Rituximab induction immunotherapy for first-line low-tumor-burden follicular lymphoma: survival analyses with 7-year follow-up.

International audienceBACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to report long-term results of rituximab induction monotherapy in patients with low-tumor-burden follicular lymphoma (LTBFL). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Of 49 first-line LTBFL patients who received weekly doses of rituximab (375 mg/m(2)), 46 have been followed with a long-term analysis of clinical and molecular responses. RESULTS: Best clinical response (at any staging within a year following treatment) was 80%, 24 (52%) patients had complete or unconfirmed complete response, 13 (28%) had partial response and 9 (20%) had stable or progressive disease. Of 31 patients having a positive bcl2-JH rearrangement, 15 (48%) became negative following treatment. After 83.9 months of follow-up (95% confidence interval 6.4-92.8 months), the median progression-free survival is 23.5 months and overall survival (OS) is 91.7%. Five patients died (one progression, one myelodysplasia, one diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and two solid tumors). Seven patients (15%) are progression-free including five who are bcl2 informative. No unexpected long-term adverse event has been observed. CONCLUSION: A significant proportion of patients remain progression-free 7 years after a single 4-dose rituximab treatment in first-line LTBFL. The 7-year overall survivalOS is very high in this selected population of patients

Obinutuzumab (GA101) Monotherapy in Relapsed/Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma or Mantle-Cell Lymphoma: Results From the Phase II GAUGUIN Study

International audiencePurposeObinutuzumab (GA101), a type II, glycoengineered, humanized anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, was superior to rituximab in human diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and mantle-cell lymphoma (MCL) xenograft models. In phase I of our study, obinutuzumab (GA101) exhibited encouraging activity but no clear dose-response relationship, and few patients had aggressive histologies. The efficacy and safety of two doses of obinutuzumab (GA101) were explored in our randomized phase II trial in patients with heavily pretreated DBLCL and MCL.Patients and MethodsPatients were randomly assigned to receive eight cycles of obinutuzumab (GA101) either as a flat dose of 400 mg for all infusions (days 1 and 8 of cycle 1; day 1 of cycles 2 to 8) or 1,600 mg on days 1 and 8 of cycle 1 and 800 mg on day 1 of cycles 2 to 8.ResultsForty patients were enrolled: 21 patients in the 400/400-mg treatment arm (DLBCL, n = 10; MCL, n = 11) and 19 patients in the 1,600/800-mg arm (DLBCL, n = 15; MCL, n = 4). End-of-treatment response was 28% (32% and 24% in the 1,600/800-mg and 400/400-mg study arms, respectively). Best overall response rates were 37% in the 1,600/800-mg arm and 24% in the 400/400-mg study arm (DLBCL, eight [32%] of 25 patients; MCL, four [27%] of 15 patients). Five (20%) of 25 rituximab-refractory patients exhibited treatment response, including four of 12 in the 1,600/800-mg group. The most common adverse events were infusion-related reactions (IRRs), which were manageable. Three patients had grade 3/4 IRRs. Grade 3/4 neutropenia was seen in only one patient.ConclusionObinutuzumab (GA101) 1,600/800 mg achieves early steady-state concentration and clinical activity with an acceptable safety profile in relapsed/refractory DLBCL and MCL, supporting further exploration

Evaluation of the (R)VAD+C regimen for the treatment of newly diagnosed mantle cell lymphoma. Combined results of two prospective phase II trials from the French GOELAMS group

International audienceBackground There is currently no international consensus for first-line treatment (prior to autologous stem cell transplantation) in mantle cell lymphoma patients. Here, we investigated the efficacy and tolerance of VAD associated with chlorambucil (VAD+C) and rituximab or not before autologous stem cell transplantation. DESIGN AND METHODS: Between 1996 and 2005, 113 previously untreated mantle cell lymphoma patients were enrolled in two consecutive prospective phase II studies. Responses and response factors to the (R)VAD+C regimen were evaluated. The survival prognostic value of the MIPI score and Ki67 were also analyzed. RESULTS: The induction phase of 4 courses of (R)VAD+C showed very low hematologic and extra-hematologic toxicity (grade 3-4 thrombopenia and neutropenia, 9% and 2.7%, respectively and grade 3-4 extra-hematologic toxicities, 1.6%). Overall and complete response rates were 73% and 46%, respectively, and rose to 83% and 51% for the 70% of patients with less than two independent response factors (LDH, B symptoms and lymphocytosis). At the end of treatment, 65% of patients were in complete remission. Progression free and overall survival were significantly better in the transplanted population. The MIPI score was confirmed as a predictor of survival. Ki67, serum LDH, Performance Status (PS) and B symptoms were identified as independent prognostic factors of survival. A prognostic scoring system could stratify patients into three risk groups with markedly different median overall survival of 112, 44 and 11 months, respectively. Conclusions The (R)VAD+C is an effective regimen with very low toxicity. In addition to the MIPI score, Ki67 expression provides additional independent prognostic information for the prediction of overall survival (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00285389)