Loncastuximab tesirine in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: long-term efficacy and safety from the phase II LOTIS-2 study.

Therapies that demonstrate durable, long-term responses with manageable safety and tolerability are needed for patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL). Loncastuximab tesirine (loncastuximab tesirine-lpyl [Lonca]), an anti-CD19 antibody conjugated to a potent pyrrolobenzodiazepine dimer, demonstrated single-agent antitumor activity in the pivotal phase II LOTIS-2 study in heavily pretreated patients with R/R DLBCL. Here we present updated efficacy and safety analyses from LOTIS-2, performed for all patients and in subsets of patients with a complete response (CR), including patients with CR who were event-free (no progressive disease or death) for ≥1 year and ≥2 years from cycle 1, day 1 of treatment. Lonca was administered every 3 weeks (0.15 mg/kg for 2 cycles; 0.075 mg/kg for subsequent cycles). As of the final data cutoff (September 15, 2022; median follow-up: 7.8 months [range, 0.3-42.6]), 70 of 145 (48.3%) patients achieved an overall response. Thirty-six (24.8%) patients achieved CR, of which 16 (44%) and 11 (31%) were event-free for ≥1 year and ≥2 years, respectively. In the all-treated population, the median overall survival was 9.5 months; the median progression-free survival was 4.9 months. Among patients with CR, median overall survival and progression-free survival were not reached, with 24-month overall and progression-free survival rates of 68.2% (95% CI: 50.0-81.0) and 72.5% (95% CI: 48.2-86.8), respectively. No new safety concerns were detected. With additional follow-up, Lonca continued to demonstrate durable, long-term responses with manageable safety and tolerability in patients with CR (clinicaltrials gov. Identifier: NCT03589469).

Safety and efficacy of tenalisib in combination with romidepsin in patients with relapsed/refractory T-cell lymphoma: results from a phase I/II open-label multicenter study.

Tenalisib, a selective phosphoinositide-3-kinase δ/γ, and salt-inducible-kinase-3 inhibitor has shown efficacy and was well-tolerated in patients with T-cell lymphoma (TCL). In vitro studies suggest a synergistic anti-tumor potential for the combination of tenalisib with the histone-deacetylase inhibitor, romidepsin. This multicenter, open-label, phase I/II study was designed to characterize the safety, efficacy and pharmacokinetics of oral tenalisib twice-daily and intravenous romidepsin administered on days 1, 8 and 15 in 28-day cycles in adults with relapsed/refractory TCL. Phase I/dose escalation determined the maximum tolerated dose (MTD)/optimal doses of tenalisib and romidepsin. The phase II/dose expansion assessed the safety and anti-tumor activity of the combination at MTD/optimal dose. Overall, 33 patients were enrolled. In dose escalation, no dose-limiting toxicity was identified. Hence, the recommended doses for dose expansion were tenalisib 800 mg twice daily orally, and romidepsin 14 mg/m2 intravenous. Overall treatment-emergent adverse events of any grade reported in >15% of patients were nausea, thrombocytopenia, increased aspartate aminotransferase, increased alanine aminotransferase, decreased appetite, neutropenia, vomiting, fatigue, anemia, dysgeusia, weight loss, diarrhea, and hypokalemia. Twenty-three patients (69.7%) had related grade ≥3 treatment-emergent adverse events. The overall objective response rate in evaluable patients was 63.0% (peripheral TCL: 75% and cutaneous TCL: 53.3%), with a complete response and partial response of 25.9% and 37.0% respectively. The median duration of response was 5.03 months. Co-administration of tenalisib and romidepsin did not significantly alter the pharmacokinetics of romidepsin. Overall, tenalisib and romidepsin combination demonstrated a favorable safety and efficacy profile supporting its further development for relapsed/refractory TCL (clinicaltrials gov. Identifier: NCT03770000).

PET/CT Biomarkers Enable Risk Stratification of Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma Enrolled in the LOTIS-2 Clinical Trial.

PURPOSE: Significant progress has occurred in developing quantitative PET/CT biomarkers in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Total metabolic tumor volume (MTV) is the most extensively studied, enabling assessment of FDG-avid tumor burden associated with outcomes. However, prior studies evaluated the outcome of cytotoxic chemotherapy or chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapy without data on recently approved FDA agents. Therefore, we aimed to assess the prognosis of PET/CT biomarkers in patients treated with loncastuximab tesirine. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN: We centrally reviewed screening PET/CT scans of patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL enrolled in the LOTIS-2 (NCT03589469) study. MTV was obtained by computing individual volumes using the SUV ≥4.0 threshold. Other PET/CT metrics, clinical factors, and the International Metabolic Prognostic Index (IMPI) were evaluated. Logistic regression was used to assess the association between biomarkers and treatment response. Cox regression was used to determine the effect of biomarkers on time-to-event outcomes. We estimated biomarker prediction as continuous and binary variables defined by cutoff points. RESULTS: Across 138 patients included in this study, MTV with a cutoff point of 96 mL was the biomarker associated with the highest predictive performance in univariable and multivariable models to predict failure to achieve complete metabolic response (OR, 5.42; P = 0.002), progression-free survival (HR, 2.68; P = 0.002), and overall survival (HR, 3.09; P < 0.0001). IMPI demonstrated an appropriate performance, however, not better than MTV alone. CONCLUSIONS: Pretreatment MTV demonstrated robust risk stratification, with those patients demonstrating high MTV achieving lower responses and survival to loncastuximab tesirine in relapsed/refractory DLBCL.

Hypoxia-specific imaging in patients with lymphoma undergoing CAR-T therapy.

PURPOSE: Intratumoral hypoxia in non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) may interfere with chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) function. We conducted a single-center pilot study (clinicaltrials.gov ID NCT04409314) of [18F]fluoroazomycin arabinoside, a hypoxia-specific radiotracer abbreviated as [18F]FAZA, to assess the feasibility of this positron emission tomography (PET) imaging modality in this population. METHODS: Patients with relapsed NHL being evaluated for CAR-T therapy received a one-time [18F]FAZA PET scan before pre-CAR-T lymphodepletion. A tumor to mediastinum (T/M) ratio of 1.2 or higher with regard to [18F]FAZA uptake was defined as positive for intratumoral hypoxia. We planned to enroll 30 patients with an interim futility analysis after 16 scans. RESULTS: Of 16 scanned patients, 3 had no evidence of disease by standard [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose PET imaging before CAR-T therapy. Six patients (38%) had any [18F]FAZA uptake above background. Using a T/M cutoff of 1.20, only one patient (a 68-year-old male with relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma) demonstrated intratumoral hypoxia in an extranodal chest wall lesion (T/M 1.35). Interestingly, of all 16 scanned patients, he was the only patient with progressive disease within 1 month of CAR-T therapy. However, because of our low overall proportion of positive scans, our study was stopped for futility. CONCLUSIONS: Our pilot study identified low-level [18F]FAZA uptake in a small number of patients with NHL receiving CAR-T therapy. The only patient who met our pre-specified threshold for intratumoral hypoxia was also the only patient with early CAR-T failure. Future plans include exploration of [18F]FAZA in a more selected patient population.

Copy Number Loss at Chromosome 14q11.2 Correlates With the Proportion of T Cells in Biopsies and Helps Identify T-Cell Neoplasms.

CONTEXT.­: Evidence of T-cell clonality is often critical in supporting the diagnosis of a T-cell lymphoma. OBJECTIVES.­: To retrospectively explore the significance of copy number losses at the 14q11.2 T-cell receptor α locus in relation to the presence of a T-cell neoplasm and proportion of T cells by targeted next-generation sequencing. DESIGN.­: Targeted next-generation sequencing data from 139 tissue biopsies, including T-cell lymphomas, B-cell lymphomas, classic Hodgkin lymphomas, nonhematopoietic malignancies, and normal samples, were reviewed for copy number losses involving the T-cell receptor α gene segments at chr14q11.2. RESULTS.­: We found that biallelic or homozygous deletion of 14q11.2 was found in most (28 of 33, 84.8%) T-cell lymphomas. The magnitude of 14q11.2 loss showed a statistically significant correlation with the proportion of T cells in lymphoma tissue samples. Copy number losses could also be detected in other lymphomas with high numbers of T cells (8 of 32, 25% of B-cell lymphomas, 4 of 4 classical Hodgkin lymphomas), though biallelic/homozygous deletion of 14q11.2 was not significantly observed outside of T-cell lymphomas. Most nonhematopoietic neoplasms and normal tissues (59 of 64, 92.2%) showed no significant copy number losses involving the T-cell receptor α locus at chr14q11.2. CONCLUSIONS.­: Analysis of copy number losses at the T-cell receptor α locus chr14q11.2 with targeted next-generation sequencing can potentially be used to estimate the proportion of T cells and detect T-cell neoplasms.

NCCN Guidelines® Insights: Hodgkin Lymphoma, Version 2.2022.

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is an uncommon malignancy of B-cell origin. Classical HL (cHL) and nodular lymphocyte-predominant HL are the 2 main types of HL. The cure rates for HL have increased so markedly with the advent of modern treatment options that overriding treatment considerations often relate to long-term toxicity. These NCCN Guidelines Insights discuss the recent updates to the NCCN Guidelines for HL focusing on (1) radiation therapy dose constraints in the management of patients with HL, and (2) the management of advanced-stage and relapsed or refractory cHL.

T-Cell Lymphomas, Version 2.2022, NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology.

Peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCLs) are a heterogeneous group of lymphoproliferative disorders arising from mature T cells, accounting for about 10% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. PTCL-not otherwise specified is the most common subtype, followed by angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma, anaplastic large cell lymphoma, anaplastic lymphoma kinase-positive, anaplastic large cell lymphoma, anaplastic lymphoma kinase-negative, and enteropathy-associated T-cell lymphoma. This discussion section focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of PTCLs as outlined in the NCCN Guidelines for T-Cell Lymphomas.

The AntiCD19 Antibody Drug Immunoconjugate Loncastuximab Achieves Responses in DLBCL Relapsing After AntiCD19 CAR-T Cell Therapy.

INTRODUCTION: Chimeric antigen receptor T (CAR-T) cells targeting CD19 result in durable responses in approximately 40% of DLBCL patients. Loncastuximab tesirine, an antibody drug conjugate targeting CD19 with a pyrrolobenzodiazepine payload, has activity against DLBCL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We evaluated the outcomes of 13 DLBCL patients relapsed after CAR-T cells treated with loncastuximab in the LOTIS-2 trial. RESULTS: Six patients (46%) had responses to loncastuximab (CR, n = 2). Median OS, PFS and duration of response after loncastuximab were 8.2, 1.4 and 8 months, respectively. CONCLUSION: Loncastuximab can achieve responses in patients progressing after CAR-T cells. Sequencing CD19-targeting therapies is possible in cases without CD19 loss.

Phase 1/2 study of intratumoral G100 (TLR4 agonist) with or without pembrolizumab in follicular lymphoma.

Intratumoral injection of G100, a toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) agonist, was shown pre-clinically to stimulate anti-tumor immune responses and tumor regression. This open-label, multicenter, phase 1/2 trial evaluated the safety, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of intratumoral G100 injections following localized low-dose radiation in patients with follicular lymphoma (ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT02501473). The study was comprised of a G100 dose escalation (5 or 10 µg/dose, or 20 µg/dose for large tumors); a randomized component comparing G100 to G100 plus pembrolizumab; and G100 20 µg/dose expansion. Adverse events grade ≥3 were uncommon in patients treated with G100, and no unexpected toxicities were observed when combined with pembrolizumab. G100 20 µg (n = 18) resulted in an overall response rate of 33.3% and abscopal tumor regression in 72.2% of patients. This early-phase study provides a foundation for combining an intratumoral TLR4 agonist with agents to produce immune-mediated responses in follicular lymphoma with limited added toxicity.

Targeting CD70 in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma using an antibody-drug conjugate in patient-derived xenograft models.

CD70 is a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily. Emerging data indicate that CD70 may be a suitable target for various malignancies. We investigated the expression of CD70 in cutaneous and systemic T-cell lymphomas and conducted preclinical studies of SGN-CD70A, a CD70-directed antibody-drug conjugate (ADC), using patient-derived xenograft cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL PDX) models. CD70 expression was examined by immunohistochemical (IHC) stains in 49 diagnostic specimens of T-cell lymphomas. The activities of SGN-CD70A in growth inhibition and apoptosis induction were examined in CTCL cell lines and primary CTCL tumor cells. Using previously established CTCL PDXs, we conducted a dose-finding trial followed by a phase 2-like trial to evaluate the optimal dosing and the efficacy of SGN-CD70A in tumor-bearing PDX animals. The therapeutic efficacy of SGN-CD70A was measured by tumor-associated cell-free DNA (cfDNA) and survival of treated PDXs. We found that CD70 is highly expressed in T-cell lymphomas, especially in CTCL. SGN-CD70A inhibited cell growth and induced apoptosis in CD70-expressing CTCL cell lines and primary tumors cells. Additionally, SGN-CD70A at 100 µg/kg and 300 µg/kg prolonged the survival of PDXs in a dose-dependent manner. Finally, treatment with 3 doses of SGN-CD70A at 300 µg/kg was superior to a single-dose treatment in survival prolongation (median survival: 111 days vs 39 days; P = .017). Most importantly, multiple dosing of SGN-CD70A induced complete eradication of established tumors in PDXs measured by cfDNA. Our results demonstrated marked antitumor activity of SGN-CD70A in CTCL PDXs, providing compelling support for its clinical investigation.

Efficacy and Safety Exposure-Response Analysis of Loncastuximab Tesirine in Patients with B cell non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

We developed an integrated population pharmacokinetic model to investigate loncastuximab tesirine pharmacokinetics (PK) and exposure-response relationships for relapsed/refractory B cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, including diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The model, based on the recommended dosing schedule (150 µg/kg every 3 weeks [Q3W] for 2 cycles; 75 µg/kg Q3W thereafter) and drug concentrations in phase 1 and 2 studies (DLBCL [n = 284], non-DLBCL [n = 44]), was used to characterize loncastuximab tesirine PK and evaluate exposure covariates. Relationships between exposure (pyrrolobenzodiazepine-conjugated antibody [cAb] cycle 1 average concentration) and (1) efficacy (including overall response rate [ORR; primary endpoint] and overall survival [OS]) and (2) grade ≥ 2 treatment-emergent adverse events were explored. Statistical analyses included univariate and multivariate logistic regression, Kaplan-Meier analysis, and Cox proportional hazard regression. cAb and total Ab were best described by a two-compartment linear model with time-dependent clearance. The cAb steady-state half-life increased to 20.6 days by ~ 15 weeks. cAb exposure was lower for low albumin, mild/moderate hepatic impairment, non-DLBCL subtypes, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group scores > 1. Significant positive associations were reported between exposure and ORR (p = 3.21E-6), OS (p = 0.0016), grade ≥ 2 increased gamma-glutamyltransferase, liver function test abnormalities, pain, and skin/nail reactions (p < 0.05). Low albumin, bulky disease, and mild/moderate hepatic impairment had a significant negative effect on OS (p < 0.01). Modeling supports the recommended loncastuximab tesirine dosing schedule. Although reduced exposure and efficacy were predicted for specific covariates (e.g., low albumin, mild/moderate hepatic impairment), dose increases are not recommended. Trial registration: NCT02669017 and NCT03589469.

Current and emerging treatment options in primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma.

Previously considered a subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) is now recognized by the World Health Organization as an independent entity. PMBCL has clinicopathologic features that are separate from systemic DLBCL and harbors some biologic characteristics which overlap with nodular sclerosing classic Hodgkin's lymphoma (cHL). Similar to cHL, copy number alterations of 9p24.1 are frequently seen in PMBCL, which leads to increased expression of key genes in the region, including programmed death-ligand 1( PD-L1), PD-L2, and JAK2. In addition, PMBCL cells express CD30 in a mostly patchy fashion. In the upfront setting, dose-adjusted etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and rituximab (i.e., DA-EPOCH-R) is the only regimen that has been shown in a prospective setting to result in outstanding outcomes without consolidative radiation to the mediastinum, with a 5-year event-free survival rate of 93% and overall survival rate of 97%. Thus, in recent years, DA-EPOCH-R has been recognized as the preferred frontline regimen. Despite the encouraging results in the frontline setting, the outcomes in the relapsed/refractory setting remain poor. The current approach of salvage chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation, as used in patients with DLBCL, does not result in high rates of cure in patients with rrPMBCL. In recent years, the characteristic molecular features identified in PMBCL have provided more treatment opportunities for this patient population. In the relapsed setting, single-agent PD-1 inhibitor pembrolizumab have demonstrated high and durable remission rates. Despite the expression of CD30, the CD30 antibody drug-conjugate brentuximab vedotin (BV) as a single agent has been deemed inactive in this disease. On the contrary, the combinations of BV and PD-1 inhibitor have shown higher response rates than PD-1 inhibitor alone. Moreover, anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR T-cell) therapy has been positioned as another successful strategy for patients with rrPMBCL. Axicabtagene ciloleucel and lisocabtagene maraleucel are two products used in rrPMBCL.

Loncastuximab tesirine in relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (LOTIS-2): a multicentre, open-label, single-arm, phase 2 trial.

BACKGROUND: Patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) who do not respond to or who have progressive disease after salvage therapies have a poor prognosis. Loncastuximab tesirine is a CD19-directed antibody-drug conjugate with encouraging phase 1 single-agent antitumour activity and acceptable safety in non-Hodgkin lymphoma. We aimed to evaluate the antitumour activity and safety of loncastuximab tesirine in patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL. METHODS: We did a multicentre (28 hospital sites in the USA, UK, Italy, and Switzerland), open-label, single-arm, phase 2 trial (LOTIS-2) in patients aged 18 years or older with relapsed or refractory DLBCL after two or more multiagent systemic treatments, who had measurable disease and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0-2. Eligible patients received loncastuximab tesirine intravenously on day 1 of each 21-day cycle, at 150 µg/kg for two cycles, then 75 µg/kg thereafter, for up to 1 year or until disease relapse or progression, unacceptable toxicity, death, major protocol deviation, pregnancy, or patient, investigator, or sponsor decision. The primary endpoint was overall response rate assessed by central review. Primary antitumour activity and safety analyses were done in the as-treated population (patients who received at least one dose of loncastuximab tesirine), when all responding patients had at least 6 months of follow-up after initial documented response. Enrolment is complete. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03589469. FINDINGS: Between Aug 1, 2018, and Sept 24, 2019, 184 patients were assessed for eligibility and 145 (79%) were enrolled and received at least one dose of loncastuximab tesirine, including patients with high-risk characteristics for poor prognosis, such as double-hit, triple-hit, transformed, or primary refractory DLBCL. 70 of 145 patients had complete or partial response (overall response rate 48·3% [95% CI 39·9-56·7]); 35 had complete response and 35 had partial response. The most common grade 3 or higher treatment-emergent adverse events were neutropenia (37 [26%] of 145 patients), thrombocytopenia (26 [18%]), and increased gamma-glutamyltransferase (24 [17%]). Serious adverse events were reported in 57 (39%) of 145 patients. Treatment-emergent adverse events with a fatal outcome occurred in eight (6%) of 145 patients; none were considered related to loncastuximab tesirine. INTERPRETATION: Loncastuximab tesirine has substantial single-agent antitumour activity and produces durable responses with an acceptable safety profile, potentially offering a new therapeutic option for heavily pretreated patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL. FUNDING: ADC Therapeutics.

High incidence of fractures after R-CHOP-like chemotherapy for aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas.

PURPOSE: Patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) have a median age of 67, with 70% surviving over 5 years. Chemotherapy for aggressive NHL includes cyclophosphamide, anthracycline, and high doses of corticosteroids, which can impair bone health. By reviewing clinical characteristics and standard-of-care CT scans, we evaluate the prevalence and incidence of fractures and the clinical correlates of fractures in patients treated for aggressive B-cell NHL. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed patients seen at the University of California San Francisco lymphoma clinic from January 1, 2016, to March 31, 2017 who had (1) aggressive B-cell NHL, (2) received first-line therapy with R-CHOP-like regimens, and had (3) CT scans pre- and post-treatment available for review. Associations between clinical variables and vertebral, rib, and pelvic fracture outcomes were assessed, and multivariate logistic regression models were used to identify predictors of prevalent and incident fractures. RESULTS: We identified 162 patients who met the inclusion criteria. Median age at diagnosis was 60 years. Of the 162 patients, 38 patients (28%) had prevalent fractures prior to receiving chemotherapy. Within 1 year after treatment, 16 patients (10%) developed new fractures. Having a prevalent fracture strongly predicted developing a new fracture after treatment, with incident fractures occurring in 12 of 38 patients with prevalent fractures versus 4 of 124 without prevalent fractures (odds ratio 10.45, p<0.0005). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that patients with aggressive B-cell NHL who receive R-CHOP-like therapy should be screened for fractures prior to treatment and those with existing fractures should be considered for therapy to decrease risk of new fractures.