Use of Different Anti-PD-1 Checkpoint Combination Strategies for First-Line Advanced NSCLC Treatment-The Experience of Ion Chiricuța Oncology Institute.

PURPOSE: Different combination modalities between an anti-PD-1/PD-L1 agent and a platinum-based chemotherapy or another checkpoint inhibitor (with or without a short course or full course of a platinum doublet) proved superior to chemotherapy alone in multiple clinical trials, but these strategies were not directly compared. The aim of this study is to report the real-world data results with different immunotherapy combinations in a series of patients treated in consecutive cohorts at the Ion Chiricuța Oncology Institute. METHODS: A total of 122 patients were successively enrolled in three cohorts: (1A) nivolumab + ipilimumab (18 patients), (1B) nivolumab + ipilimumab + short-course chemotherapy (33 patients), and (2) pembrolizumab plus full-course chemotherapy (71 patients). Endpoints included overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), objective response (ORR), and univariate and multivariate exploratory analysis of prognostic factors. RESULTS: Median follow-up in the consecutive cohorts 1A, 1B, and 2 was 83 versus 59 versus 14.2 months. Median OS and PFS for all patients were 22.2 and 11.5 months, respectively, and 2-year actuarial OS and PFS were 49% and 35%, respectively. For the nivolumab + ipilimumab (cohorts 1A and 1B) versus pembrolizumab combinations (cohort 2), median OS was 14 vs. 24.8 months (p = 0.18) and 2-year actuarial survival 42% vs. 53%; median PFS was 8.6 vs. 12.7 months (p = 0.41) and 2-year actuarial PFS 34% vs. 35%; response rates were 33.3% vs. 47.9% (p = 0.22). Older age, impaired PS (2 versus 0-1), corticotherapy in the first month of immunotherapy, and >3.81 neutrophils to lymphocytes ratio were independent unfavorable prognostic factors in the multivariate analysis of survival (limited to 2 years follow-up). The 5-year long-term survival was 30.5% and 18.8% for cohorts 1A and 1B, respectively (not enough follow-up for cohort 2). CONCLUSIONS: Efficacy results using different immunotherapy combination strategies were promising and not significantly different between protocols at 2 years. Real-world efficacy and long-term results in our series were in line with those reported in the corresponding registration trials.

Real-World Clinical Outcomes and Adverse Events in Patients with Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia Treated with Ibrutinib: A Single-Center Retrospective Study.

Background and Objectives: The treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has acquired new targeted therapies. In clinical trials, ibrutinib improved outcomes safely. Real-world data called for a reappraisal of ibrutinib strategies. We report on a single center's experience with ibrutinib monotherapy, aiming to explore the outcomes, tolerability, and prognosis of CLL patients in routine clinical practice. Materials and Methods: Data were collected from all CLL patients treated with ibrutinib at Fundeni Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania, between January 2016 and June 2021. Results: A total of one hundred twenty-three CLL adult patients were treated with ibrutinib. Of the patients, 87% had relapsed/refractory CLL. The median age at ibrutinib initiation was 65 years; 44.7% of patients were staged Rai III/IV. At 32-month median follow-up, the median progression-free survival (PFS) was 50 months, the overall survival (OS) was not reached, and the overall response rate (ORR) was 86.2%. The age or number of previous therapies did not impact outcomes or tolerability. An Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status (ECOG PS) score ≥ 2 and shorter time from initiation of last therapy (TILT) before ibrutinib predicted inferior PFS. Baseline characteristics had no impact on the OS except for TILT in R/R CLL patients. Drug-related adverse events (AEs) of any grade and grade ≥ 3 AEs were reported in 82.1% and 30.9% of the patients, respectively. Infections were the most common AEs (29.3%). Drug discontinuation was permanent in 43.9% of patients, mainly due to disease progression (17.1%) and toxicity (8.9%). Patients with a Cumulative Illness Rating Scale (CIRS) score ≥ 6 had a higher risk for toxicity-related discontinuation. An ECOG PS ≥ 2 predicted an increased rate of permanent discontinuation and grade ≥ 3 AEs. Conclusions: The outcomes of this study align with the results from ibrutinib clinical trials. Our study demonstrated that poor patient fitness, early relapse before ibrutinib, and permanent ibrutinib discontinuation are essential outcome determinants. Patient comorbidity burden and fitness were significant predictors for ibrutinib intolerance.

Long-term efficacy and safety of CT-P10 or rituximab in untreated advanced follicular lymphoma: a randomized phase 3 study.

Rituximab biosimilars are a cornerstone of treatment of advanced-stage follicular lymphoma (FL). This double-blind, parallel-group, phase 3 trial randomized (1:1) adults (≥18 years) with stage III to IV indolent B-cell lymphoma, including grades 1 to 3a FL, to receive CT-P10 or rituximab (375 mg/m2 IV), with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone, every 3 weeks for 8 cycles (induction period). Patients achieving complete response (CR), unconfirmed CR, or partial response (PR) received CT-P10 or rituximab maintenance for 2 years (375 mg/m2, every 8 weeks). Primary end points were previously reported, proving noninferiority of efficacy and pharmacokinetic equivalence of CT-P10 to rituximab. Secondary end points included overall response rate (PR+CR) during the induction period per 2007 International Working Group (IWG) criteria, survival analyses, and overall safety. Between 28 July 2014 and 29 December 2015, 140 patients were randomized (70 per group). Median follow-up was 39.9 months (interquartile range, 36.7-43.5). Per 1999 IWG criteria, 4-year Kaplan-Meier estimates (95% confidence interval [CI]) for CT-P10 and rituximab were 61% (47% to 73%) and 55% (36% to 70%) for progression-free survival (hazard ratio, 1.33 [95% CI, 0.67-2.63]; P=.409), respectively, and 88% (77% to 94%) and 93% (83% to 97%) for overall survival (5.29 [0.84-33.53]; P=.077). Overall, 90% (CT-P10) and 86% (rituximab) of patients experienced treatment-emergent adverse events. Long-term safety profiles were similar between groups. Findings confirm favorable outcomes for CT-P10-treated patients with advanced-stage FL and demonstrate comparable long-term efficacy and overall safety between CT-P10 and rituximab. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT02162771.

APPLY: A prospective observational study of clinical practice patterns of darbepoetin alfa use in patients with chemotherapy-induced anemia in Romania.

PURPOSE: The primary objective of this study was to evaluate the compliance of Romanian physicians with the national therapeutic protocol and international guidelines on treatment with erythropoiesis-stimulating agents in anemic cancer patients receiving chemotherapy. The secondary objective was to assess the hemoglobin (Hb) level change due to anemia treatment and safety of darbepoetin alfa. METHODS: This was a single-arm, prospective, longitudinal, multicenter, observational study in patients with nonmyeloid malignancies and symptomatic chemotherapy-induced anemia treated concomitantly with darbepoetin alfa. Patients were followed for the duration of chemotherapy, but no shorter than three and no longer than eight cycles, irrespective of their exposure to darbepoetin alfa. RESULTS: In this study, 497 patients with a mean age of 60.6 years were analyzed. Most patients (80.7%) were initiated on darbepoetin alfa at a Hb of 9-11 g/dL, congruent with recommendations. The median Hb increased by 0.9 g/dL between baseline and week 12. Hb target achievement was higher among patients treated according to guidelines than those initiated at Hb < 9 g/dL. A similar trend was observed for red blood cell transfusion requirements. No new safety signals were reported for darbepoetin alfa. CONCLUSIONS: The majority of patients were treated according to national and international recommendations. Guideline adherence was associated with more frequent achievement of Hb targets and lower red blood cell transfusion requirements compared with patients starting anemia treatment with darbepoetin alfa at lower-than-recommended Hb levels.

Efficacy, pharmacokinetics, and safety of the biosimilar CT-P10 compared with rituximab in patients with previously untreated advanced-stage follicular lymphoma: a randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, non-inferiority phase 3 trial.

BACKGROUND: Studies in patients with rheumatoid arthritis have shown that the rituximab biosimilar CT-P10 (Celltrion, Incheon, South Korea) has equivalent efficacy and pharmacokinetics to rituximab. In this phase 3 study, we aimed to assess the non-inferior efficacy and pharmacokinetic equivalence of CT-P10 compared with rituximab, when used in combination with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (CVP) in patients with newly diagnosed advanced-stage follicular lymphoma. METHODS: In this ongoing, randomised, double-blind, parallel-group, active-controlled study, patients aged 18 years or older with Ann Arbor stage III-IV follicular lymphoma were assigned 1:1 to CVP plus intravenous infusions of 375 mg/m2 CT-P10 or rituximab on day 1 of eight 21-day cycles. Randomisation was done by the investigators using an interactive web or voice response system and a computer-generated randomisation schedule, prepared by a clinical research organisation. Randomisation was balanced using permuted blocks and was stratified by country, gender, and Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index score (0-2 vs 3-5). Study teams from the sponsor and clinical research organisation, investigators, and patients were masked to treatment assignment. The study was divided into two parts: part 1 assessing equivalence of pharmacokinetics (in the pharmacokinetics subset), and part 2 assessing efficacy in all randomised patients (patients from the pharmacokinetics subset plus additional patients enrolled in part 2). Equivalence of pharmacokinetics was shown if the 90% CIs for the geometric mean ratio of CT-P10 to rituximab in AUCτ and CmaxSS were within the bounds of the equivalence margin of 80% and 125%. Non-inferiority of response was shown if the one-sided 97·5% CI lay on the positive side of the -7% margin, using a one-sided test done at the 2·5% significance level. The primary efficacy endpoint was the proportion of patients who had an overall response over eight cycles and was assessed in the efficacy population (all randomised patients). The primary pharmacokinetic endpoints were area under the serum concentration-time curve at steady state (AUCτ) and maximum serum concentration at steady state (CmaxSS) at cycle 4, assessed in the pharmokinetic population. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02162771. FINDINGS: Between July 28, 2014, and Dec 29, 2015, 140 patients were enrolled. Here we report data for the eight-cycle induction period, up to week 24. The proportion of patients with an overall response in the efficacy population was 64 (97·0%) of 66 patients in the CT-P10 treatment group and 63 (92·6%) of 68 patients in the rituximab treatment group (4·3%; one-sided 97·5% CI -4·25), which lay on the positive side of the predefined non-inferiority margin. The ratio of geometric least squares means (CT-P10/rituximab) was 102·25% (90% CI 94·05-111·17) for AUCτ and 100·67% (93·84-108·00) for CmaxSS, with all CIs within the bioequivalence margin of 80-125%. Treatment-emergent adverse events were reported for 58 (83%) of 70 patients in the CT-P10 treatment group and 56 (80%) of 70 in the rituximab treatment group. The most common grade 3 or 4 treatment-emergent adverse event in each treatment group was neutropenia (grade 3, 15 [21%] of 70 patients in the CT-P10 group and seven [10%] of 70 patients in the rituximab group). The proportion of patients who experienced at least one treatment-emergent serious adverse event was 16 (23%) of 70 patients in the CT-P10 group and nine (13%) of 70 patients in the rituximab group. INTERPRETATION: In this study, we show that CT-P10 exhibits non-inferior efficacy and pharmacokinetic equivalence to rituximab. The safety profile of CT-P10 was comparable to that of rituximab. CT-P10 might represent a new therapeutic option for advanced-stage follicular lymphoma. FUNDING: Celltrion, Inc.

Refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts and thrombocytosis without JAK2 V617F mutation: report of three cases.

In the WHO classification, there is a provisional entity called Myelodysplastic/Myeloproliferative Neoplasm, Unclassifiable (MDS/MPN, U). Refractory anemia with ringed sideroblasts associated with marked thrombocytosis (RARS-T) was included in this category. Recently published studies report a small percentage of patients with RARS-T. Sixty percent of these have JAK2 V617F mutation, which can suggest the coexistence of two pathological conditions (MDS and MPN). In this paper, we analyzed three patients diagnosed with RARS-T in the Department of Hematology, "Fundeni" Clinical Institute, Bucharest, Romania, during the period 2005-2011. The patients were investigated with cytogenetic exam and molecular biology. In these three cases were identified morphological features of multilineage dysplasia (two-lineage dysplasia in two cases and three-lineage dysplasia in one case). In two cases, thrombocytosis was under 1000×10(3)/µL and clinical evolution was similar to the myelodysplastic syndrome (transfusion dependent anemia with response to administration of erythropoietin). In the third case, the platelets were over 1000×10(3)/µL and with response to the treatment with Hydrea, which improved anemia. JAK2 V617F mutation was not identified in any case. RARS-T remains a provisional entity and requires a complex investigation of patients for the correct diagnosis of these patients. Therapeutic options should be personalized to each case in part because there is not yet a standardized treatment of these patients.

Primary malignant lymphoma of the testis.

UNLABELLED: Primary testicular lymphomas are rare entities representing 1-2% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHML) and 1-7% of malignant testicular tumors and they are the most common testicular tumors in men older than 50 years of age. This study included 8 cases of inpatients diagnosed by echography and NMR with testicular tumors. The age of patients was between 46 and 81 (with a mean of 52). The tumors were unilateral, with disease limited to testicle and accompanied by pain except 1 case with bone involvement. Orchectomy was performed as first therapeutic and diagnostic purpose. All patients were clinically staged according to the Ann Arbor criteria in IE and IIID stage and received a doxorubicin based chemotherapy regimen (CHOP, MTX, CVP, and Leukeran). A standard chemotherapy protocol has not been used because of reduced number of patients. Tumor fragments were fixed in 10% formallin, paraffin embedded, sectioned and standard H.E. stained. Immunohistochemistry for L26, Alphafetoprotein, NK1, CD30, and CLA was performed. Microscopy revealed in all cases a stromal proliferation with medium size cells, monomorphic shape and prominent nucleoli. Alphafetoprotein was positive in seminal tubes and negative in tumor, NK1 in small lymphocyte and negative in tumor and L26 diffuse positive in tumor. CLA diffuse positive in tumor. We were able to follow up only four patients. CONCLUSIONS: The diagnosis was of NHML in 6 cases and for 2 secondary involvement of hematopoietic malignancy (myeloid sarcoma and leukemia). Lymphoma cases were typed using REAL classification as small and large B-cell lymphoma. Unfavorable evolution with 6 months relapse and one death prove a more aggressive evolution of primitive testicular lymphoma.