen Ren, Golda Hudes, Marek Sanak, Esperanza Morales, Victor Schuster, Simon D. Spivack, David Rosenstreich

Poster Walk 7: NSAID 2 (P57–P65)

P57 Alternate regulation of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) MRNA expression may predispose patients to aspirin-induced exacerbations

Renato Erzen, Mira Silar, Nissera Bajrovic, Matija Rijavec, Mihaela Zidarn, Peter Korosec

P58 Anaphylaxis to diclofenac: what about the underlying mechanism?

Leonor Carneiro-Leão, Fabrícia Carolino, Luís Amaral, Carmen Botelho, Eunice Dias-Castro, Josefina Cernadas

P59 COX-2 inhibitors: are they always a safe alternative in hypersensitivity to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs?

Luis Amaral, Fabricia Carolino, Eunice Castro, Josefina Cernadas

P60 Management of patients with history of NSAIDs reactions prior to coronary angioplasty

Mona Al-Ahmad, Tito Rodriguez

P61 Oral drug challenge with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug under spirometric control: clinical series of 110 patients

João Pedro Azevedo, Emília Faria, Beatriz Tavares, Frederico Regateiro, Ana Todo-Bom

P62 Prevalence and incidence of analgesic hypersensitivity reactions in Colombia

Pablo Andrés Miranda, Bautista De La Cruz Hoyos

P63 Recent endoscopic sinus surgery lessens reactions during aspirin challenge in patients with aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease

Teresa Pelletier, Waleed Abuzeid, Nadeem Akbar, Marc Gibber, Marvin Fried, Weiguo Han, Taha Keskin, Robert Tamayev, Golda Hudes, Simon D. Spivack, David Rosenstreich, Elina Jerschow

P64 Safe use of imidazole salycilate in a case of multiple NSAIDs induced urticaria-angioedema

Elisa Boni, Marina Russello, Marina Mauro

P65 Selective hypersensitivity reactions to ibuprofen—seven years experience

Marta Ferreira Neto

Poster Walk 8: Epidemiological methods (P66–P72)

P66 Allopurinol hypersensitivity: a 7-year review

Lise Brosseron, Daniela Malheiro, Susana Cadinha, Patrícia Barreira, J. P. Moreira Da Silva

P67 Antibiotic allergy labelling is associated with increased hospital readmission rates in Australia

Brittany Knezevic, Dustin Sprigg, Michelle Trevenen, Jason Seet, Jason Trubiano, William Smith, Yogesh Jeelall, Sandra Vale, Richard Loh, Andrew Mclean-Tooke, Michaela Lucas

P68 Experts’ opinions on severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions-report of a survey from the 9th international congress on cutaneous adverse drug reactions 2015

Roni P. Dodiuk-Gad, Cristina Olteanu, Wen-Hung Chung, Neil H. Shear

P69 HLA-A*31-positive AGEP with carbamazepine use and other severe cutaneous adverse drug reactions (SCARs) detected by electronic medical records screening

Sabine Müller, Ursula Amstutz, Lukas Jörg, Nikhil Yawalkar, Stephan Krähenbühl

P70 Patients with suspected drug allergy: a specific psychological profile?

Eunice Dias-Castro, Ana Leblanc, Laura Ribeiro, Josefina R. Cernadas

P71 Use of an electronic device and a computerized mathematic algorithm to detect the allergic drug reactions through the analysis of heart rate variability

Arantza Vega, Raquel Gutierrez Rivas, Ana Alonso, Juan Maria Beitia, Belén Mateo, Remedios Cárdenas, Juan Jesus Garcia-Dominguez

P72 Variation in ERAP influences risk for HLA-B*57:01 positive abacavir hypersensitivity

Rebecca Pavlos, Kaija Strautins, Ian James, Simon Mallal, Alec Redwood, Elizabeth Phillips

Poster Walk 9: DRESS/AGEP (P73–P81)

P73 A clinical case of DRESS syndrome in a child after administration of amoxicillin-clavulanic acid

Rita Aguiar, Anabela Lopes, Ana Neves, Maria Do Céu Machado, M. A. Pereira-Barbosa

P74 Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) induced by mesalazine, reliable and oftenly used drug to treat inflammatory bowel disease

Ceyda Tunakan Dalgiç, Emine Nihal Mete Gökmen, Fatma Düsünür Günsen, Gökten Bulut, Fatma Ömür Ardeniz, Okan Gülbahar, Ali Kokuludag, Aytül Zerrin Sin

P75 Changes of blood plasmacytoid dendritic cells, myeloid dendritic cells, and basophils during the acute stage of drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) and other drug eruptions

Shao-Hsuan Hsu, Yung-Tsu Cho, Che-Wen Yang, Kai-Lung Chen, Chia-Yu Chu

P76 Characterization of isoniazid/rifampicin-specific t-cell responses in patients with DRESS syndrome

Young-Min Ye, Gyu-Young Hur, Hae-Sim Park, Seung-Hyun Kim

P77 DRESS syndrome secondary to sulfasalazine with delayed TEN: a case presentation

Syed Ali, Michaela Lucas, Peter N. Hollingsworth, Andrew P. C. Mclean-Tooke

P78 Drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) features according to the culprit drug

Zohra Chadly, Nadia Ben Fredj, Karim Aouam, Haifa Ben Romdhane, Naceur A. Boughattas, Amel Chaabane

P79 Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms induced by allopurinol: not always easy to diagnose

Marina Lluncor Salazar, Beatriz Pola, Ana Fiandor, Teresa Bellón, Elena Ramírez, Javier Domínguez Ortega, Santiago Quirce, Rosario Cabañas

P80 Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms syndrome induced by two drugs simultaneously: a case report

Krasimira Baynova, Marina Labella, Manuel Prados

P81 The drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) induced by the second-line antituberculosis drugs and Epstein–Barr virus infection

Agne Ramonaite, Ieva Bajoriuniene, Brigita Sitkauskiene, Raimundas Sakalauskas

Poster Walk 10: Miscellaneous drug hypersensitivity (P82–P91)

P82 A case of cycloserine-induced lichenoid drug eruption confirmed with a lymphocatye transformation test

Jae-Woo Kwon, Shinyoung Park

P83 Allergic reaction to topical eye drops: 5 years’ retrospective study in a drug allergy unit

Diana Silva, Leonor Carneiro Leão, Fabricia Carolino, Eunice Castro, Josefina Cernadas

P84 Allergy to heparins

Diana Perez-Alzate, Natalia Blanca-López, Maria Luisa Somoza Alvarez, Maria Garcimartin, Maria Vazquez De La Torre, Francisco Javier Ruano Pérez, Elisa Haroun, Gabriela Canto Diez

P85 Allopurinol-induced adverse drug reactions

Katinka Ónodi-Nagy, Ágnes Kinyó, Lajos Kemény, Zsuzsanna Bata-Csörgo

P86 Analysis of a population with immediate hypersensitivity to corticosteroids: an 11 year review

Joana Sofia Pita, Emília Faria, Rosa Anita Fernandes, Ana Moura, Nuno Sousa, Carmelita Ribeiro, Carlos Loureiro, Ana Todo Bom

P87 Anaphylaxis against mivacurium in a 12-months old boy at first-time exposure

Wolfgang Pfützner

P88 Antihistamine-exacerbated chronic spontaneous urticaria: a paradox?

Nadine Marrouche, Clive Grattan

P89 Anti-osteoporotic agents-induced cutaneous adverse drug reactions in Asians

Yu-En Chen, Chun-Bing Chen, Wen-Hung Chung, Yu-Ping Hsiao, Chia-Yu Chu

P90 Diagnosis of allergic reactions to eye drops

Maria Vazquez De La Torre, Natalia Blanca-Lopez, Diana Perez-Alzate, Maria Isabel Garcimartin, Francisco Javier Ruano, Maria Luisa Somoza, Elisa Haroun, Gabriela Canto

P91 Diagnostic approach in suspected hypersensitivity reactions to corticosteroids

Fabrícia Carolino, Eunice Dias De Castro, Josefina R. Cernadas