Refractory Primary CNS Lymphoma Research Articles

R-CHOP preceded by blood-brain barrier permeabilization (BBBp) by NGR-tumor necrosis factor (NGR-hTNF) in patients with relapsed or refractory primary CNS lymphoma (rrPCNSL): First results of the “INGRID” phase II trial.

7575Background: PCNSL pts are treated with HDMTX-based chemo, which requires hospitalization and extensive expertise to manage toxicity. R-CHOP could overcome these troubles, but CNS access of rela...

High-dose chemotherapy with autologous haematopoietic stem cell support for relapsed or refractory primary CNS lymphoma: a prospective multicentre trial by the German Cooperative PCNSL study group

High-dose chemotherapy with autologous haematopoietic stem cell support for relapsed or refractory primary CNS lymphoma: a prospective multicentre trial by the German Cooperative PCNSL study group

High-Dose Chemotherapy with Autologous Hematopoietic Stem Cell Support for Relapsed or Refractory Primary CNS Lymphoma - a Prospective Multicentre Trial By the German Cooperative PCNSL Study Group

▪PurposeTo investigate safety and efficacy of high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation (HCT-ASCT) in patients with relapsed or refractory primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL).Patients and methodsWe conducted a single-arm multicentre phase 2 study for immunocompetent patients (<66 years of age) with PCNSL failing prior HD-MTX based chemotherapy. Induction treatment consisted of 2 courses of rituximab (rituximab 375mg/m2), high-dose cytarabine (2 x 3g/m2) and thiotepa (40mg/m2) with collection of autologous stem cells in between. Conditioning treatment for HCT-ASCT consisted of rituximab 375mg/m2, carmustine 400mg/m2 and thiotepa (4 x 5mg/kg). Patients commenced HCT-ASCT irrespective of response status after induction. Only patients not achieving complete remission (CR) after HCT-ASCT received whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT). The primary endpoint was CR after HCT-ASCT by intention-to-treat (ITT). Secondary endpoints included safety, progression free survival (PFS, time to progression or death) and overall survival (OS, time to death due to any cause).ResultsBetween May 2007 and July 2012, we enrolled 39 patients from 12 German centres. The median age and Karnofsky performance score was 57 years (range 37 to 65) and 90% (range 60% to 100%), respectively. 28 (71.8%) patients had relapsed and 8 (28.2%) refractory disease. 22 (56.4%) patients responded to induction (4 CR, 18 partial remissions [PR]) and 32 (82.1%) patients commenced HCT-ASCT. 22 patients (56.4%, 95% CI 39.6% to 72.2%) achieved CR after HCT-ASCT, 6 (15.4%) achieved PR, and 1 (2.6%) had stable disease. In 9 (17.8%) patients the final scan was not done, because 7 (18.0%) did not undergo HCT-ASCT and 2 died (5.1%) during HCT-ASCT procedure. After a median follow-up of 45.2 months, the respective 2-year PFS and OS rates were 46.0% (95% CI 30.3% to 61.7%, median PFS 12.4 months, Figure 1) and 56.4% (95% CI 40.8% to 72.0%); median OS not reached (Figure 2). The non-relapse mortality rate was 10.3% (95% CI 4.1% to 26.0%) at 1 year without any further increase afterwards. In the subset of 32 patients who received HCT-ASCT, 14 (56.3%) experienced progression or died translating into 1 and 2-year PFS rates (calculated from date of HCT-ASCT) of 62.5% (95% CI 45.7% to 79.3%) and 56.1% (95% CI 38.8% to 73.3%) with no further decrease afterwards. Main grade 3 or higher toxicities were hematological as expected. We recorded four (10.3%) treatment-related deaths, 2 during induction and 2 during HCT-ASCT.ConclusionsIn eligible PCNSL patients failing HD-MTX based chemotherapy, a short induction with high-dose cytarabine and thiotepa followed by HCT-ASCT is an effective treatment option. Our data provide a reliable benchmark for future comparative studies needed to further scrutinize the role of HCT-ASCT in the salvage setting for PCNSL. [Display omitted] [Display omitted] DisclosuresKasenda:Riemser: Other: Travel Support. Schmidt-Wolf:Janssen: Research Funding; Novartis: Research Funding. Röth:Alexion Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria, Membership on an entity’s Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria. Stilgenbauer:Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel grants, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel grants , Research Funding; Boehringer Ingelheim: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel grants , Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel grants , Research Funding; Hoffmann-La Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel grants , Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel grants , Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel grants , Research Funding; Sanofi: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel grants , Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel grants , Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel grants, Research Funding; Mundipharma: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel grants , Research Funding; Genzyme: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel grants , Research Funding; GSK: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel grants , Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel grants , Research Funding. Illerhaus:Riemser: Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria.

Ibrutinib Monotherapy in Relapse or Refractory Primary CNS Lymphoma (PCNSL) and Primary Vitreo-Retinal Lymphoma (PVRL). Result of the Interim Analysis of the iLOC Phase II Study from the Lysa and the French LOC Network

RATIONALPrimary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) is a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), predominantly of non-germinal center (non-GC) subtype, carrying a pejorative prognosis. Constitutive activation of the NF-kB pathway via mutations in B cell receptor (BCR) pathway (CD79B) and mutation of MYD 88 and TBL1XR1 plays an important role in PCNSL. Ibrutinib, an inhibitor of BCR signaling, has been found to have significant therapeutic activity in relapsed or refractory non-CNS non-GC DLBCL.METHODSIn this prospective, multicenter, open-label phase II, we enrolled immuno-competent patients over 18 with a refractory or relapse of PCNSL or primary vitreo-retinal lymphoma (PVRL) of DLBCL type. The treatment consisted in ibrutinib monotherapy given orally at 560 mg daily until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. Additional corticosteroids treatment was allowed during the first 4 weeks of treatment in case of a threatening or symptomatic edema. Therapeutic responses were assessed according to the international primary CNS lymphoma collaborative group (IPCG) criteria. The primary objective of the study was the disease control (DC) rate (CR + CRu + PR + SD) after two months of treatment. This study is a two-stage Simon’s design. Patients were evaluable for response if they received > 90 % of the expected dose during the first month of treatment. An interim analysis for futility was planned when 18 patients were evaluable for response. P0 and P1 hypotheses were < 10 % and > 30 % respectively. A total of 35 evaluable patients are required for the final analysis. Exploratory ancillary studies are planned and consist in dosage of ibrutinib in the cerebrospinal fluid after one cycle of treatment, and correlation of therapeutic response with mutational status of the disease. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02542514.RESULTSBetweenSeptember 25, 2015 and June 30, 2016, 52 patients were recruited in 10 French centers of the French LOC network for PCNSL. The interim analysis was done on the first 18 patients evaluable for response (median age: 70 y, range 49-80). At initial diagnosis, diagnoses were PCNSL (n = 12) and PVRL (n = 6). Patients were included in the study for a relapse (n = 13) or a progressive disease (n = 5). At time of inclusion in the study, disease status was PCNSL (n = 11) and PVRL or isolated intra-ocular relapse of a PCNSL (n = 7). ECOG performance status was 0, 1 and 2 in 4, 10 and 4 patients respectively. All the patients had previously received high-dose methotrexate-based chemotherapy. Four patients had previously received high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation. Patients had received 1, 2 or 3 prior treatments in 12, 5 and 1 cases respectively. Three patients had a concomitant meningeal involvement. Five patients received concomitant corticosteroids during the first month of treatment. At the time of analysis (median follow-up = 6.6 months), nine patients discontinued ibrutinib after a median duration of 3 months (range, 0.9 -6.4) because of a disease progressive(n = 8) or a concurrent illness (n=1). Median number of treatment cycles was 5 (range, 1-9). One patient experienced a pulmonary aspergillosis with a favorable outcome. No hemorrhagic complication was reported. Five patients died due to disease progression (n = 4), and concurrent illness (n = 1). After two months of treatment, a DC was achieved in 15/18 patients (83 %, IC 95 %, [59-96%]) (complete and unconfirmed complete response: n =3; partial response: n = 7; stable disease: n =5).CONCLUSIONIn this interim analysis, Ibrutinib monotherapy demonstrated a high DC rate of 83%, including 56% objective responses in patients with relapse/refractory PCNSL or PVRL. Regarding safety, Ibrutinib might be a risk factor for aspergillosis in this population of PCNSL patients, otherwise not exposed to fungal infection. A security warning was sent to all the investigators for a close monitoring of infections. The second cohort of patients has been recruited. Thirty-three patients are currently on study treatment. The final analysis of the iLOC study is awaited to confirm these encouraging results and better define the positioning of ibrutinib in the therapeutic strategy of PCNSL and PVR patients. DisclosuresChoquet:Janssen: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy. Ghesquieres:Mundipharma: Consultancy; Roche France: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Soussain:Celgene: Research Funding; Roche: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding.

Salvage chemoimmunotherapy with rituximab, ifosfamide and etoposide (R‐IE regimen) in patients with primary CNS lymphoma relapsed or refractory to high‐dose methotrexate‐based chemotherapy

Despite a high proportion of patients with primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) experiences failure after/during first-line treatment, a few studies focused on salvage therapy are available, often with disappointing results. Herein, we report feasibility and activity of a combination of rituximab, ifosfamide and etoposide (R-IE regimen) in a multicentre series of patients with PCNSL relapsed or refractory to high-dose methotrexate-based chemotherapy. We considered consecutive HIV-negative patients ≤75 years old with failed PCNSL treated with R-IE regimen (rituximab 375 mg/m(2) , day 0; ifosfamide 2 g/m(2) /day, days1-3; etoposide 250 mg/m(2) , day 1; four courses). Twenty-two patients (median age 60 years; range 39-72; male/female ratio: 1:4) received R-IE as second-line (n = 18) or third-line (n = 4) treatment. Eleven patients had refractory PCNSL, and 11 had relapsing disease. Twelve patients had been previously irradiated. Sixty (68%) of the 88 planned courses were actually delivered; only one patient interrupted R-IE because of toxicity. Grade 4 hematological toxicity was manageable; a single case of grade 4 non-hematological toxicity (transient hepatotoxicity) was recorded. Response was complete in six patients and partial in three (overall response rate = 41%; 95%CI: 21-61%). Seven patients were successfully referred to autologous peripheral blood stem cell collection; four responders were consolidated with high-dose chemotherapy supported by autologous stem cell transplant. At a median follow-up of 24 months, eight responders did not experience relapse, two of them died of neurological impairment while in remission. Six patients are alive, with a 2-year survival after relapse of 25 ± 9%. We concluded that R-IE is a feasible and active combination for patients with relapsed/refractory PCNSL. This regimen allows stem cell collection and successful consolidation with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous transplant.

Intensive Chemotherapy Followed by Hematopoietic Stem-Cell Rescue for Refractory and Recurrent Primary CNS and Intraocular Lymphoma: Société Française de Greffe de Moëlle Osseuse-Thérapie Cellulaire

The prognosis of relapsing primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) is poor. We report the results of a prospective multicenter trial of intensive chemotherapy followed by autologous hematopoietic stem-cell rescue (IC + HCR) in immunocompetent adult patients with PCNSL or intraocular lymphoma (IOL) after failure of high-dose methotrexate-based treatment. Salvage treatment consisted of two cycles of high-dose cytarabine and etoposide (CYVE). Intensive chemotherapy combined thiotepa, busulfan, and cyclophosphamide. Forty-three patients (median age, 52 years; range, 23 to 65 years) were included, with relapse (n = 22), refractory disease (n = 17), or a partial response to first-line treatment (n = 4). The response to CYVE was not assessable in three cases because of treatment-related death. Twenty patients (47%) were chemosensitive to CYVE: 15 of them proceeded to IC + HCR. IC + HCR was also administered to 12 patients who did not respond to CYVE. All but one of the 27 patients who underwent IC + HCR entered complete remission. With a median follow-up of 36 months, the median overall survival was 18.3 months in the overall population, and 58.6 months among patients who completed IC + HCR. The respective median progression-free survival (PFS) times after IC + HCR were 11.6 and 41.1 months. The 2-year overall survival probability was 45% in the whole population and 69% among the 27 patients who received IC + HCR. The 2-year PFS probability was 43% among all the patients and 58% in the IC + HCR subpopulation. IC + HCR is an effective treatment for refractory and recurrent PCNSL.

Topotecan as salvage therapy for relapsed or refractory primary central nervous system lymphoma

Treatment for patients with refractory or relapsed primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) remains unsatisfactory. Topotecan is an intravenous topoisomerase I inhibitor with good CSF penetration and documented efficacy in patients with relapsed systemic non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In this study 15 patients with refractory or relapsed PCNSL were treated with intravenous topotecan (1.5 mg/m(2)) for five consecutive days during each 21-day cycle. All 15 patients had measurable, contrast-enhancing tumor on cranial MRI at the time of relapse. Three (20%) patients achieved a complete response after one, three and four cycles, respectively, while three (20%) patients achieved a partial response after two cycles each, for a total response proportion of 40%. Three patients had stable disease at the end of topotecan treatment. Six patients (40%) had progressive disease during treatment. Median overall survival was 981 days (95% CI: 275, NA) and median progression free survival was 60 days (95% CI: 46, 945). Three out of 15 patients had grade 3 thrombocytopenia. Six out of 15 patients had grade 3 neutropenia, while 5/15 patients had grade 4 neutropenia, and 13/15 patients received g-CSF at some point during treatment. There were no deaths directly related to treatment toxicity. Our study shows that topotecan, as a salvage therapy in patients with relapsed or refractory PCNSL, is associated with an overall response proportion of 40% and should be considered in patients who have failed prior methotrexate-based chemotherapy and/or whole brain irradiation. However, progression is frequent and early and most patients required growth factor support due to myelotoxicity.

Salvage whole brain radiotherapy for recurrent or refractory primary CNS lymphoma

High-dose methotrexate (MTX) and whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) prolong survival in primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) patients but have been associated with delayed neurotoxicity. Consequently, patients are often treated with chemotherapy alone, and WBRT is deferred until relapse. We performed a retrospective study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of salvage WBRT. Radiographic response, survival, and late neurotoxicity were assessed as the main endpoints. Forty-eight patients received salvage WBRT for PCNSL progression or recurrence. After WBRT, 58% achieved a complete radiographic response, 21% achieved a partial response, 6% had stable disease, and 15% progressed. The median survival from initiation of WBRT was 16 months, and 54% were alive 1 year after WBRT. The median time to PCNSL progression was 10 months; 15 patients (31%) had no subsequent disease recurrence after WBRT. Age younger than 60 years and complete response to WBRT were associated with better outcome. Treatment-related neurotoxicity was observed in 22% of patients. Patients older than 60 years and those treated less than 6 months from MTX therapy were at increased risk for development of neurotoxicity. Salvage whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT) is effective for recurrent and refractory primary CNS lymphoma. Reserving WBRT until tumor recurrence is a reasonable strategy to minimize or delay the risk of treatment-related neurotoxicity.

Topotecan might be a useful as salvage therapy for patients with refractory or relapsed primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL),

Topotecan might be a useful as salvage therapy for patients with refractory or relapsed primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL),

Salvage therapy for primary CNS lymphoma with a combination of rituximab and temozolomide

The authors evaluated the efficacy of a combination of rituximab and temozolomide for recurrent or refractory primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL). Fifteen patients with a median age of 69 years had a 53% objective response rate with acceptable toxicity. Median overall survival is 14 months and median progression free survival of responding patients is 7.7 months. This combination merits further study and provides a reasonable therapeutic alternative for older patients with progressive PCNSL.

Recent advances in primary CNS lymphoma

This review highlights the recent advances in the pathogenesis and treatment of primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL) in the immunocompetent population. High-dose methotrexate (MTX)-based chemotherapy followed by whole brain radiotherapy represents the standard treatment. However, combined treatment exposes the patients to the risk of delayed neurotoxicity. Although this complication is less frequent and severe in young patients (less than 60 years) than in the elderly, neuropsychometric evaluation suggests that it is underestimated in this population. Recent trials, adding further to previous studies, suggest that high-dose MTX-based chemotherapy with deferred radiotherapy allows comparable results to those reported after combined chemoradiotherapy, with much better neurocognitive preservation. Intensive chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation has shown a promising activity in relapsed or refractory PCNSL, but its value as first-line treatment compared with conventional treatment remains questionable. New therapeutic agents such as temozolomide, topotecan, or intrathecal rituximab (anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) have demonstrated a modest but true activity as single-agent therapy in relapsed PCNSL and are of interest, in terms of their good safety profile, for inclusion in new polychemotherapy regimen as primary treatment. In the elderly, MTX-based chemotherapy seems to be the best approach to achieve effective tumor control without compromising patient quality of life. Future trials should first analyze the value of radiotherapy as consolidation treatment in young patients (less than 60 years) who have achieved a remission after induction chemotherapy in a randomized study. Other trials are needed to further evaluate intensive chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplantation both as primary and salvage therapy; and to investigate new drug combinations with high-dose MTX.

Salvage therapy for primary CNS lymphoma with a combination of rituximab and temozolomide.

The authors evaluated the efficacy of a combination of rituximab and temozolomide for recurrent or refractory primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL). Fifteen patients with a median age of 69 years had a 53% objective response rate with acceptable toxicity. Median overall survival is 14 months and median progression free survival of responding patients is 7.7 months. This combination merits further study and provides a reasonable therapeutic alternative for older patients with progressive PCNSL.