Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma Research Articles

Randomized phase II/III study of R-CHOP +/- venetoclax in previously untreated MYC/BCL2 double expressor diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL): Alliance A051701.

Randomized phase II/III study of R-CHOP +/- venetoclax in previously untreated MYC/BCL2 double expressor diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL): Alliance A051701.

Expression of MiR-144/451 in Different Types of Anemia

To investigate the expression level and clinical correlation of microRNA-144/451 gene cluster (miR-144/451) in different types of anemia. The peripheral blood of patients with aplastic anemia (AA), myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who had been diagnosed with anemia for the first time and after chemotherapy were collected. The expression levels of miR-144 and miR-451 were measured by RT-qPCR, and the correlation between the expression levels of miR-144 and miR-451 and routine laboratory indexes was analyzed by Spearman correlation analysis. The expression levels of miR-144 and miR-451 in the peripheral blood of AA and MDS patients were significantly lower than those in normal controls (all P < 0.01). No statistical differences were observed in the expression level of miR-144 in three subgroups of DLBCL patients (P >0.05), while the expression level of miR-451 in peripheral blood of three subgroups of DLBCL patients were significantly higher than those in normal controls (all P < 0.05). Correlation analysis showed that the expression levels of miR-144 and miR-451 in AA patients were positively correlated with red blood cell distribution width-coefficient of variation (RDW-CV) (r =0.629, 0.574). There were no significant correlations between the expression levels of miR-144 and miR-451 and laboratory parameters in MDS and DLBCL patients. Different types of anemia disorders have varying levels of miR-144 and miR-451 expression, which is anticipated to develop into a secondary diagnostic and differential diagnostic indicator for clinical anemia diseases.

Glofitamab monotherapy retreatment in patients with heavily pre-treated relapsed or refractory (R/R) non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL): Results from a phase I/II study.

7020 Background: Fixed-duration glofitamab, a CD20xCD3 T-cell engaging bispecific antibody with a novel 2:1 configuration, has demonstrated efficacy and manageable safety in a Phase I/II study (NCT03075696) in heavily pre-treated patients (pts) with R/R NHL (Dickinson. N Engl J Med 2022). We report efficacy and safety data for pts with R/R NHL retreated with glofitamab monotherapy after response to initial glofitamab treatment. Methods: Pts who completed initial treatment and achieved complete response (CR), partial response (PR), or stable disease were eligible for retreatment after documented progression. Initial treatment included obinutuzumab pre-treatment (Gpt) 7 days before the first glofitamab dose, then glofitamab intravenously at either a fixed dose of 0.015–25mg (14- or 21-day cycles) or step-up dosing (2.5mg, then 10mg in Cycle [C] 1, followed by a target dose of 16 or 30mg [C2 onward, 21- day cycles]) for up to 12 cycles. Retreatment was administered at the escalation dose received or at the highest glofitamab dose cleared in the study at time of retreatment, with Gpt 7 days before the first glofitamab dose. As with initial treatment, retreatment was permitted for 12 cycles or until progression or unacceptable toxicity, whichever occurred first. Results: As of Sept 4, 2023, 13 pts (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma [DLBCL], n=4; follicular lymphoma [FL], n=4; mantle cell lymphoma [MCL], n=2; transformed FL [trFL], n=2; high grade B-cell lymphoma, n=1) had received glofitamab retreatment (retreatment dose: 10mg, n=1; 10/16mg, n=1; 2.5/10/30mg, n=11). Median age was 63.0 years (range: 44–81). With initial treatment, 9 pts had CR and 4 pts had PR (best response by investigator). Median time from end of initial treatment to initiation of retreatment was 13.0 months (range: 4.1–27.4). Median number of retreatment cycles received was 5 (range: 2–12). During retreatment, 9 pts (69.2%) responded: CR, 38.5% (FL, n=2; trFL, n=1; MCL, n=2); PR, 30.8% (FL, n=1; trFL, n=1; DLBCL, n=2). Of the 5 pts with CR at retreatment, 3 pts had CR and 2 pts had PR with initial treatment. Of the 4 pts with PR at retreatment, 3 pts had CR and 1 pt had PR with initial treatment. Median retreatment follow-up time was 25.9 months and 5 pts had responses ongoing at data cut-off (FL, n=2; MCL, n=2; trFL, n=1). The safety profile for glofitamab retreatment was consistent with prior reports of glofitamab monotherapy in R/R NHL (Hutchings. J Clin Oncol 2021). Cytokine release syndrome occurred in 7 pts (53.8%; all Grade 1/2). Exploratory data on B-cell pharmacodynamics, CD20 expression, and T-cell status before retreatment will be presented. Conclusions: Glofitamab monotherapy retreatment was efficacious in heavily pre-treated pts with R/R NHL who responded to initial glofitamab treatment before subsequent progression. The safety profile was consistent with that of initial treatment. Clinical trial information: NCT03075696 .

Phase 3 trial of odronextamab plus lenalidomide versus rituximab plus lenalidomide in relapsed/refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma (FL) and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL; OLYMPIA-5).

TPS7094 Background: FL and MZL are indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (B-NHLs) that are treated in a similar way in the R/R setting. Despite the efficacy of rituximab–lenalidomide (R2) in patients (pts) with R/R FL, and MZL to a lesser extent, a notable proportion fail to achieve an optimal, durable response. Odronextamab is an off-the-shelf, CD20×CD3 bispecific antibody. In the Phase (Ph) 1 ELM-1 study, odronextamab monotherapy showed antitumor activity and a generally manageable safety profile across R/R B-NHL subtypes, including FL and MZL (Bannerji, et al. Lancet Haematol 2022). In the Ph 2 ELM-2 study, odronextamab elicited an objective response rate of 80% and complete response (CR) rate of 73% in pts with heavily pretreated R/R FL (Villasboas, et al. ASH 2023). The rate of treatment-related adverse events leading to treatment discontinuation was 7.8%. These positive data support the evaluation of odronextamab in R/R FL and MZL in earlier lines of therapy. Combining odronextamab with lenalidomide has the potential to improve efficacy in the R/R setting compared with R2. Methods: OLYMPIA-5 (NCT06149286) is a Ph 3, open-label, randomized study of odronextamab plus lenalidomide versus R2 in pts with R/R FL and MZL. The study consists of Part 1 (safety run-in) followed by Part 2 (randomization). In Part 1, odronextamab and lenalidomide will be administered for 12×28-day cycles or until relapse, progressive disease, withdrawal of consent, or unacceptable toxicity. Odronextamab IV infusion will be administered in a step-up regimen during Cycle (C) 1 to mitigate the risk of cytokine release syndrome, followed by full dose starting from C1 Day 22. In Part 2, pts will be randomized 1:1 to receive 12 cycles of odronextamab plus lenalidomide, or R2 for the first 5 cycles followed by lenalidomide monotherapy for C6–12 per standard schedule (Leonard, et al. J Clin Oncol 2019). Key inclusion criteria: aged ≥18 years; histologically confirmed FL Grade 1–3a or MZL (nodal, splenic, or extra nodal) that is refractory or relapsed after ≥2 cycles of prior systemic therapy that included ≥1 anti-CD20 antibody; measurable disease; ECOG PS 0–2; and adequate organ function. Pts with central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma, history of or current relevant CNS pathology, histological evidence of transformation to high-grade or diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and prior use of lenalidomide or any CD20×CD3 bispecific antibody within the past 6 months are excluded. The Part 2 primary endpoint is progression-free survival as assessed by independent central review. Key secondary endpoints are CR, best overall response, and overall survival. Minimal residual disease (by ctDNA) analysis is an exploratory endpoint. The trial is currently recruiting and is expected to enroll approximately 24–48 pts in Part 1 and 422 pts in Part 2 (352 R/R FL; 70 R/R MZL) at ~200 global sites. Clinical trial information: NCT06149286 .

A first-in-human study of the potent and highly selective BTK degrader ABBV-101 in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell malignancies.

TPS7091 Background: Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a clinically validated target with an integral role in the proliferation and survival of neoplastic cells in several B-cell malignancies. Inhibitors of BTK, such as ibrutinib, have revolutionized the treatment landscape for B-cell malignancies. However, long-term use can lead to disease progression and clinical resistance associated with mutations in BTK. ABBV-101 is a reversible BTK degrader. By preclinical kinome profiling, ABBV-101 has demonstrated high selectivity with the potential for best-in-class AE profile. ABBV-101 has also shown potent activity against BTK wildtype and multiple therapy-resistant mutant forms. Degradation eliminates BTK scaffolding and enzymatic functions, which has led to deeper, more durable responses vs covalent and reversible BTKi in animal models (Pan C, et al. ASH 2023). Herein, we describe the first-in-human study of ABBV-101 monotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell NHL. Methods: This international phase 1, open-label, multicenter study (NCT05753501) is evaluating the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and preliminary efficacy of ABBV-101. Eligible patients(≥18 years) have measurable disease, received ≥2 prior systemic therapies, and have no available therapies known to provide clinical benefit.Primary objectives are to characterize safety and tolerability of ABBV-101; secondary objectives are to evaluate PK and preliminary efficacy. The study is conducted in 2 parts: dose escalation (part 1) and dose expansion (part 2). Part 1 aims to establish the maximum administered dose and maximum tolerated dose of ABBV-101 guided by a Bayesian optimal interval design; additional patients may be enrolled to a previous dose level to further explore safety, PK, and efficacy. Patients with WHO-defined chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL)/small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), mantle cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, marginal zone lymphoma, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (including Waldenström macroglobulinemia), and transformed indolent NHL (including Richter’s transformation) are eligible. Part 2 will further characterize the safety and preliminary efficacy of ABBV-101; patients diagnosed with CLL/SLL (up to 3 dose cohorts) and non-germinal center DLBCL (1 cohort) are being enrolled. ABBV-101 is administered orally until disease progression, intolerable toxicity, or other study discontinuation criteria are met. Safety assessments include, but are not limited to, AEs, clinical laboratory parameters, vital signs, and ECG. Response evaluations are performed per disease-specific response criteria at screening and every 8 weeks (1st year), 3 months (2nd year), or 4 months (3rd year onward) until progressive disease. Enrollment is ongoing with active sites in the US and Japan. Clinical trial information: NCT05753501 .

Final results of a first-in-human phase I dose escalation trial of daily oral zelenirstat, a n-myristoyltransferase inhibitor, in patients with advanced solid tumors and relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphomas.

3082 Background: Myristoylation, the N-terminal modification of proteins with the fatty acid myristate, regulates multiple membrane-bound signal transduction pathways important in cancer cell biology, including Src and Src family of protein tyrosine kinases. This modification is catalyzed by two N-myristoyltransferases (NMT), NMT1 and NMT2. Zelenirstat is a first-in-class oral small molecule NMT inhibitor with strong affinity for both NMT1 and NMT2 proteins. Transcriptomic analysis of zelenirstat treated cell lines identified a myristoylation inhibition sensitivity signature in cancer cells most likely to respond to NMT inhibitor therapy; high sensitivity scores were seen in a range of solid cancers and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Based on tumor regression and safety in preclinical models, we hypothesized zelenirstat would be safe to administer and show anticancer activity. Methods: Patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors and relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell lymphomas were enrolled in a multicenter, open label, phase I dose escalation trial of oral daily zelenirstat, administered in 28-day cycles until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity (NCT04836195). The primary endpoints were to evaluate dose-limiting toxicities (DLT) to establish a maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Secondary endpoints were to characterize the pharmacokinetic parameters of zelenirstat and assess anticancer activity. Results: Twenty-nine pts (17 females; 12 males; median age 65 years; median prior systemic treatments 4; 25 advanced solid tumor; 4 R/R B-cell lymphoma) were enrolled and 24 pts were DLT-evaluable. Dose cohorts ranged from 20 mg once daily (OD) to 280 mg OD without DLT until the 280 mg cohort where three DLTs were observed: Gr 3 diarrhea, Gr 3 diverticulitis, and Gr 3 dehydration. MTD and recommended phase 2 dose was established at 210 mg OD. Common adverse events were Gr ≤ 2 nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, and fatigue. Plasma concentrations peaked between 1 and 4 hours across the cohorts with terminal half-lives ranging from 6.7 to 12 hours. Steady state was achieved by Day 8 to 15, and in the higher dose cohorts, trough concentrations exceeded the levels predicted to be therapeutic. Stable disease as best response was seen in 8 (28%) heavily pre-treated pts (3 colorectal, 2 ovarian, 1 pancreatic, 1 appendiceal, and 1 bladder). Progression-free survival, overall survival, and weighted health status were significantly better in pts receiving 210 mg OD compared to those receiving lower doses. Conclusions: Zelenirstat is well-tolerated, reaches plasma concentrations highly active in preclinical models, and shows preliminary signs of encouraging anticancer activity. NMT inhibition represents a new target for ongoing research efforts and further clinical development of zelenirstat is warranted. Clinical trial information: NCT04836195 .

Brentuximab vedotin therapy followed by autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation as a viable treatment option for an older adult with transformed lymphoma: a case report and literature review.

This report presents a case involving a woman aged >65 years who had been diagnosed with marginal zone lymphoma 3 years prior. The patient was hospitalized with enlarged inguinal lymph nodes, and pathological examination revealed that the lymphoma had transformed into diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. After two cycles of brentuximab vedotin in combination with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (BV-R-CHP) chemotherapy, the patient achieved complete remission. This treatment was followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and lenalidomide maintenance therapy. At the last follow-up, the patient had been in continuous remission for 24 months. This case study suggests that the utilization of BV and R-CHP in conjunction can result in rapid remission, and it can be followed by autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and maintenance therapy with lenalidomide. This treatment approach exhibits potential as a viable option for older individuals with transformed lymphoma.

Second line immune targeted therapies in relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A network meta-analysis.

e19071 Background: Relapsed or refractory (R/R) Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) patients undergo multiple lines of burdensome therapies. We conducted a network meta-analysis (NMA) of phase 3 randomized control trials (RCTs) to evaluate the effectiveness of second-line (2L) immune targeted treatments (ITTs), including chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapies in R/R DLBCL patients, focusing on overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS), progression-free survival (PFS), overall response rate (ORR) and complete response (CR). Methods: In a systematic review, we searched RCTs from PubMed, Embase and Cochrane Library spanning January 2016 to September 2023.We included studies reporting on adults (≥18 years) DLBCL patients experiencing R/R to first-line anti-CD20 antibody and anthracycline-containing regimen. RCTs comparing ITTs with SOC (2L salvage chemoimmunotherapy regimens followed by stem cell transplantation) were included. Frequentist fixed-effect model was utilized to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for survival outcomes and odds ratios (ORs) for binary outcomes (ORR and CR) with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We ranked treatment effectiveness based on the surface under the cumulative ranking curves (SUCRA). Results: Our search identified 539 records; four RCTs contributed to the NMA: three comparing CAR-Ts, axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel), lisocabtagene maraleucel (liso-cel), tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) with SOC, and one comparing ofatumumab + cisplatin, cytarabine, dexamethasone (O-DHAP) with SOC. Axi-cel significantly improved OS compared to both tisa-cel (HR, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.36-0.96) and SOC (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.55-0.98). For EFS, axi-cel (HR, 0.38; 95% CI, 0.27-0.53) and liso-cel (HR, 0.32; 95% CI, 0.21-0.51) showed significant improvement compared to ODHAP. Axi-cel and liso-cel improved EFS significantly when individually compared to tisa-cel, and SOC.Axi-cel (HR, 0.51; 95% CI, 0.39-0.67) and liso-cel (HR, 0.4; 95% CI, 0.26-0.61) improved PFS significantly when compared to SOC. Axi-cel and liso-cel also significantly improved PFS when individually compared to ODHAP. In terms of ORR, Axi-cel (OR, 5.93; 95% CI, 3.63- 9.68) and Liso-cel (OR, 6.96; 95% CI, 3.37- 14.37) produced significantly higher ORR compared to SOC. Axi-cel and liso-cel had higher CR significantly when individually compared to ODHAP, tisa-cel, and SOC.In the SUCRA rankings, axi-cel was the most effective for OS, liso-cel ranked the most effective for EFS and PFS. Conclusions: Axi-cel was consistently associated with improved OS and EFS when compared to tisa-cel and SOC while liso-cel improved EFS and PFS over ODHAP and SOC. ORR and CR were higher for axi-cel and liso-cel over tisa-cel, ODHAP and SOC. Results are constrained by lack of multiple studies for each treatment comparison.

Inpatient burden and clinical outcomes of cytokine release syndrome in patients with cancer: A National Inpatient Sample study.

11067 Background: Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) is a potentially life-threatening complication commonly seen in patients receiving chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy, allogeneic stem cell transplant, or immunotherapies. This study aims to evaluate the inpatient burden outcomes of CRS leading to hospitalization in patients diagnosed with cancer. Methods: Hospitalizations for cytokine release syndrome (CRS) were identified using ICD-10 coding from the 2020 National Inpatient Sample (NIS), the largest all-payer inpatient database in the US. Only CRS patients with a co-diagnosis of cancer (identified using the Clinical Classification Software (CCS) coding) were included in this study. The underlying severity of illness index was used to verify CRS grading. Sampling weights were applied to generate nationally representative estimates. Results: In 2020, there were 4,765 hospitalizations coded with CRS. 27.2% of these admissions had a co-diagnosis of cancer (n=1,295) and were included in the final analysis. The top co-diagnoses in the patients with CRS without cancer were COVID-19 infection and sepsis. Hematologic malignancies had the highest incidence amongst cancer types (75.7%), the distribution was as follows: 29.6% with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, 19.9% with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, 12.8% with multiple myeloma, 12.2% with acute myeloid leukemia, and 7.7% with mantle cell lymphoma. The most common procedures in oncology patients hospitalized with CRS were CAR-T cell therapy (29.3%), chemotherapy (28.6%), stem cell transplant (8.5%), or Blinatumomab bispecific antibody (5.4%). 11.4% of patients with CRS received tocilizumab. Of those that received tocilizumab, 10% were CRS grade 2, 56.7% were grade 3, 33.3% were grade 4. 51.7% of tocilizumab was given in the first 48 hours of admission. A minority of CRS patients required critical care interventions: 12.0% requiring intubation, 5.8% requiring vasopressor support, and 2.7% received dialysis. Overall, 10.4% of all oncology admissions with CRS resulted in death during hospitalization (n=135). Of these deaths, 92.6% were in the extreme severity of illness and 63.0% were CRS grade 4. Those with CRS who died during hospitalization had a significantly longer length of stay (24.6 vs 13.6 days, p&lt;0.001). The overall median hospital charges of a CRS-related admission were $531,692. Conclusions: This study represents the inpatient burden of CRS-related admissions in patients diagnosed with cancer. CRS admissions are commonly seen in patients with hematologic malignancies, those undergoing CAR-T cell or immunotherapies (bispecific antibodies). CRS poses a significant healthcare burden, with average hospital charges being greater than 0.5 million US dollars per admission. About 1 in 10 patients with CRS died during hospitalization with higher mortality likely with severe CRS grades and longer length of stay.

A phase IIA clinical trial to evaluate a reversible Bruton’s tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) HBW-3220 capsules in patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (B-NHL).

e19042 Background: This clinical study is to evaluate HBW-3220, a novel BTKi with an improved in vitro profile than the existing non-covalent drugs pirtobrutinib (approved) and nemtabrutinib (Phase III). HBW-3220 shows superior inhibition against BTK wild-type and several common mutants, such as C481S, C481R, T474I, T316A, and L528W (enriched in pirtobrutinib resistance), and hematopoietic cell kinase (HCK, a key contributor to BTKi resistance due to kinase-defective BTK). Methods: This phase IIA clinical study is conducted in R/R B-NHL patients who had received two or more prior lines of treatment. The dose escalation study adopts accelerated titration and a "3+3" design, with a daily single dose of 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, or 150 mg. During the dose escalation phase, the sponsor and investigators determine whether to expand the cohort of the previous dose based on the existing data. Adverse events (AEs) are assigned according to NCI Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v5.0. Response assessment is based on iwCLL 2018 guidelines for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), IWWM-7 consensus for Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM), and Lugano 2014 guidelines for all other lymphomas, including small lymphocytic lymphoma (SLL), diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), and follicular lymphoma (FL). Results: 29 patients have been enrolled, and the dose escalation study has been completed. No dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) occurred in any patient, implicating good tolerability. Adverse events (AEs), similar to other BTKis, were mostly Grade 1 or 2, including fever (36%), diarrhea (32%), headache (18%), anemia (39%), infectious pneumonia (18%), decreased neutrophils count (39%), decreased platelet count (29%), increased alanine aminotransferase (21%), etc. Drug-related Grade 3 AEs included decreased neutrophil count (n=3, 11%), increased lymphocyte count (n=2, 7%), and infectious pneumonia (n=2, 7%). 23 patients underwent at least 1 response assessment. The overall response rate (ORR) in CLL/SLL (all with prior irreversible BTKi treatment, and 4 of them with additional BCL2 inhibitor treatment), MZL, MCL, and DLBCL patients were 83% (5/6), 50% (2/4), 40% (2/5) and 33% (1/3), respectively. Among the ORR, 90% (9/10) were in the 90 mg and above dose group, regardless of previous BTKi treatment history or mutation status of p53 and BTK. After oral administration, the drug exposures showed dose-dependent increases. The time to maximum plasma concentration (Tmax) was 2 hours, and the elimination half-life (T1/2) was 19 hours. Conclusions: The current data show that HBW-3220 is well tolerated with no DLT occurred at daily doses up to 150 mg, displaying most promising efficacy in patients with CLL/SLL, MZL, and MCL. Clinical trial information: ChiCTR2200062537.

Scrutinizing prognostic scores’ effectiveness in non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas with primary lymph node involvement

Introduction. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) encompasses a diverse group of malignancies arising from malignant proliferation of lymphocytes, each subtype characterized by unique epidemiological, etiological, and clinical features. Prognostication is essential for guiding treatment decisions and improving patient outcomes. Prognostic scores, including traditional and molecular systems, offer insights into survival prediction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the applicability of traditional prognostic scores based on clinical markers and laboratory biomarkers in predicting the outcomes of patients with primary nodal NHL. Materials and methods. This study included 78 NHL patients treated at the Chisinau Oncological Institute from 2017 to 2021. Clinical and biological data were collected, and the following prognostic scores were calculated: International Prognostic Index (IPI), The combined index of hemoglobin, albumin, lymphocyte, and platelet (HALP score), Platelet to Lymphocyte Ratio (PLR), Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR), Albumin/Globulin ratio (AG), and Charlson comorbidity index (CCI). Statistical analyses, including descriptive statistics, ROC curve analysis, and Kaplan-Meier survival curves, were conducted. Results. Of the patients, 40 (51.2%) were female, with a mean age of 57.1 ± 10.2 years. Peripheral lymph nodes were predominantly affected (84.6%), with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma being the most prevalent subtype (59.0%). Prognostic scores, including the International Prognostic Index (IPI), Hemoglobin, Albumin, Lymphocyte, and Platelet (HALP) score, and Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), demonstrated varying levels of discriminatory ability in predicting overall survival (OS). Notably, the HALP score (AUC = 0.650; p = 0.026), IPI (AUC = 0.745; p = 0.0002), and CCI (AUC = 0.636; p = 0.043) were statistically significant predictors of OS. Conclusions. Traditional prognostic scores (IPI. HALP score, CCI) offer valuable prognostic information for NHL patients. Further research is needed to validate these findings and explore cost-effective prognostic strategies.

Synergistic effects of RPT1G, a first-in-class small molecule NAMPT inhibitor, with venetoclax and olaparib in hematological malignancies.

e18512 Background: MultipleBCL-2 and PARP inhibitors are currently in clinical trials, or have been approved for use, in hematological malignancies and solid tumors. Venetoclax, an inhibitor of the apoptosis regulator B-cell lymphoma-2 (BCL-2), has activity in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and acute myeloid leukemia (AML). PARP inhibitors, such as Olaparib, exploit synthetic lethality in homologous recombination-deficient tumors, notably in breast and ovarian cancers. However, patients treated with BCL-2 or PARP inhibitors often face relapse and refractory disease, requiring alternative strategies to counter adaptive responses. Nicotinamide Phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT), the rate-limiting enzyme in the nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) salvage pathway, is upregulated in malignancies and plays a key role in cancer metabolism (e.g., Warburg effect). NAMPT makes nicotinamide mononucleotide which is then converted to NAD+, while PARP enzymes consume NAD+, placing NAMPT directly upstream of PARP. NAMPT overexpression is associated with Venetoclax resistance in leukemia patients, highlighting the link between NAD+, mitochondrial metabolism, and BCL-2 inhibition. Consequently, NAMPT inhibition may synergize with BCL-2 or PARP inhibitors, potentially enhancing 1st-line of treatment outcomes and re-sensitizing refractory cancer cells to BCL-2 or PARP inhibition. Methods: In this study, we investigated the combination effects of Venetoclax and Olaparib with RPT1G, a novel hyperbolic NAMPT inhibitor that simultaneously inhibits and stabilizes NAMPT in a catalytically active state. RPT1G disrupts NAMPT activity without ever turning it off completely avoiding the severe on-target toxicities seen with complete NAMPT inhibitors. Several cell lines, including OCI-AML3 and MV4;11 (AML), RS4;11 (ALL), and RL (diffuse large B-cell lymphoma) were treated with RPT1G and either Venetoclax or Olaparib to determine the degree of drug interactions. In a follow up in vivo study, we treated mice in a human xenograft model using semi-resistant MV4;11 cells with RPT1G alone or in combination with Venetoclax to measure the ability of RPT1G to enhance the effects of Venetoclax. Results: RPT1G achieves significant single-agent efficacy in leukemia and lymphoma mouse xenograft models. When RTP1G is used in combination with either Venetoclax or Olaparib significant synergy is seen across a broad range of concentrations in vitro. Consistent with in vitro synergy results, in a xenograft model of human AML, mice treated with a combination of RPT1G and Venetoclax show enhanced efficacy as compared to Venetoclax alone. Conclusions: Combination of RPT1G with either Venetoclax or Olaparib synergistically enhances killing of leukemic cells and presents as an effective strategy to improve treatment outcomes for patients with diverse malignancies.

Phase 2 open label, multicenter study evaluating CRG-022, a CD22-directed autologous CAR T-cell therapy, in patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory (R/R) large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) after CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy.

TPS7085 Background: Autologous (auto) CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy can induce long-term remissions for pts with R/R LBCL but approximately 60% will experience disease progression resulting in poor outcomes (Neelapu, 2023; Zurko, 2023). CRG-022 is a novel CAR T-cell product targeting CD22, a common B-cell antigen widely expressed in LBCL. Key features of CRG-022 include a fully human scFv derived from the m971 monoclonal antibody and 4-1BB/CD3z intracellular signaling domains (Singh, 2021). This CD22 CAR construct was developed at the National Cancer Institute and was investigated in phase (ph) 1 studies of pediatric/young adult pts with R/R CD22+ malignancies (Shah, 2020; NCT02315612) and at Stanford University in adults with R/R LBCL (Baird, 2021; NCT04088890) primarily in pts who received prior CD19-directed CAR-T therapy. The Stanford ph 1b study reported an overall response rate (ORR) and complete response rates of 66% and 52%, respectively in 29 pts treated at the recommended Phase 2 dose (RP2D) of 1x106 CAR+ T cells/kg (Frank, 2023). After a median follow-up of 27.3 months, the median overall survival had not been reached at the RP2D (Su, 2023). At the RP2D, no grade &gt;3 cytokine release syndrome (CRS), immune-effector cell associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), or immune effector cell associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis-like syndrome (IEC-HS) occurred; two pts (7%) developed grade 2 IEC-HS (Su, 2023; Srinagesh, 2023). Based on these notable results, this potentially pivotal ph 2 trial has been initiated. Methods: This Phase 2 study will evaluate the safety/efficacy of CRG-022 at 1x106 CAR+ T cells/kg in pts with R/R LBCL whose disease has progressed after CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy. The primary endpoint is ORR according to Lugano response criteria (Cheson, 2014) by blinded independent review. Adverse events (AEs) are graded per CTCAE v5 except with CRS, ICANS, and IEC-HS graded per ASTCT guidelines. Pts with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), high grade B-cell lymphoma, DLBCL transformed from follicular or marginal zone lymphoma, follicular large B-cell lymphoma (FLBL)/FL Grade 3B, and primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma are eligible. Other eligibility criteria include adequate hematologic and organ function, and no prior allogeneic stem cell transplant. Pts with prior treatment to both a CD19-directed auto CAR-T and a bispecific T-cell engaging antibody are also eligible within a separate cohort. Lymphodepletion with fludarabine 30 mg/m2/day and cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m2/day for 3 days will be administered ahead of a single infusion of CRG-022. The study is designed to enroll approximately 123 pts. Study enrollment commenced in the US in August 2023, with 9 pt infused as of 08 JAN 2024. Clinical trial information: NCT05972720 .

A phase 1a/b, multi-regional, first-in-human study of CS5001, a novel anti-ROR1 ADC, in patients with advanced solid tumors and lymphomas.

3023 Background: Receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 1 (ROR1) is an embryonic tyrosine kinase-like molecule implicated in multiple pathways promoting oncogenic signaling. ROR1 is overexpressed in a broad spectrum of solid tumors and hematological malignancies while notably absent in normal tissues. CS5001 is an antibody drug conjugate (ADC) composed of a human anti–ROR1 IgG1 monoclonal antibody which is site-specifically conjugated to a pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer prodrug through a proprietary lysosomal cleavable β-glucuronide linker. Here, we report preliminary phase 1a results of CS5001 in patients (pts) with advanced solid tumors and lymphomas. Methods: This is a global, first-in-human, phase 1a/b study evaluating the safety, pharmacokinetics (PK), and anti-tumor activity of CS5001 in pts with advanced solid tumors and lymphomas. CS5001 was administered intravenously Q3W with a 42-day-DLT period. In phase 1a (dose escalation), pts who had progressed on or been intolerant to standard therapies were enrolled without baseline ROR1 expression testing; accelerated titration followed by Bayesian Optimal Interval design was employed; in parallel with dose escalation, additional pts were enrolled to selected dose levels deemed safe to further evaluate safety and efficacy. Results: As of 15 Jan 2024, 49 pts with lymphomas (n=17) and solid tumors (n=32) were treated across 8 dose levels (7 to 125 μg/kg). Median age was 57 years. Most (n=40, 81.6%) pts had received ≥3 lines of prior anti-tumor treatment. No DLT was observed and MTD was not reached. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) occurred in 29 pts (59.2%); the most common TRAE was fatigue (n=8, 16.3%). Grade 3 TRAEs occurred in 7 pts (14.3%), with fatigue, gamma-glutamyltransferase increased and pneumonia being the most common (occurring in 2 pts [4.1%] each). No grade 4-5 TRAEs were reported. Drug exposure of CS5001 was proportional to dose in general, with an apparent half-life of about 5 days. The PK profile of CS5001 was similar to that of total antibody, indicating good stability of the ADC in the circulation. Among the 34 pts with post baseline tumor assessment (13 lymphomas and 21 solid tumors), objective responses were observed in pts at dose level 5 or above (n=23), including 2 complete responses (1 Hodgkin lymphoma [HL] and 1 diffuse large B-cell lymphoma) and 3 partial responses (2 HL and 1 pancreatic cancer). Stable diseases were observed in 3 pts (2 colorectal cancer and 1 renal cancer). Dose escalation is still ongoing, and more data will be available at the conference presentation. Conclusions: CS5001 was well tolerated with no DLT identified, PK characteristics were as expected, and encouraging antitumor activities were observed in various advanced solid tumors and lymphomas. Current data support continued evaluations for the recommended phase 2 dose and subsequent phase 1b dose expansion. Clinical trial information: NCT05279300 .

Geographic and racial disparities in bi-specific antibodies trials access for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

1525 Background: The trials of bispecific antibodies to treat diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have increased exponentially. However, there is a geographic limitation to offering these trials and universal access appears to be limited. Here, we investigate the geographical and racial disparities in accessing bispecific antibodies trials for DLBCL. Methods: We searched ClinicalTrials.gov using the terms for DLBCL and bispecific antibodies. A total of 13 out of 51 clinical trials with one or more open sites in the United States (US) were included in this systematic review. 2020 US Census Bureau data was used to obtain data on race and ethnicity. Analysis for this study was performed using SPSS version 26. Results: The majority of the included trials were Phase I (62%) followed by Phase II (23%), and Phase I/II (15%). A total of 885 participants were either enrolled or expected to enroll in these clinical trials. Nine (69%) clinical trials were only open in the US while 4 (31%) clinical trials were open in the US and other countries. The majority of the trials were funded by the pharmaceutical industry 62%. There were 50 unique study sites distributed over 24 states with a 2.4 (1-10) mean number of trials per state and 9.9 (1-39) mean number of sites per trial. Study sites were distributed in 24 different states. Midwestern states had the highest number of trials 28%, followed by Southern 26%, Northeastern 24%, and Western 22%. The highest number of study locations (10) and the highest number of open studies (10) were in California. Twenty-seven states had no open bispecific antibodies trials including three in the Northeast (Maine, Rhode Island, and Vermont), five in the Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, North and South Dakota), eight in the South (Delaware, Virginia, District of Columbia, West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma), and eleven in the West (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, New Mexico, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington). Using US Census Bureau data, only 20% of African Americans (AA) (8 349 699 of 41 104 200) lived in a county with a bispecific antibodies trial. There were only five states (21%) with 50% or more of the AA population living in a county with an open bispecific antibodies trial and seven states (29%) with 30-49.9% of their AA county residents. Five states (21%) had less than 10% of the AA population living in a county with an open bispecific antibodies trial. Nine (90%) out of ten states with the highest proportion of AA residents (18.6%-41.4%) have no (five states) or only one clinical trial site (four states). Conclusions: There is significant geographic and racial disparity in accessing bispecific antibodies trials for DLBCL. Strategies should be framed to address the causes of the observed disparities and to improve access to these trials.

Development of a novel methodology to assess response to lymphoma treatment in real-world data.

e19081 Background: Innovation in the use of real-world data (RWD) for regulatory purposes is an important provision of 21st Century Cures Act. Numerous initiatives to enhance RWD methodologies in oncology drug development are ongoing, including evaluation of treatment response assessment to support effectiveness research. Blinded independent central review (BICR) standardizes response assessment in clinical trials, and corresponding RWD methodologies are needed. This study assess feasibility of BICR using RWD, and evaluates a novel, standardized treatment response methodology among patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Methods: A retrospective multisite chart review identified adult patients with DLBCL treated with first-line chemoimmunotherapy in US (01JAN2015-31DEC2022). Clinical data, including physician-reported response, were abstracted from medical charts and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) reports at treatment initiation and first response assessment. Lugano 2014 criteria, such as standardized uptake value (SUV) and Deauville score, were extracted and converted to an algorithm (rwLugano). Absence of normal tissue SUV in PET-CT reports was addressed using published values for background, mediastinum, and liver to facilitate a real-world Deauville (rwDeauville) score for rwLugano classification. PET-CTs underwent deidentified digital image transfer for BICR using Lugano 2014 criteria by two lymphoma radiologists. Descriptive analyses assessed BICR feasibility and completeness of rwLugano data elements. Results: Six oncology practices, comprising 77 physicians, abstracted medical records and PET-CT reports for 185 patients. PET-CT scans were available for BICR for 174/185 (94%) patients (41% female, mean age 66 years). BICR discordance for Deauville score at baseline and initial response occurred in 7% (12/174) and 29% (50/174), respectively. For response assessment per Lugano, BICR discordance occurred in 9% (16/174), and were further adjudicated by a third party. Lugano discordance was often related to interpretation of marrow activity and/or new disease sites, highlighting variability in lymphoma treatment response assessment. Medical record review found Deauville score charted for 97 (56%) patients at baseline and 145 (83%) at first response. Tumor SUV was complete (174/174, 100%) at baseline and for all patients (63/63, 100%) not charted as CR at first response. Thus, 29 patients (17%) required calculation of rwDeauville at first response, providing data to calculate rwLugano for all patients in the final cohort (174/174, 100%). Conclusions: This study suggests BICR, though resource intensive, can be performed, and the component measures necessary to assess response per Lugano criteria can be obtained using RWD. Accordingly, rwLugano warrants further analysis for concordance with BICR- and physician-reported response.

CD19 expression in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patient biopsies after treatment with tafasitamab.

e19050 Background: Tafasitamab (tafa) is a CD19-targeting immunotherapy that induces enhanced antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity and phagocytosis. Tafa received accelerated FDA approval in 2020 for treating relapsed or refractory DLBCL in combination with lenalidomide in patients ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant, based on results from L-MIND, a multicenter, open-label, single-arm, phase 2 trial. FirmMIND (NCT05429268) is an ongoing identical study, further evaluating efficacy and safety of tafa in this setting. Several other CD19 targeting agents are available; however, CD19 antigen loss following treatment with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy targeting CD19 (CART19) has raised concerns over CD19-targeted therapy sequencing. Loss of CD19 has not been observed to date in tafa clinical trials or practice. Methods: To evaluate CD19 expression at screening and after disease progression in firmMIND, we developed an immunohistochemistry (IHC) assay using a mAb that binds to an intracellular epitope of CD19 clone LE-CD19. To validate that CD19 expression is detectable after tafa treatment, we treated cultured SU-DHL-4 or Jurkat cells with tafa at a saturating concentration for 24 hours. After washing out unbound tafa, cells were harvested at specific timepoints. Resulting cell line blocks were assessed for CD19 expression by IHC. We also monitored CD19 trafficking in response to fluorescently labeled tafa by confocal microscopy. Results: By IHC, CD19 expression was comparable between treatment conditions, suggesting the assay can effectively measure CD19 expression in lymphoma biopsy samples post-tafa. Confocal microscopy showed a fraction of tafa-bound CD19 internalized and colocalized with a CD19 intracellular pool labeled with anti-CD19 mAb clone EPR5906; this mAb also detected CD19 that remained localized on the cell surface. The data demonstrated that CD19 persists on tumor cells after tafa treatment at levels that could be bound by other CD19-targeting therapies. As of the January 25, 2024 data cutoff, we received 6 end-of-treatment (EOT) samples from patients in firmMIND. Biopsies were collected 14-26 days after the last tafa dose; 5 of 6 samples were biopsies from lymph nodes or liver and showed ≥80% of tumor cells staining CD19+ on membranes with 3+ intensity by IHC, except 1 that was collected only 6 days after last dose and showed 50% positivity. The sixth biopsy (extranodal subcutaneous lesion) showed no CD19 expression at baseline or EOT. Conclusions: Patient biopsy analysis and preclinical data suggest that following tafa treatment, CD19 antigen is preserved on the surface of tumor cells after short and transient internalization and could be targeted by other CD19 agents, such as CART therapy. This conclusion is supported by sequential treatment with tafa followed by CART in vivo (Sakemura, 2024). Analyses are ongoing to confirm these findings.

Whole Exome Sequencing Reveals Gene Mutation Characteristics of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

To investigate gene mutation characteristics of primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) through whole exome sequencing (WES) to 18 patients with PCNSL. Tumor tissues from 18 patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who were diagnosed with PCNSL in Department of Hematology, Lanzhou University Second Hospital from September 2018 to December 2020 and had normal immune function, no history of HIV or immunosuppressant therapy were collected. High-throughput-based WES was performed on the tumor tissues, with an average sequencing depth of >100×. After data processing and bioinformatics analysis of sequencing results, the mutation maps and mutation characteristics of 18 PCNSL patients were obtained. Obvious somatic mutations were detected in all 18 patients. The median number of somatic mutations was 321. Missense mutations were most prominent (accounting for about 90%), and the mutation type was dominated by C>T (50.2%), reflecting the age-related mutation pattern. Among the top 15 frequently mutated genes, PSD3, DUSP5, MAGEB16, TELO2, FMO2, TRMT13, AOC1, PIGZ, SVEP1, IP6K3, and TIAM1 were the driver genes. The enrichment results of driver gene pathways showed that RTK-RAS, Wnt, NOTCH, Hippo and Cell-Cycle pathways were significantly enriched. The tumor mutation burden was between 3.558 48/Mb and 8.780 89/Mb, and the average was 4.953 32/Mb, which was significantly higher than other cancer research cohorts in the TCGA database. PCNSL occurs somatic missense mutations frequently, mainly point mutations, and the mutation type is mainly C>T. The driver genes are mainly involved in RTK-RAS, Wnt, NOTCH and Hippo pathways, indicating that the above pathways may be related to the pathogenesis of PCNSL. PCNSL has a significantly high tumor mutation burden, which may explain the efficacy of PD-1 inhibitors in PCNSL.

Outcomes of R-MPV followed by ara-c in primary central nervous system lymphoma: A single-center retrospective analysis.

e19046 Background: Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) lymphoma is a rare non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. Currently, there is no uniform consensus in the optimal management of PCNSL. In patients that can tolerate systemic therapy, induction therapy is typically done with a high-dose methotrexate-based regimen, due to evidence of better penetration of the blood brain barrier. One such regimens is high dose methotrexate combined with rituximab, procarbazine, and vincristine (R-MPV). Options for consolidation therapy include high-dose systemic therapy with stem cell rescue (ASCT), whole brain radio therapy (WBRT) and high-dose cytarabine (ara-c) with or without etoposide (EA). At our institution we utilize an R-MPV induction approach with some form of ara-c consolidation without etoposide. We aimed to execute a retrospective cohort study to analyze outcomes of this approach. Methods: All the patients diagnosed with PCNSL who received an induction regimen of R-MPV from 10/01/2020 to 06/01/2023 were included. Data was then gathered by chart review of the electronic medical record. Treatment outcomes were evaluated based on imaging with brain MRIs and PET scans. Central findings such as complete response (CR) rate, progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were ascertained. Results: 10 charts were reviewed. 9 out of the 10 patients had a histological presentation consistent with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; 1 patient had a diagnosis of B-cell lymphoma. In terms of demographics, the patients ages ranged from 54 to 83 years, with a median of 74 years. Complete response was achieved in 5 out of the 10 patients (CR rate of 50%), and no relapse was noted in any of these patients. 2 out of the 10 patients progressed on treatment, with 1 dying from progression of the disease. The median follow-up for patients who were still alive was 24 months. 2-year PFS was 80%, and 2-year OS was 90%. Median PFS and OS were not reached. Mean PFS and OS were 28 months and 30.5 months respectively. Conclusions: Based on our study results, the CR rate we observed for R-MPV appears consistent with existing literature on this regimen and other methotrexate-based induction regimens. Our results for R-MPV with ara-c consolidation provides similar outcomes to existing studies on treatment with different methotrexate-based induction and consolidation with ASCT, particularly the 80% PFS we observed. This percent PFS also appears similar to studies of consolidation with ara-c and EA, and superior to PFS with WBRT. Overall, these results are reassuring as in a specific set of older patients who might not be candidates for ASCT, our specific nonmyeloablative approach could be worthwhile. However, our study does have the limitation of being a single center retrospective perspective. [Table: see text]

Clinical features and outcomes of patients with follicular lymphoma grade 3A: A real-world study in single center.

e19058 Background: Follicular lymphoma (FL) was classified into three grades based on the number of centroblasts (FL1-2, FL3A, and FL3B). Guidelines suggest that FL1-2 should be treated according to the treatment recommendations for classical FL. FL3B is usually treated as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).There is no consensus yet on the management of FL3A. In order to explore the relationship between clinical features and outcomes of FL3A, we conducted this study. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of newly diagnosed FL patients who were admitted to our hospital from January 2013 to December 2022. The data were collected from the hospital electronic medical record system, including but not limited to: demographic characteristics, pathological information, clinical features at diagnosis, treatment, and efficacy evaluation. The survival curve was calculated through Kaplan-Meier method and compared with Log Rank test.The prognostic factors of PFS was compared by COX regression analysis. Results: There were 253 FL3A patients admitted, accounting for 27.55% of all FL patients. After screening, a total of 223 FL3A patients were included in this study. Among 223 patients, the male to female ratio was close to 1:1; The median age is 57 years old. At diagnosed, 33 patients in early stage and 190 in advanced stage. Among advanced patients, 144 had no treatment indications according to the GELF criteria. 86.1% (192/223) of patients received systemic treatment, with the majority of rituximab contained regimens. The overall response rate (ORR) was 96%, and 62.9% of patients who responded to chemotherapy received maintenance therapy with CD20 monoclonal antibody. A median follow-up of 41 months, with an estimated 5-year OS of 91.3% and 5-year PFS of 73%. The PFS of advanced FL patients treated with RCHOP regimen (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) was significantly longer than that of non-RCHOP regimen patients (P&lt;0.05). The PFS of patients receiving maintenance treatment was better than that of those not (P&lt;0.05). Conduct prognostic analysis on advanced FL3A patients. Univariate analysis showed that treatment plan selection, maintenance of treatment, PET scan of FDG metabolic maximum uptake value (SUVmax), Ki-67, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), white blood cell count (WBC), IgA, IgM, all significantly affected PFS; Multivariate analysis shows SUVmax ≥ 15 and platelet count&lt;100 × 109/L and LDH&gt;210U/L are all correlated with poor PFS. Conclusions: This study found that FL3A accounts for 27.55% of all FLs, with a median age of 57 years old and mostly in the advanced stage. FL3A has a long survival period, with a 5-year PFS of 73%. COX regression analysis showed that SUVmax, platelet count, and LDH were all associated with PFS in advanced FL3A patients.Those may explore new clinical prognosis prediction models.