scholarly journals Emerging role of novel therapies in Hodgkin lymphoma: proceed with caution

Hematology ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 2017 (1) ◽  
pp. 317-323 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nancy L. Bartlett

AbstractBased on very high response rates in the relapsed and refractory setting, brentuximab vedotin and the programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitors, nivolumab and pembrolizumab, have quickly been incorporated into clinical trials for first- and second-line therapy of Hodgkin lymphoma. Preliminary data show that brentuximab vedotin alone is not adequate therapy for newly diagnosed Hodgkin lymphoma in older patients, but modestly decreases the risk of relapse when combined with adriamycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine in patients with previously untreated advanced-stage disease. In second-line therapy, combining brentuximab vedotin with conventional chemotherapy or with PD-1 inhibitors as pretransplant salvage is associated with high overall and complete response rates, although further follow up is needed to assess whether posttransplant outcomes are improved. Although these new drugs are well tolerated when given as single agents, unexpected toxicities have been encountered with combination regimens, specifically severe pulmonary toxicity with the bleomycin and brentuximab vedotin combination and frequent infusion-related reactions. There is concern with the use of PD-1 inhibitors as first-line therapy due to the theoretical potential for more frequent or severe immune-mediated toxicities in patients who have not received prior chemotherapy. Aside from these concerns, these new agents have the potential to improve outcomes for patients even further, bringing us closer to eradicating recurrent Hodgkin lymphoma.

Blood ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 122 (21) ◽  
pp. 1507-1507
Author(s):  
Rami S Komrokji ◽  
Maria G. Corrales-Yepez ◽  
Najla H Al Ali ◽  
Eric Padron ◽  
Jeffrey E Lancet ◽  
...  

Abstract Introduction Lenalidomide (LEN) is the standard of care for treatment of transfusion dependent lower risk myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) with chromosome 5q deletion (del 5q). In the MDS-002 study, 26% of lower risk transfusion dependent MDS patients became red blood cell transfusion independent after LEN treatment. National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) clinical guidelines list LEN as a second line treatment alternative for transfusion dependent anemia in lower risk non-del 5q MDS after azanucleosides failure. The response rate to LEN after azanucleosides failure, however, is not known given that the MDS-002 study preceded FDA approval of azanucleosides. To address the best sequence of LEN to optimize response potential in lower risk MDS, we examined the response rates to LEN in non-del 5q lower risk MDS when offered as first line after (erythroid stimulating agents) ESA's or after azacitidine failure. Methods This was a retrospective study conducted using the Moffitt Cancer Center (MCC) MDS database. We identified patients with lower risk MDS who received both LEN and azacitidine as first or second line therapy after erythroid stimulating agents. Lower risk MDS was defined according to the international prognostic scoring system (IPSS) Low or intermediate-1 (int-1) risk groups. The primary endpoint was to compare rates of erythroid hematological improvement (HI-E) between the group of patients who received LEN as first line therapy followed by azacitidine as second line (LEN 1st line group) and those who received LEN as second line therapy after azacitidine (LEN 2nd line group). HI was defined according to international working group criteria (IWG 2006). Chi- square test was used for categorical variables, T-test was used for continuous variables, and Kaplan Meier estimates for overall survival. All analyses were conducted using SPSS statistical software (IBM version 21) Results We identified 63 patients who received both azacitidine and LEN as first and second line where 37 patients were in group 1 (LEN 1st line) and 26 patients were in group 2 (LEN 2nd line). Baseline characteristics between the two groups are summarized in Table-1. There were no statistically significant differences between the 2 groups in terms of mean age at diagnosis, gender, WHO subtype, revised IPSS, or mean blood counts. The majority of patients had refractory cytopenia with multilineage dysplasia (RCMD) and had low risk revised IPSS . The rate of HI-E was 38% (n=14) among LEN 1st line group compared to 12% (n=3) in LEN 2nd line group. (p=0.04). There was no difference in overall survival (OS) among the two groups with a median OS of 104 months and 87 months, respectively, p=0.55. There was no difference in AML transformation rate, 5.4% (n=2) and 11% (n=3) among the two groups, respectively, p=0.33. There were no differences in response rates to azacitidine among the two groups. Among the Len 1st line group response to 2nd line azacitidine was 38% (n=14) compared to 35% (n=9) among those who received azacitidine as first line followed by LEN as 2nd line. (p=0.69). Conclusion LEN yields a higher rate of HI-E in non-del 5q lower risk MDS when used as first line therapy. If validated in a larger cohort, LEN should be considered for 1st line therapy after ESAs rather than after azacitidine failure. Responses to azacitidine were similar among the two groups, indicating no adverse effect of LEN on azacitidine response. Disclosures: Komrokji: Celgene: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau. Off Label Use: use of lenalidomide in non del 5q. Lancet:Celgene: Research Funding. List:Celgene: Research Funding.


1989 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 443-448
Author(s):  
Giampietro Gasparini ◽  
Salvatore Turnolo ◽  
Giuseppe Toffoli ◽  
Renato Talamini ◽  
Alberto Vaglia ◽  
...  

The use of more aggressive chemotherapies in the treatment of patients with some tumors has caused a higher frequency of neutropenia and subsequent serious infections. To verify the role in these patients of a combination therapy of amikacin (300 mg/m2 i.v. every 12 hours) plus ceftazidime (2 g/m2 i.v. every 8 hours) adminsitered as initial empiric treatment, followed in non-responsive cases by a second-line therapy with clindamycin (300 mg/m2 i.v. every 8 hours), we conducted a prospective study in 45 febrile episodes (temperature ≥38.5 °C) in neutropenic patients (neutrophils ≤500/ml). The patients' median age was 58 (range, 19-80); 29 were women and 16 were men. The median performance status was 50 (range, 30-90), and 71 % of the patients had progressive tumoral disease. Before antibiotic therapy the median duration of fever was 12 hours (range, 4-48 hours). The median granulocyte count was 350/ml (range, 100-500 cells/ml), and the median peak temperature was 38.8 °C (range, 38.5-41 °C). The median time for neutrophils to rise towards 1000/ml was 4 days (range, 2-12), and the median duration of therapy was 8 days (range, 3-12). Documented bacterial infections were present in 28 patients whereas 17 had clinically possible infections or fever of unknown origin. The infection sites in microbiologically documented infections were: septicemia (12), multiple sites (4), tonsillitis (4), urinary tract (4), pneumonia (2) and fistula (2). Complete response to first-line therapy was obtained in 36 out of 45 episodes (80 %; 95 % confidence limits from 65 % to 90 %). Five out of 8 cases responded to second-line therapy with clindamycin for an overall recovery rate of 91 %. The amikacin-ceftazidime combination followed by clindamycin in non-responsive cases is effective, with moderate toxicity in non-leukemic febrile neutropenic patients.


2021 ◽  
pp. JCO.21.01056
Author(s):  
Alison J. Moskowitz ◽  
Gunjan Shah ◽  
Heiko Schöder ◽  
Nivetha Ganesan ◽  
Esther Drill ◽  
...  

PURPOSE We conducted a phase II study evaluating pembrolizumab plus gemcitabine, vinorelbine, and liposomal doxorubicin (pembro-GVD) as second-line therapy for relapsed or refractory (rel/ref) classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03618550 ). METHODS Transplant eligible patients with rel/ref cHL following first-line therapy were treated with two to four cycles of pembrolizumab (200 mg intravenous [IV], day 1), gemcitabine (1,000 mg/m2 IV, days 1 and 8), vinorelbine (20 mg/m2 IV, days 1 and 8), and liposomal doxorubicin (15 mg/m2, days 1 and 8), given on 21-day cycles. The primary end point was complete response (CR) following up to four cycles of pembro-GVD. Patients who achieved CR by labeled fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (Deauville ≤ 3) after two or four cycles proceeded to high-dose therapy and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HDT/AHCT). HDT/AHCT was carried out according to institutional standards, and brentuximab vedotin maintenance was allowed following HDT/AHCT. RESULTS Of 39 patients enrolled, 41% had primary ref disease and 38% relapsed within 1 year of frontline treatment. 31 patients received two cycles of pembro-GVD, and eight received four cycles. Most adverse events were grade 1 or two, whereas few were grade 3 and included transaminitis (n = 4), neutropenia (n = 4), mucositis (n = 2), thyroiditis (n = 1), and rash (n = 1). Of 38 evaluable patients, overall and CR rates after pembro-GVD were 100% and 95%, respectively. Thirty-six (95%) patients proceeded to HDT/AHCT, two received pre-HDT/AHCT involved site radiation, and 13 (33%) received post-HDT/AHCT brentuximab vedotin maintenance. All 36 transplanted patients are in remission at a median post-transplant follow-up of 13.5 months (range: 2.66-27.06 months). CONCLUSION Second-line therapy with pembro-GVD is a highly effective and well-tolerated regimen that can efficiently bridge patients with rel/ref cHL to HDT/AHCT.


2020 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
pp. 204062072094014
Author(s):  
Yuzhou Huang ◽  
Xianyong Jiang ◽  
Bing Han

Acquired pure red cell aplasia (aPRCA) is a kind of anemia characterized by severe reticulocytopenia and reduced bone marrow erythroblastic cells. For patients who are refractory to the first-line therapy (cyclosporin A with/without glucocorticoids), second-line therapy is considered less effective. We report on a patient with primary aPRCA who was refractory to cyclosporin A, glucocorticoids, and several second-line regimens. The patient was treated with sirolimus for 10 months with no improvement in hemoglobin but complete response was achieved after adding eltrombopag at a dosage of 25 mg/day. Eltrombopag was well tolerated with no evidence of clonal evolution at the end of follow up. This case provided a new attempt at treating patients with refractory/relapse aPRCA with eltrombopag, probably in combination with sirolimus.


Open Medicine ◽  
2016 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 374-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Valentina Giudice ◽  
Rosa Rosamilio ◽  
Idalucia Ferrara ◽  
Elisa Seneca ◽  
Bianca Serio ◽  
...  

AbstractAutoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA) is a rare hematologic disease, primarily affecting adults or children with immunodeficiency disease. First-line therapy consists of long course of steroids administration, with an early complete response rate (CRr) of 75-80%, but up to 20-30% of patients requires a second-line therapy. Rituximab is the first choice in refractory old AIHA patients, because of its safety and efficacy (early CRr at 80-90% and at 68% at 2-3 years). For this reason, splenectomy is even less chosen as second-line therapy in elderly, even though laparoscopic technique decreased complication and mortality rates. However, splenectomy can be still considered a good therapeutic option with a CRr of 81% at 35.6 months in patients older than 60 year-old, when rituximab administration cannot be performed.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (6_suppl) ◽  
pp. 706-706
Author(s):  
Francesca Jackson-Spence ◽  
Agne Jovaisaite ◽  
Michael Grant ◽  
Wing-Kin Liu ◽  
Thomas Butters ◽  
...  

706 Background: The introduction of first line immune combination or immune/VEGF therapy in metastatic renal cancer has changed treatment landscape. Here we compare outcomes of these combinations with patients treated with first line sunitinib. The focus is on the impact of subsequent treatments. Methods: This retrospective analysis was performed at Barts Cancer Institute for consecutive patients from April 2015 when front line immune therapy was first used at our institution. Only patients enrolled on reported prospective trials were included to avoid selection bias. Patients were treated with VEGF targeted therapy (n=35) (group V), PD-1 + CTLA4 (n=15) (group I/I) or a combination of PD-L1 + VEGF TKI inhibitor (n=29) (group I/V). The primary analysis focused on the proportion of patients who received second line therapy and their outcome. Results: 79 patients received first line therapy for clear cell RCC. IMDC good, intermediate and poor risk occurred in 27.8%, 60.8% and 11.4% respectively. Front line response rates for V, I/I and I/V groups were 34.3%, 46.7% and 65.5% and PFS in V, I/I and I/V groups were 11mo (95%CI 6-16), 18mo (95% CI 0-41) and 36mo (95% CI 13-59), respectively (P= 0.016). OS in the 3 groups were immature but not significantly different. Second line therapy occurred in 87.5%, 92.9% and 81.8% in the V, I/I and I/V groups respectively (in those who progressed after initial therapy). Second line response rate post first line V, I/I and I/V were 11%, 0% and 0% respectively as per RECIST 1.1. 63% of patients receiving VEGF front line therapy subsequently received immune therapy. 95% of patients receiving first line immune/immune or immune/VEGF combination therapy received VEGF therapy in the second line. Only 70% of patients who progressed on second line therapy got 3rd line therapy across all arms. Conclusions: Response rates after front line immune combination therapy are modest. The sequencing of PD-1 therapy after VEGF monotherapy appears particularly relevant in outcomes. A high proportion of patients are sequencing therapy and reaching third line which may help improve outcomes.


2021 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 107-115
Author(s):  
Paul J. Bröckelmann ◽  
Horst Müller ◽  
Teresa Guhl ◽  
Karolin Behringer ◽  
Michael Fuchs ◽  
...  

PURPOSE We evaluated disease and treatment characteristics of patients with relapse after risk-adapted first-line treatment of early-stage, favorable, classic Hodgkin lymphoma (ES-HL). We compared second-line therapy with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) or conventional chemotherapy (CTx). METHODS We analyzed patients with relapse after ES-HL treated within the German Hodgkin Study Group HD10+HD13 trials. We compared, by Cox proportional hazards regression, progression-free survival (PFS) after relapse (second PFS) treated with either ASCT or CTx and performed sensitivity analyses with overall survival (OS) from relapse and Kaplan-Meier statistics. RESULTS A total of 174 patients’ disease relapsed after treatment in the HD10 (n = 53) and HD13 (n = 121) trials. Relapse mostly occurred > 12 months after first diagnosis, predominantly with stage I-II disease. Of 172 patients with known second-line therapy, 85 received CTx (49%); 70, ASCT (41%); 11, radiotherapy only (6%); and 4, palliative single agent therapies (2%). CTx was predominantly bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin cyclophosphamide, vincristine, procarbazine, and prednisone (BEACOPP [68%]), followed by the combination regimen of doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine (19%), or other regimens (13%). Patients aged > 60 years at relapse had shorter second PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 3.0; P = .0029) and were mostly treated with CTx (n = 33 of 49; 67%) and rarely with ASCT (n = 8; 16%). After adjustment for age and a disadvantage of ASCT after the more historic HD10 trial, we did not observe a significant difference in the efficacy of CTx versus ASCT for second PFS (HR, 0.7; 95% CI, 0.3 to 1.6; P = .39). In patients in the HD13 trial who were aged ≤ 60 years, the 2-year, second PFS rate was 94.0% with CTx (95% CI, 85.7% to 100%) versus 83.3% with ASCT (95% CI, 71.8% to 94.8%). Additional sensitivity analyses including OS confirmed these observations. CONCLUSION After contemporary treatment of ES-HL, relapse mostly occurred > 12 months after first diagnosis. Polychemotherapy regimens such as BEACOPP are frequently administered and may constitute a reasonable treatment option for selected patients with relapse after ES-HL.


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