Retreatment with brentuximab vedotin in patients with CD30-positive hematologic malignancies

BACKGROUND: Brentuximab vedotin is a CD30-directed antibody-drug conjugate. Retreatment with brentuximab vedotin monotherapy was investigated in patients with CD30-positive Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) or systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) who relapsed after achieving complete or partial remission (CR or PR) with initial brentuximab vedotin therapy in a previous study (ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00947856). METHODS: Twenty-one patients with HL and 8 patients with systemic ALCL were retreated; 3 patients with systemic ALCL were retreated twice. Patients generally received brentuximab vedotin 1.8 mg/kg intravenously approximately every 3 weeks over 30 minutes as an outpatient infusion. The primary objectives of this study were to assess safety and to estimate antitumor activity of brentuximab vedotin retreatment. RESULTS: The objective response rate was 60% (30% CR) in HL patients and 88% (63% CR) in systemic ALCL patients. The estimated median duration of response for patients with an objective response was 9.5 months (range, 0.0+ to 28.0+ months) at the time of study closure. Of the 19 patients with objective response, 7 patients had not had an event of disease progression or death at the time of study closure; duration of response for these patients ranged from 3.5 to 28 months. Of the 11 patients with CR, 45% had response durations of over 1 year. Adverse events (AEs) occurring in ≥25% of patients during the retreatment period were generally similar in type and frequency to those observed in the pivotal trials of brentuximab vedotin monotherapy, with the exception of peripheral neuropathy, which is known to have a cumulative effect. Grade 3 or higher events were observed in 48% of patients; these were generally transient and managed by dose modifications or delays. Deaths due to AEs occurred in 3 HL patients; none were considered to be related to brentuximab vedotin retreatment. DISCUSSION: With the exception of a higher rate of peripheral motor neuropathy, retreatment with brentuximab vedotin was associated with similar side effects seen in the pivotal trials. CONCLUSIONS: Retreatment with brentuximab vedotin monotherapy is associated with response rates in 68% (39% CR) of patients with relapsed HL and systemic ALCL. TRIAL REGISTRATION: United States registry and results database ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00947856

Discrimination in lexical decision.

In this study we present a novel set of discrimination-based indicators of language processing derived from Naive Discriminative Learning (ndl) theory. We compare the effectiveness of these new measures with classical lexical-distributional measures-in particular, frequency counts and form similarity measures-to predict lexical decision latencies when a complete morphological segmentation of masked primes is or is not possible. Data derive from a re-analysis of a large subset of decision latencies from the English Lexicon Project, as well as from the results of two new masked priming studies. Results demonstrate the superiority of discrimination-based predictors over lexical-distributional predictors alone, across both the simple and primed lexical decision tasks. Comparable priming after masked corner and cornea type primes, across two experiments, fails to support early obligatory segmentation into morphemes as predicted by the morpho-orthographic account of reading. Results fit well with ndl theory, which, in conformity with Word and Paradigm theory, rejects the morpheme as a relevant unit of analysis. Furthermore, results indicate that readers with greater spelling proficiency and larger vocabularies make better use of orthographic priors and handle lexical competition more efficiently

So Short a Lease: Women\u27s Accounts of Living with Advanced Cancer

In this exploratory study, 15 women (aged 37 to 76), who were recruited through collaboration with their oncologists and had stage IV breast or ovarian cancer, were interviewed, and their stories analyzed for emerging themes. Each woman gave a chronicle of diagnosis, treatment, symptoms, and side-effects of the illness, starting from the first sign of a problem. The larger part of the interview described physical, familial, and existential repercussions of terminal illness. Here we provide an oveiview of the major themes present in eveiy interview. We identify small narratives embedded in other types of discourse (chronicle, question and answer, clarification, paeon) by using Lobov\u27s elements (abstract, orientation, complicating action, attitude/evaluation, and resolution). The action of the narrative often took place as an evolution or accommodation in identity and hinged on oscillations between integration and disintegration, masteiy and defeat, wholeness and defectiveness

Retreatment with brentuximab vedotin in CD30‑positive hematologic malignancies: A phase II study

8027 Background: Brentuximab vedotin comprises an anti-CD30 antibody conjugated by a protease-cleavable linker to a microtubule-disrupting agent, MMAE. In pivotal phase 2 studies in patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) or systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL), objective response rates were 75% and 86% and median durations of response were 6.7 and 12.6 mo, respectively. A phase 2 study was initiated to investigate if pts who have previously responded to brentuximab vedotin could achieve another remission with retreatment (ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT00947856). Methods: Pts had a CD30-positive hematologic malignancy, achieved an objective response (per Cheson 2007) with prior brentuximab vedotin treatment, and experienced relapse after discontinuing treatment. Brentuximab vedotin was administered IV 1.8 mg/kg every 21 days; antitumor activity was assessed by the investigator. Results: 14 HL pts and 8 sALCL (5 ALK-negative) pts were enrolled (median age 34 yr, range 16–72). Pts had received a median of 4 prior chemotherapy regimens (range 2–12). Median time since the previous brentuximab vedotin treatment was 6.9 mo (range 1–44). Median number of retreatment cycles was 7 (range 1+ to 32+). Adverse events (AEs) in >25% of pts were nausea (41%), fatigue (36%), peripheral sensory neuropathy (36%), and diarrhea (27%). The most common Grade 3/4 AEs were anemia, fatigue, and hyperglycemia (3 pts each). Of the 11 pts who had pre-existing peripheral neuropathy, 3 (27%) had worsening with retreatment. Best clinical responses in pts with HL were 3 CR, 5 PR, 3 SD, 3 PD. Among pts with sALCL, 5 achieved a CR, 1 had PD, and 2 were not yet evaluated. Of the 8 pts with CR in retreatment, previous best responses to brentuximab vedotin treatment were 4 PR and 4 CR. Median duration of retreatment response was 10.8 mo (range 0+ to 10.8), and in pts who achieved CR, the median duration of response was not reached (range 0+ to 10.5 mo); 11 pts remain on retreatment. Conclusions: Retreatment with brentuximab vedotin was generally well tolerated. Objective responses were observed (13 of 20; 65%) in this heavily pretreated population. Enrollment to the phase 2 retreatment study is ongoing

Allogeneic Transplant Following Brentuximab Vedotin Treatment in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory CD30+ Lymphomas

Abstract Abstract 3091 Background: Allogeneic stem cell transplant (allo-SCT) for relapsed or refractory lymphoma is often limited by the amount of residual tumor burden following cytoreductive therapy. Brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35) comprises an anti-CD30 antibody conjugated by a protease-cleavable linker to the potent antimicrotubule agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). In recent phase 2 trials, brentuximab vedotin induced objective responses in 75% of patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) (Chen 2011) and 86% of patients with systemic ALCL (sALCL) (Pro 2011). Fifteen of 160 patients (9%) who participated in these two phase 2 studies received an allo-SCT as their first subsequent antitumor therapy after treatment with brentuximab vedotin. This case series describes the initial experience of these patients. Methods: Patients received 1.8 mg/kg brentuximab vedotin administered every 3 weeks as a 30-minute outpatient IV infusion for up to 16 cycles of treatment. Antitumor activity was based on objective response assessments according to the Revised Response Criteria for Malignant Lymphoma (Cheson 2007). After discontinuing brentuximab vedotin, patients were followed for survival/disease status and information regarding subsequent therapy, including allo-SCT, was collected. Results: Fifteen patients (7 with HL and 8 with sALCL) received an allo-SCT as their first subsequent antitumor therapy following brentuximab vedotin treatment. The median age was 28.0 years (range 17–61 years) and the majority (67%) were female. The median time since initial HL/sALCL diagnosis was 27.3 months (range 6.2–108 months). The median number of therapies patients had received prior to brentuximab vedotin was 3.0 (range 2–5) and 12 patients had previously received an autologous SCT. Patients received a median of 9.0 cycles (range 4–16) of brentuximab vedotin and all 15 patients achieved an objective response per independent radiological review; best response was CR for 12 patients (5 with HL and 7 with sALCL) and PR for 3 patients (2 with HL and 1 with sALCL). The median time to objective response was 1.4 months (range 1.2–2.6 months) and all 15 patients maintained an objective response at the time of the last assessment prior to allo-SCT. The median time between the last dose of brentuximab vedotin and the start of the SCT conditioning regimen was 1.4 months (range 0.6–3.3 months). Thirteen of the 15 patients (87%) are alive and remain in follow-up post allo-SCT. The median duration of follow-up from first dose of brentuximab vedotin is 16.9 months (range 8.2–21.1 months). Five patients (1 with HL and 4 with sALCL) have either progressed or died post-transplant. Four of these 5 patients had achieved a CR with brentuximab vedotin treatment. Of the 2 patients who died (both patients with sALCL who had achieved a CR with brentuximab vedotin treatment), one death was disease-related (not formally restaged) and the other was due to transplant-related complications. The median PFS at the time of this analysis is 21.1 months (range 8.2–21.1 months). Treatment-emergent adverse events that occurred prior to allo-SCT in >20% of patients were peripheral sensory neuropathy and pyrexia (53%; n=8), diarrhea and neutropenia (47%; n=7), nausea (33%; n=5), and chills and dyspnea (27%; n=4). Thirteen of 15 patients (87%) experienced AEs of ≥ Grade 3 prior to allo-SCT; the most common (reported in >10% of patients) were neutropenia (47%; n=7), anemia and thrombocytopenia (27%; n=4), and abdominal pain, pain, and peripheral sensory neuropathy (13%; n=2). Two patients discontinued brentuximab vedotin treatment due to an AE (peripheral sensory neuropathy) before subsequently receiving allo-SCT. Conclusions: Treatment with brentuximab vedotin provided cytoreduction in patients with relapsed or refractory HL and sALCL, many of whom had failed a prior autologous SCT. Thirteen of the 15 patients (87%) achieved an objective response with brentuximab vedotin treatment prior to allo-SCT and remain in follow-up at the time of this analysis. Ten of the 15 patients (67%) remain in remission. Our results suggest that brentuximab vedotin may be an option for reducing tumor burden to facilitate a consolidative allo-SCT and warrants further study. Disclosures: Illidge: Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Consultancy, Research Funding; Millennium/Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria. Off Label Use: Brentuximab vedotin (SGN-35) comprises an anti-CD30 antibody conjugated by a protease-cleavable linker to the potent antimicrotubule agent, monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). It is an investigational agent that is being studied in CD30+ malignancies. Bouabdallah:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Research Funding. Chen:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Consultancy, Research Funding, Travel Expenses. Gopal:Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Millennium: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Cephalon: Research Funding; Spectrum: Research Funding; Piramal: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Calistoga: Research Funding; Abbott: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; SBIO: Research Funding; Gilead: Research Funding; Genzyme: Speakers Bureau; Amgen: Speakers Bureau; Cellular Therapeutics Inc.: Speakers Bureau. Moskowitz:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Consultancy, Research Funding; Cephalon: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Plexxicon: Research Funding. Ramchandren:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Research Funding. Rosenblatt:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Research Funding. Shustov:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Consultancy, Research Funding; Millennium: Honoraria. Tilly:Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau, Travel/accommodations/meeting expenses; Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Amgen: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; Pfizer: Speakers Bureau; Janssen Cilag: Speakers Bureau. Trippett:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Research Funding; OSI Pharmaceuticals: DSMB Chair. Grove:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Employment; Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Equity Ownership. Advani:Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding