Patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) after first autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT1) may be offered several therapeutic options. New agents such as brentuximab ...vedotin or checkpoint inhibitors have recently been approved for the treatment of these patients, however, their efficacy to provide long-term control or cure is still unknown. Thus, a significant proportion of patients are still considered candidates for a second hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, usually an allogeneic transplantation. A second ASCT (ASCT2) has historically been considered as an option only in a small group of patients so the published experience is scarce.
We retrospectively evaluated the outcome of 56 adult patients (25% female/75% male) with R/R HL registered in the EBMT database who received an ASCT2 between 2005 and 2014. Planned tandem ASCT were excluded. The median age at ASCT2 was 33 years (range, 19-71) and most patients (n=46, 87%) had a Karnofsky performance score ≥80%. Forty (73%) and 9 (16%) patients were in complete remission (CR) and partial remission (PR), respectively, at day 100 after ASCT1. Twenty-six (46%) relapsed within 12 months after ASCT1. Patients received a median of 1 (0-5) treatment lines between ASCT1 and ASCT2. Of note, only 2 patients received brentuximab vedotin after ASCT1 and none of the patients in our series received checkpoint inhibitors as salvage after ASCT1. The median interval from relapse/progression to ASCT2 was 9.7 months (1.7-89.3). At the time of ASCT2, 38 (69%) patients had chemosensitive disease (20 of them CR; and 18 PR). Most patients (n=43, 77%) received BEAM as the conditioning regimen for ASCT1, whereas preparative regimens for ASCT2 were more heterogeneous (BEAM or similar in 27, 48%; CBV or similar in 8, 14%; and others in 21, 37%). The median time to neutrophil (>0.5x109/L) and platelet (>20x109/L) recovery after ASCT2 were 11 (IQR 9-12) and 12 (IQR 10-15) days, respectively. Best response at day 100 following ASCT2 included CR in 29 (52%) patients and PR in 7 (12%); 3 (5%) had stable disease, and 3 (5%) progressed. Twenty-nine (52%) patients are currently alive, with a median follow-up for surviving patients of 73 months (2-153). Causes of death were HL progression (n=21, 79%), ASCT2 toxicity (n=3, 11%), secondary neoplasia (n=1, 3.7%), and unknown (n=2, 7%). The 4-year non-relapse mortality (NRM) was 5% (95% CI 1-14%). The 4-year cumulative incidence of disease progression/relapse was 69% (95% CI 54-80%). The 4-year overall survival (OS) and progression free survival (PFS) were 63% (95% CI 51-77%) and 25% (95% CI 16-41%). In univariate analysis, HL relapse within 12 months of ASCT1 was associated with a worse 4-year OS (44% vs. 79%, p=0.016) and PFS (16% vs. 33%, p=0.033). Chemosensitivity at ASCT2 predicted for better outcomes (4-year OS 78% vs. 30%, p=0.002; PFS 34% vs. 6%, p=0.004).
Our series is the largest thus far reported of ASCT2 for patients with R/R HL after ASCT1. NRM is lower than that observed after allogeneic transplantation in this setting; however, relapse remains a major issue, especially for patients who relapse in less than one year after ASCT. For this population, a second ASCT should not be considered, whereas ASCT2 in patients with long response duration after ASCT1 might be appropriate in selected cases. The role of ASCT2 for those patients treated with new drugs such as brentuximab vedotin and checkpoint inhibitors deserves further investigation.
Martinez:BMS: Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy. Sureda:BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Honoraria; Merck: Consultancy, Honoraria.
Around half of patients with Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL) who progress or relapse through first line therapy can be cured with salvage chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). ...However, this leaves approximately 50% of patients that will relapse after ASCT. The pivotal phase II SG035-00303 trial demonstrated that these patients can be successfully treated with Brentuximab Vedotin (BV), and a proportion of them can be long term free of disease without any further intervention. The objective of the current study was to investigate whether these findings were borne out in the real world via interrogation of the EBMT registry.
We retrospectively analysed data for 101 patients with HL who had BV as their first treatment for relapse after ASCT from 2012 to 2019. The median age at ASCT was 34 years (range: 19-65), 60% being male and with 62% being in complete response (CR) at the time of ASCT. Carmustine, Etoposide, Cytarabine and Melphalan (BEAM) was the most common conditioning regimen, having been employed in 72% of the cases. The median time from ASCT to relapse was 10.1 months (interquartile range (IQR): 6.1-25.1). The median time on BV was 3.4 months (IQR: 2.1-5.24). BV treatment resulted in a best overall response rate (ORR) of 59% with a CR rate of 37%. At last follow-up only 2 patients remain on treatment with BV. The main reason for discontinuation of BV was progression which occurred in 37% of the patients. In 32 cases (33%) the treatment was stopped electively to proceed to a second transplant, and overall nearly a quarter (22%) completed the full treatment course. Only 5% of patients stopped due to toxicity (peripheral neuropathy 2 and neutropenia, infusion reaction and other, 1 each). Further therapy was given after BV in over half of evaluable patients (58%), with check point inhibitors (CPIs) being the most common agents used (24% of these). Nearly two thirds (64/101) of the patients received a second transplant, which were nearly all allogeneic stem cell transplant (alloSCT, 59/64), and most of these (49/59) with reduced intensity conditioning (RIC). 26% of the alloSCT recipients experienced grade II-IV acute graft versus host disease (GvHD) and 25% developed chronic GvHD. At last follow up, 62% of all patients were alive with a median follow-up of 25 months after starting BV. Of these, 27 had received a second transplant, who were mostly in CR at last follow up (26/27) and a further 22 had relapsed. There were 11 patients of the 63 still alive who continued to be responding to BV without further therapy with a median duration of response of 30 months.
In conclusion BV use for relapse after ASCT was well tolerated generally, with only a minority of patients stopping treatment due to toxicity. However, although almost two thirds of the patients achieved a response, further treatment was often needed after BV, notably with CPIs and most patients were consolidated with a RIC alloSCT. These results confirm that only a minority of patients can achieve a durable remission with BV alone.
Brice:Takeda France: Consultancy, Honoraria; Millennium Takeda: Research Funding; BMS: Honoraria. Blaise:Molmed: Consultancy, Honoraria; Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Honoraria; Sanofi: Honoraria; Pierre Fabre medicaments: Honoraria. Stamatoullas:Celgene: Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy. Robak:Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; UCB: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel grant, Research Funding; Amgen: Consultancy, Other: Travel grant; Roche: Consultancy, Other: Travel grant, Research Funding; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel grant, Research Funding; Gilead: Consultancy, Research Funding; BeiGene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; Morphosys AG: Research Funding. Wahlin:Roche and Gilead: Consultancy.
Introduction
Standard first line treatment for mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) in fit patients is induction with cytarabine containing chemo-immunotherapy and a consolidative autologous stem cell ...transplant (ASCT). Responses are excellent but there is a continuous pattern of relapse. Progression within 24 months (POD24) of standard first line therapy including ASCT has been shown to predict poorer outcomes, which may be ameliorated by alloSCT. Ibrutinib, a Bruton's Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor, is an effective therapy for relapsed MCL. However, there is a paucity of published data of ibrutinib's efficacy in patients treated at relapse after standard first line treatment with ASCT and very little regarding the impact of POD24 on outcomes after ibrutinib and outcomes of subsequent alloSCT.
Methods
This was a retrospective analysis of the EBMT registry. The inclusion criteria were: patients with MCL ≥18 years old, 1st line therapy containing cytarabine and rituximab, ASCT in first CR/PR between 2009 and 2016 and received ibrutinib for 1st relapse after ASCT. POD24 was defined as progressive disease in less than 24 months after ASCT.
Results
66 patients met the inclusion criteria (Table 1) relapsing at a median of 25 months (range 15-33) post ASCT. Thirty-two patients progressed in less than 24 months after ASCT. Ibrutinib was started at a median of 30 days after relapse (range 10-54). Overall response rate (ORR) was 74% 32 (48%) achieving CR and 18 (27%) PR. The median duration of response was 10.1 months (available for 28 patients). There were no significant differences in the duration of response to ibrutinib for patients with POD24 (median: 10.4 months, IQR 4.0-15.4) compared to POD after 24 months or more (POD≥24) (median 9.8 months, IQR 6.5-20.7) p=0.9. Relapse after/during ibrutinib occurred in 21 patients (33%) at a median of 12 months (range 1-34). 13 of those patients were on ibrutinib at the time of relapse and the remaining 8 after ibrutinib had been stopped for a SCT or because of toxicity. Ibrutinib therapy continues at last follow-up in 23 (35%) patients. Ibrutinib was stopped for the following reasons: 16 patients subsequent SCT, 13 relapse, 5 toxicity (cytopenia, infection, tachycardia, hepatitis and poor tolerance, 1 case each), 9 other/unknown reasons.
Second SCT was undertaken in 23 patients (22 alloSCT, 1 ASCT), 16 of whom were in CR/PR after only ibrutinib at the time of relapse. For alloSCT recipients, the donor was MUD in 11, MSD in 5 and mismatch related in 6. The majority (n=19) had reduced intensity conditioning. 50% of the patients developed acute GvHD and 50% chronic GvHD (3 extensive). With a median follow up of 17 months post alloSCT, 18 (63%) are in remission. There were no significant differences in PFS (p=0.173) or OS (p=0.336) post alloSCT for patients with POD24 and POD≥24.
At last follow up (median follow-up of 22 months after starting ibrutinib), 35 (71%) patients were in CR and 4 (8%) in PR. 17 patients have died; the most common reason was MCL (14 patients), 2 deaths were secondary to alloSCT toxicity and in 1 case the cause of death was unknown. 2-year OS after starting ibrutinib was 72% (69% for alloSCT patients) and 2-year PFS 62%. PFS after starting ibrutinib was significantly better for patients with POD≥24 compared to those with POD24 (72% vs. 53% at 2 years post ASCT, p=0.017) and this translated to an OS benefit (80% vs. 68% at 2 years post ASCT, p=0.019) (figures 1 and 2).
Conclusion
Ibrutinib therapy did not overcome the poor outcome for patients with POD24 after first line therapy and although there was a high ORR to ibrutinib the median duration of response is only 10.1 months. AlloSCT should therefore be undertaken if possible, in our retrospective cohort of patients it appeared to overcome the poor prognosis of POD24 patients.
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Hunter:Jazz pharamceuticals: Honoraria, Other: speaker fees, Meeting attendance support; Novartis: Honoraria, Other: speaker fees; celegene: Other: Meeting attendance support. Peggs:Autolus: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau. Foà:Incyte: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Abbvie: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Amgen Inc.: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Shire: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Shire: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Janssen: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Amgen Inc.: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Celltrion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Celltrion: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Pillai:Celgene: Honoraria. Mufti:Celgene Corporation: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Cellectis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding.
The purpose of this study was to analyze the results of second autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (ASCT2) for patients with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) after a first ...transplantation (ASCT1). Outcomes for 56 patients receiving an ASCT2 registered in the EBMT database were analyzed. The 4-year cumulative incidences of non-relapse mortality and disease relapse/progression were 5% and 67%, respectively. The 4-year overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were 62% and 28%. In univariate analysis, relapse of HL within 12 months of ASCT1 was associated with a worse OS (35% versus 76%, p = 0.01) and PFS (19% versus 29%, p = 0.059). Chemosensitivity at ASCT2 predicted better outcomes (4-year OS 72% versus 29%, p = 0.002; PFS 31% versus 12%, p = 0.015). This series shows that ASCT2 is a safe procedure and a relatively effective option for patients with late relapses after ASCT1 and with chemosensitive disease who are not eligible for an allogeneic transplant.
Introduction
The development of mixed donor recipient (MDR) chimerism is a frequent occurrence following allogeneic transplantation (alloSCT) for lymphoid malignancies. There is evidence that ...achievement of full donor (FD) lympho-haematopoietic chimerism (LHC) is associated with a lower chance of disease recurrence and consequently donor lymphocyte infusions (DLI) are commonly employed in this setting. There is however a paucity of data describing both the efficacy of DLI in achieving FD LHC and their toxicity in terms of inducing graft versus host disease (GVHD). We therefore undertook a large survey within the EBMT to determine the efficacy and toxicity of DLI when used for MDR LHC.
Methods and Patients
All centres within the EBMT database that had administered DLI for MDR LHC in patients undergoing an alloSCT for lymphoid malignancies were invited to submit additional data for this study. Data was provided for 135 patients from 36 centres. The median age at diagnosis was 44.6 years (15-64) and the median age at SCT was 47 years (range 19-68). Patients were diagnosed with DLBCL (n=17), follicular NHL (n=45), Hodgkin lymphoma (n=21), mantle cell lymphoma (n=32), T cell lymphoma (n=14) and other lymphoid malignancies (n=6). Prior autologous transplantation had been performed in 45 patients. 122 patients underwent reduced intensity conditioning prior to transplantation from a matched sibling donor (n=90), unrelated donor (n=42) or mismatched family donor (n=3). T cell depletion (TCD) of the graft was performed in 33 cases.
Results
MDR LHC was demonstrated by analysis of whole blood (WB) in 34 patients and in T cell and myeloid lineages in 101 patients. The median time from alloSCT to the demonstration of MDR LHC was 4.9 months (range 4.6-63) and the median time to the 1st DLI was 7.8 months (range 1-63). Patients received a median of 2 DLI (range 1-20) at a median starting dose of 1x106 CD3/kg recipient (range 0.1-380 x 106/kg). Of the 135 patients receiving DLI 121 were assessable for response with 94 (78%) achieving full donor LHC, 24 (20%) remaining MDR, 2 patients became fully recipient and one patient had a mixed response (FD in T cells but MDR in myeloid lineage). For the patients that received DLI for T cell MDR chimerism (N=71, with 64 assessable for response) 55 (86%) became FD, 8 (12.5%) remained MDR and 1 became fully recipient. For patients that received DLI for myeloid MDR chimerism (with or without MDR chimerism in the T lineage) (N=30, with 29 assessable for response) 17 (59%) converted to full donor in the myeloid lineage, 10 (34%) remained MDR, 1 had a mixed response and 1 became full recipient. If patients required 3 or more DLIs the chance of conversion to FD fell significantly to 55% compared to 89% for those that only received 1 DLI (p<0.001). There was a trend to a higher rate of conversion to FD in patients that had received a T replete graft (81%) compared to those that had received a T depleted graft (52%)(p=0.063). The dose of the first DLI and donor type had no impact on conversion to DLI.
Acute GVHD developed in 45 of 134 (34%) evaluable patients after the 1st DLI (grade I in 12, grade II in 12, grade III in 6, grade IV in 8 and grade unknown in 7). Chronic GVHD developed in 36 of 130 (28%) evaluable patients which was extensive in 13 (10%). Acute GVHD (grades II-IV) was seen more commonly after the 1st DLI than after 2 or more DLIs (68% post 1st DLI vs 14% after 2 or more DLIs at 100 days p=0.002) and in patients undergoing unrelated donor transplantation (62% vs 23% at 100 days, p=0.02). Chronic GVHD was more common after DLIs given to patients that had received a TCD graft (39% vs 17% p=0.007). The median follow-up after the 1st DLI was 70 months (range 11-149). Relapse following DLI occurred in 36 (27%) patients which was more common in patients receiving DLI for myeloid MDR chimerism compared to T cell MDR (40% vs 22.5%). Disease relapse occurred in 36 (27%) patients after receiving the first DLI, 11 of whom had achieved full donor FD LHC prior to relapse. In a time-dependent Cox model conversion to FD LHC was not protective against relapse.
Conclusions. In this large series of patients with lymphoid malignancies the administration of DLI is an effective strategy for achieving FD chimerism particularly when the MDR chimerism is restricted to the T cell lineage. Development of GVHD is a significant complicating factor particularly in the unrelated donor setting and when the original graft was T cell depleted.
Robinson:Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Sandoz: Speakers Bureau. Chalandon:Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel costs. Finke:Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel grants, Research Funding; Medac: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel grants, Research Funding; Neovii: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel grants, Research Funding; Riemser: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Beelen:Medac: Consultancy, Other: Travel Support.
Introduction
Relapse of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) following allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) is a common occurrence associated with a poor outcome with limited treatment options. Donor ...lymphocyte infusions (DLI) are commonly employed in this setting in an attempt to exploit the allogeneic graft versus lymphoma (GVL) effect to induce remissions. There is however a paucity of data describing the efficacy of DLIs in inducing remissions in NHL subtypes and the risk of subsequently developing graft versus host disease (GVHD). We report here the largest series of patients with NHL receiving DLI for relapse after alloSCT.
Methods
Patients relapsing after an alloSCT for NHL and receiving DLI were identified on the EBMT database. Centres were invited to contribute additional data. 118 patients follicular lymphoma (FL) n=28, diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) n=28, T cell lymphoma (TCL) n=52 and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) n=10 from 39 centres who received DLI as the only treatment for relapse were identified. Patients receiving DLI in combination with other therapy were excluded from this analysis. The median age at alloSCT was 50 (range 18-73) years. There were 81 male and 37 female patients who underwent an alloSCT with reduced intensity (RIC) (n=90) or myeloablative conditioning (MAC) (n=28) at a median of 2.4 (range 0.3-26.3) years from diagnosis. Allogeneic cells were provided from matched sibling (n=63), unrelated (n=47) or mismatched family (n=8) donors and 85 patients received either ATG/ALG or CAMPATH as part of GVHD prophylaxis. The median time from alloSCT to relapse was 3.8 months (range 18 days-67 months).
Results
Patients received a median of 1 (range 1-19) DLI at a median starting dose of 1.5 x106 CD3/kg (range 0.01-120x106 CD3/kg) at a median of 152 days (range 18-2136) post alloSCT. The median last dose of DLI was 10x106/kg (range 0.1-180x106/kg) given at a median of 353 days (range 41-2725) post alloSCT. The median time from relapse to the first DLI was 35 days (range 0-168). Acute GVHD and chronic GVHD prior to DLI was reported in 29% and 14% of patients, respectively. Of 93 evaluable patients 47 (51%) patients achieved a complete remission, 10 (11%) a partial remission, 13 (14%) stable disease and 23 (25%) had progressive disease following DLI. The median duration of response was 36 months (range 1-168). When analysed according to histology the overall response rate (ORR) (CR+PR) for FL was 84% (CR 68%), DLBCL 41% (32% CR), TCL 54% (46% CR) and MCL 86% (CR 71%). The median duration of responses for FL, DLBCL, TCL and MCL were 30 (range 2-150), 38 (4-76), 37 (range 1-168) and 50 months (13-116) respectively. With a median follow up of 77 months after the 1st DLI 36 (31%) patients remain in complete remission, 29 (25%) without any further therapy. 37 (35%) went on to receive additional antilymphoma therapy after the DLI. Of 17 patients with FL achieving a CR post DLI 12 (71%) remain in remission without further therapy at a median of 78 (9-158) months after DLI. Of 18 patients with TCL that achieved a CR with DLI, 15 (83%) remain in remission without further therapy at a median of 95 (range 42-161) months after DLI. Following the DLI 43 (36%) patients developed aGVHD (6 grade I, 13 grade II, 11 grade III, 9 grade IV, 4 grade unknown) and 33 (28%) developed cGVHD (11 limited, 20 extensive, 2 unknown). Following the first DLI the cumulative incidence of relapse was 31% (CI 22-41) at 4 years and of NRM 28% (CI 20-37). The 4-year PFS after 1st DLI was 39% (CI 30-50) and the OS, 44% (CI 35-54).
Conclusions
DLI induce significant rates of disease response in patients with NHL relapsing after alloSCT providing clear proof of principle of the allogeneic GVL effect. The rates of response are most impressive in FL and MCL. The majority of patients with TCL and FL that achieve a CR post DLI remain in remission with long term follow up. Acute and chronic GVHD is a significant complication of DLI.
Robinson:Sandoz: Speakers Bureau; Gilead: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Chalandon:Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: Travel costs. Beelen:Medac: Consultancy, Other: Travel Support. Finke:Neovii: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel grants, Research Funding; Medac: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel grants, Research Funding; Riemser: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: travel grants, Research Funding. Tischer:Jazz Pharmaceuticals: Other: Jazz Advisory Board. Corradini:Amgen: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board & Lecturer; Novartis: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board & Lecturer; Abbvie: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board & Lecturer; Sandoz: Other: Advisory Board; Sanofi: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board & Lecturer; Gilead: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board & Lecturer; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board & Lecturer; Roche: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board & Lecturer; Janssen: Honoraria, Other: Lecturer; Celgene: Honoraria, Other: Advisory Board & Lecturer.