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Micallef, Ivana N.

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4675-4903

Mayo Clinic

Mayo Clinic

Citations 230

Day 100 Recovery of Absolute Number of Inhibitory KIR2DL2 and Activating NKp30 Natural Killer Cells Predicts Survival Post-Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Lymphomas
Porrata, Luis F. , Ansell, Stephen M. , Micallef, Ivana N. , Johnston, Patrick B., Paludo, Jonas , Ansell, Stephen M , Johnston, Patrick B. , Villasboas, José C. , Paludo, Jonas , Durani, Urshila , Markovic, Svetomir N.

Biomedicines | August 9, 2024 | Volume: 12 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 1808

10.3390/biomedicines12081808 Get It

The infusion autograft absolute number of inhibitory killer immunoglobulin-like receptor (KIR) 2DL2 and activating natural killer (NK)p30 cells are predictors of clinical outcomes in lymphoma patients undergoing autologous peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (APBHSCT). To assess if the long-term recovery of these NK cell subsets still holds clinical relevance, we set up to investigate their prognostic ability at day 100 post-APBHSCT. This was a retrospective single-institution study including 107 patients from our prior phase III trial who had a clinical assessment at day 100 post-APBHSCT. The median follow-up from day 100 was 168.19 months (interquartile range: 156.85–181.28 months). Patients with day 100 inhibitory KIR2DL2 < 0.08 cells/µL and activating NKp30 ≥ 0.19 cells/µL experienced superior overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS). A multivariate analysis revealed both the day 100 inhibitory KIR2DL2 [OS: HR = 1.449, 95%CI, 1.231–1.895, p < 0.013; and PFS: HR = 2.069, 95%CI, 1.134–3.775, p < 0.021] and activating NKp30 [OS: HR = 4.985, 95%CI, 2.614–9.506, p < 0.0001; and PFS: HR = 4.661, 95%CI, 2.598–8.393, p < 0.0001] were independent predictors for OS and PFS. Inhibitory KIR2DL2 and activating NKp30 NK cells at day 100 are prognostic immune biomarkers in lymphoma patients treated with APBHSCT.
Efficacy of pembrolizumab monotherapy and in combination with BCR inhibitors for Richter transformation of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).
LaPlant, Betsy, Leis, José F., Call, Timothy G., He, Rong , Micallef, Ivana N. , Nowakowski, Grzegorz S. , Koehler, Amber B. , Hampel, Paul J. , Aitken, Casey N., Ansell, Stephen M. , Wang, Yucai , Parikh, Sameer A. , Shanafelt, Tait D. , Habermann, Thomas M. , Witzig, Thomas E. , Kenderian, Saad S. , Muchtar, Eli , Sinha, Sutapa , Kay, Neil E. , Ding, Wei

Journal of Clinical Oncology | June 10, 2024 | Volume: 42 | Issue: 16_suppl | Pages: 7050-7050

10.1200/jco.2024.42.16_suppl.7050 Get It

7050 Background: The management of Richter transformation (RT) of CLL represents an unmet clinical need. We previously reported modest efficacy of pembrolizumab monotherapy in an initial cohort of patients with RT (Ding, et al, Blood 2017). Here we report updated results of this trial, including an expansion cohort and a combination therapy cohort. Methods: Patients with biopsy proven RT to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma were enrolled and treated with single agent pembrolizumab (200 mg IV Q3W). Patients with progressive disease (PD) or stable disease (SD) after 3 months of pembrolizumab monotherapy were allowed to add a B-cell receptor (BCR) kinase inhibitor. The primary end point was overall response rate (ORR). Results: A total of 26 patients with RT were enrolled (9 in initial cohort and 17 in expansion cohort). The median age was 68.5 years. Ten (38%) patients had del(17p) or TP53 mutation. The median number of prior lines of therapy was 3 (range 1-10). Fifteen (58%) patients had received ibrutinib previously (14 of whom had PD on ibrutinib). With pembrolizumab monotherapy (n=26), the ORR was 23.1%, with 2 (7.7%) complete response (CR), 4 (15.4%) partial response (PR), and 7 (26.9%) SD. Of the 6 patients with confirmed CR or PR, responses occurred after a median of 2 cycles of monotherapy. The median duration of response (DOR) was 3.2 months (95% CI 2.8-NA). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 2.6 months (95% CI 1.6-3.6). Sixteen patients went on to receive a BCR kinase inhibitor (ibrutinib [n=15], idelalisib [n=1]) in combination with pembrolizumab, after SD or PD on pembrolizumab monotherapy. The ORR to combination therapy was 62.5%, with 4 (25.0%) CR and 6 (37.5%) PR. Of the 10 patients with confirmed CR or PR to combination therapy, responses occurred after a median of 4 cycles of therapy. The median DOR was 4.5 months (95% CI 1.6-NA). The median PFS was 7.6 months (95% CI 2.3-13.3). After a median follow-up of 50.4 (95% CI 34.0-56.0) months, the median overall survival (OS) for all 26 patients with RT was 11.6 months (95% CI 7.5-20.1), and the 2-year OS rate was 27%. Treatment-related adverse events (TRAEs) of any grade occurred in 24 (92%) patients, including anemia (54%), thrombocytopenia (58%), neutropenia (54%), leukopenia (35%), lymphopenia (23%), dyspnea (23%), diarrhea (19%), and nausea (23%). Treatment-related grade 3 or above AEs occurred in 21 (81%) patients, including neutropenia (38%), leukopenia (31%), thrombocytopenia (27%), anemia (15%), febrile neutropenia (12%), and lung infection (12%). Conclusions: This expanded analysis confirmed that pembrolizumab has modest single agent activity in RT. Combination therapy with pembrolizumab and a BCR kinase inhibitor is associated with increased efficacy (ORR >60%), similar to other reports. These results support further investigation of immune checkpoint inhibitor-based combination therapy in RT. Clinical trial information: NCT02332980 .
Rechallenge With High-Dose Methotrexate After Treatment With Glucarpidase in Adult Patients With Lymphoma
Truong, Huong L. , Barreto, Jason N. , Mara, Kristin C. , Hampel, Paul J. , Micallef, Ivana N. , Nowakowski, Grzegorz S. , Thanarajasingam, Gita , Thompson, Carrie A. , Wang, Yucai , Witzig, Thomas E. , Witzig, T.E. , Herrmann, Sandra M , Leung, Nelson , Wang, Yucai , Mara, Kristin C , Micallef, Ivana N , Herrmann, Sandra M. , Leung, Nelson

JCO Oncology Practice | February 26, 2024 | Volume: 20 | Issue: 6 | Pages: 797-807

10.1200/op.23.00628 Get It

PURPOSE Limited evidence exists regarding methotrexate (MTX) resumption after patients with lymphoma receive glucarpidase for toxic MTX levels and acute kidney injury (AKI). METHODS This retrospective review included adults with lymphoma treated with glucarpidase after MTX at Mayo Clinic between January 31, 2020, and October 10, 2022. Descriptive statistics summarize patient characteristics and clinical outcomes. RESULTS Of 11 patients treated with glucarpidase after MTX, seven (64%) were rechallenged with MTX. Indications for MTX rechallenge included confirmed CNS disease (n = 6, 86%) and intravascular lymphoma (n = 1, 14%). Compared with the nonrechallenged subgroup, before receiving MTX that required glucarpidase rescue, the rechallenged patients had lower median pretreatment serum creatinine (Scr; 0.7 v 1.2 mg/dL), and none had AKI with previous MTX doses, n = 0 (0%) versus n = 2 (50%). During the MTX dose requiring glucarpidase rescue, the rechallenged group had lower median peak Scr (1.26 v 3.32 mg/dL) and lower incidence of AKI stage III (n = 1 [14%] v n = 3 [75%]), and none of the rechallenged patients required renal replacement therapy (RRT; n = 0 [0%] v n = 1 [25%]). At the first rechallenge after glucarpidase administration, the median MTX dose reduction was 56% (range, 46%-75%), and the lowest used dose when prescribed according to each treatment protocol schedule was 1.5 g/m2. Two (29%) patients experienced AKI (n = 1 stage I, n = 1 stage II) after MTX rechallenge. Zero patients required RRT, and zero required another glucarpidase administration. Six (86%) patients completed all recommended MTX doses. CONCLUSION In selected adults with lymphoma who required glucarpidase for toxic MTX levels after administration of high-dose MTX, resumption of MTX therapy at lower doses is safe. Patients selected for MTX resumption had experienced less severe AKI during the previous cycle compared with those not selected for MTX resumption.
Patterns of progression after immune checkpoint inhibitors for Hodgkin lymphoma: implications for radiation therapy
Burlile, Jessica F. , Frechette, K.M., Breen, William G. , Hwang, Steven R. , Nedved, Adrienne, Harmsen, William S. , Pulsipher, Sydney , Witzig, Thomas E. , Micallef, Ivana N. , Thanarajasingam, Gita , Johnston, Patrick B. , Inwards, David J. , Peterson, Jennifer , Stish, Bradley J. , Rule, William G., Ansell, Stephen M. , Witzig, T.E. , Frechette, Kelsey M, Higgins, Alexandra S, Nedved, Adrienne N, Pulsipher, Sydney D , Hoppe, Bradford S , Bennani, N Nora , Peterson, Jennifer L , Lester, Scott C. , Burlile, Jessica , Hwang, Steven R , Higgins, Alexandra , Hoppe, Bradford S. , Habermann, Thomas M. , Bennani, N. Nora

Blood Advances | January 11, 2024 | Volume: 8 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 1250-1257

10.1182/bloodadvances.2023011533 Get It

Abstract Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have demonstrated remarkable response rates in relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (HL). Still, most patients eventually progress. Patterns of progression after ICIs are not well described and are essential to defining the role of local therapies in combination with ICIs. We identified patients who received ICIs for HL between 2013 and 2022. Fludeoxyglucose-18 positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) before initiating ICI and at progression on/after ICI were reviewed, and areas of active HL were recorded. An exploratory analysis of treatable progression included patients with ≤5 sites of disease on pre-ICI FDG-PET and progression only at pre-ICI sites. Ninety patients were identified; 69 had complete records, and of these, 32 (52%) had relapsed at ICI initiation, 17 (25%) were refractory, and 16 (23%) received ICI as first-line therapy. Forty-five of 69 patients had ≤5 sites of disease (limited) on pre-ICI FDG-PET. Patients with &gt;5 sites of disease had a higher risk of progression, and every site of disease &gt;5 sites conferred an additional 1.2x higher chance of progression. At a median follow-up of 4.0 years, 41 of 69 patients had progressed on/after ICIs (cumulative incidence 66.4%), and of these, 22 of 41 patients progressed only at pre-ICI sites (cumulative incidence 39.4%). In an exploratory analysis, the cumulative incidence of a treatable progression among 45 patients with limited disease was 34%. The cumulative incidence of any progression among this cohort was 58.9%. More than one-third of patients with limited disease before ICIs experienced progression only at pre-ICI sites of disease. These patients could be candidates for radiation during or after ICIs.
Day 100 Natural Killer Cell/CD14+HLA‐DRDIM ratio and survival in lymphoma post‐autologous peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Porrata, Luis F. , Ansell, Stephen M. , Micallef, Ivana N. , Johnston, Patrick B. , Villasboas, José C. , Markovic, Svetomir N. , Paludo, Jonas , Markovic, Svetomir , Villasboas, Jose Caetano , Micallef, Ivana N , Johnston, Patrick , Paludo, Jonas , Durani, Urshila

Clinical Transplantation | December 2, 2023 | Volume: 38 | Issue: 1 | Pages: No page available

10.1111/ctr.15211 Get It

AbstractIntroductionThe infusion of autograft Natural Killer Cells (NKC)/CD14+HLA‐DRDIM ratio is a predictor of survival in lymphoma patients undergoing autologous peripheral blood hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (APBHSCT). This study evaluated if the Day 100 NKC/CD14+HLA‐DRDIM ratio still functions as a prognostic immune‐biomarker.MethodsThis was a retrospective, single‐institution, cohort analysis including 107 patients in this study that had clinical assessment at Day 100 post‐APBHSCT from our prior phase III trial. We evaluated the prognostic ability of the Day 100 NKC/CD14+HLA‐DRDIM ratio to predict overall survival (OS) and progression‐free survival (PFS) using Cox regression model for outcome analysis and survival by Kaplan–Meier method.ResultsThe median follow‐up from day 100 was 94.7 months (range 4.83–158.1 months) for the entire cohort. Patients with a Day 100 NKC/CD14+HLA‐DRDIM ratio ≥1.67 experienced better OS and PFS versus those with a Day 100 NKC/CD14+HLA‐DRDIM ratio <1.67: median OS was not reached versus 49.7 months, the 5‐year OS rates were 91% (95% CI, 81%–96%) versus 40% (95% CI, 27%–55%), p < .0001, respectively; and median PFS was not reached versus 23.5 months, the 5‐year PFS rates were 66% (95% CI, 55%–81%) versus 21% (95% CI, 15%–40%), p < .0001, respectively. Day 100 NKC/CD14+HLA‐DRDIM ratio was an independent predictor for OS and PFS in the multivariate analysis.ConclusionsDay 100 NKC/CD14+HLA‐DRDIM ratio is a prognostic immune‐biomarker in lymphoma patients post‐ APBHSCT.
Impact of Peri-Transplant Radiation on Outcomes in Patients with Relapsed/Refractory Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma Undergoing Autologous Stem Cell Transplant
Baron, Kelsey, Drill, Esther , Ganesan, Nivetha , Iyengar, Siddharth , Micallef, Ivana N. , Ng, Lay She , Casper, Ellie, Galasso, Natasha, Dandapani, Savita , Ng, Andrea K. , Herrera, Alex F. , Moskowitz, Alison J. , Merryman, Reid W. , Mei, Matthew , Stuver, Robert , Desai, Sanjal H. , Falade, Ayo , Tao, Randa , Yahalom, Joachim , Shah, Harsh

Blood | December 1, 2023 | Volume: 142 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 4436-4436

10.1182/blood-2023-173470 Get It

Introduction There is no prospective data to guide the utilization of peri-transplant radiation (PTRT) in patients with relapsed or refractory (R/R) classical Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL). In retrospective analyses, PTRT has been associated with local disease control, however evidence supporting improved progression free survival (PFS) is less well defined (Milgrom SA et al Cancer. 2017; 123(8):1363-1371). Furthermore, the added benefit of PTRT in the era of recent advancement in salvage strategies, including brentuximab vedotin (BV) and checkpoint inhibitors (CPI), is unclear. In a multicenter, retrospective analysis, we evaluated the impact of PTRT on PFS for patients with R/R cHL. Methods We identified consecutive pts ≥7 years old at time of diagnosis with R/R cHL treated with autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) at 5 US academic institutions between 2010-2021. PTRT was defined as radiation administered within 3 months of ASCT. The primary objective was to compare the post-ASCT PFS, defined as the time from ASCT to subsequent relapse or death from any cause, between the two groups. Univariable and Multivariable Cox regression was performed to evaluate the impact of various relevant clinical factors on post-ASCT PFS. Results A total of 958 eligible pts were identified ( Table 1). The median age at cHL diagnosis was 31 (range, 7-72). At the time of first relapse/primary refractory disease, 406 (54%) pts had early-stage disease, 167 (24%) pts had bulky disease (≥5.0 cm), 308 (36%) pts had extra-nodal disease, 182 (22%) pts had B-symptoms (B-sx), and 338 (45%) had primary refractory disease. A total of 302 (32%) pts received &gt;1 line of salvage before ASCT. Salvage treatment at any time point before ASCT included chemotherapy only for 457 (48%) patients, BV(+/- chemotherapy) for 308 (32%) patients, and CPI (+/- BV or +/- chemotherapy) for 193 (20%) patients. In total, 239 (24.9%) pts received PTRT, 139 (58.1%) before ASCT and 100 (41.8%) after ASCT. Among pts with available dosing information (23.3%), the median radiation dose administered was 28 Gy. The most common doses administered were 30 Gy in 77 (31.7%) pts, 36 Gy in 62 (27.8%) pts, and 18 Gy in 43 (19.2%) pts. Radiated sites included mediastinum in 172 (80.7%) pts, neck/cervical lymph nodes in 68 (31.9%) pts, and supra/infra clavicular region and axilla, each in 31 (14.6%) pts. Compared to the 719 pts that did not receive PTRT, patients treated with PTRT were more likely to have early stage disease (73% vs 47%, p&lt;0.001), bulky disease (30% vs 22%, p = 0.048), primary refractory disease (56% vs 40%, p &lt;0.001), &gt;1 line of salvage treatment prior to ASCT (40% vs 29%, p&lt;0.001), and &lt;CR prior to ASCT (36% vs 27%, p = 0.007) (Table 1). Patients treated with PTRT were less likely to have RT at initial diagnosis (5.9% vs 22%, p&lt;0.001), extra-nodal disease (19% vs 42%, p&lt;0.001), B-sx (17% vs 25%, p=0.035), salvage treatment that included CPI (11% vs 23%, p&lt;0.001), and BV maintenance (20 vs 31%, p&lt;0.001). After a median follow up from ASCT of 4.5 years (range, 2.4-7.2), 2-year PFS was 76% (73%, 79%) and 5-year PFS was 70% (67%, 73%). In univariable analysis, receipt of PTRT showed non-significant reduced hazard for PFS (HR 0.79, 95% CI 0.59-1.05, p = 0.093) (Figure 1). In a multivariable model, PTRT showed significant association with PFS (HR 0.56, 95% CI 0.36-0.88, p=0.009) when adjusting for other clinically relevant factors at relapse such as stage, B-sx, bulk, primary refractory disease, BV(+/- chemotherapy) or CPI (+/- BV or +/- chemotherapy) in salvage, PET response prior to ASCT, and BV maintenance after ASCT. To determine if specific subgroups benefited from PTRT, we tested for interaction effects between PTRT and clinically relevant factors. Only bulk (HR 0.37, 95% CI 0.16-0.85, p=0.013) and B-sx (HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.20-1.02, p=0.041) showed significant interaction with PTRT.Among pts with bulky disease, 5-year PFS was significantly improved with receipt of PTRT (81% vs 62%, p=0.013). Conclusion In this large multi-center analysis of pts with R/R cHL undergoing ASCT, there was no significant difference in PFS regardless of receipt of PTRT. However, after adjusting for known clinically relevant factors, receipt of PTRT was significantly associated with PFS and was particularly beneficial for patients with bulky disease or B-sx at relapse. We found decreased utilization of PTRT in pts receiving CPI-based salvage; therefore the role for PTRT for pts receiving CPI-based salvage is unclear.
Autologous Stem Cell Transplant in Fit Patients with Late Relapsed Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma That Responded to Salvage Chemotherapy
Maliske, Seth , Inwards, David J. , Micallef, Ivana N. , Porrata, Luis F. , Kharfan‐Dabaja, Mohamed A. , Ansell, Stephen M. , Nowakowski, Grzegorz S. , Johnston, Patrick B. , Tun, Aung M. , Wang, Yucai , Habermann, Thomas M. , Paludo, Jonas , Villasboas, José C. , Rosenthal, Allison , Farooq, Umar

Blood | December 1, 2023 | Volume: 142 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 2216-2216

10.1182/blood-2023-185002 Get It

Background: The new standard of care for fit patients with refractory or early relapse of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy. However, for patients with a relapse ≥12 months after completing frontline therapy, salvage chemotherapy followed by high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) remains the standard of care. There is a need to characterize such patients and their survival in view of the recent shift in treatment paradigm. Methods: Patients with DLBCL that relapsed ≥12 months after R-CHOP or R-CHOP-like frontline therapy who underwent salvage therapy and ASCT at Mayo Clinic or University of Iowa between 07/2000 and 4/2020 were identified from institutional lymphoma and transplant databases. Clinical characteristics, treatment information, and outcome data were abstracted. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) from the time of ASCT were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier method and Cox proportional hazards models. Statistical analyses were performed in JMP v15. Results: A total of 158 patients with late relapsed DLBCL who underwent salvage chemotherapy and ASCT were identified. Baseline characteristics at relapse/ASCT are shown in Table 1. Median time from frontline therapy completion to 1st relapse was 26.4 months (range 12.0-152.4). Median age at relapse was 63 years (range 19-77), and 96 (61%) patients were male. A minority (3; 3%) had ECOG PS ≥2. 43 (52%) patients had an elevated serum LDH level, 70 (65%) had advanced stage disease, and 12 (11%) had &gt;1 extranodal involvement. Median line of salvage therapy was 1 (range 1-3), and 17 (11%) patients required &gt;1 line of salvage therapy. Best response before ASCT was complete response (CR) in 97 (61%) and partial response (PR) in 61 (39%). Median age at ASCT was 64 years (range 19-78). Median follow-up after ASCT was 91.5 months (95% CI 74.0-103.3). Median PFS and OS were 54.5 (95% CI 31.9-77.8) and 99.8 (95% CI 60.3-144.5) months, respectively. The 2-year PFS and OS rates were 64% (95% CI 56-71) and 81% (95% CI 74-87), respectively. No statistically significant difference in PFS was seen based on age at ASCT, sex, serum LDH, stage, or extranodal site involvement of &gt;1 at relapse (Table 2). However, patients who required &gt; 1 line of salvage therapy, compared to those requiring 1 line of salvage therapy, had significantly inferior PFS (median 6.1 vs 61.8 months, P &lt;0.0001) and OS (17.8 vs 111.7 months, P &lt;0.0004). There was no statistically significant difference in survival in patients who achieved CR vs PR prior to ASCT, with a median PFS of 61.8 vs 37.8 months( P=0.21) and a median OS of 111.7 vs 78.3 months ( P=0.62). Patients who achieved CR after 1 line of salvage therapy had the most favorable PFS and OS, with a median PFS of 65.6 vs 45.4 vs 6.1 vs 7.6 months ( P=0.0004) and a median OS of 133.0 vs 88.9 vs 24.2 vs 17.6 months ( P=0.004) in patients achieving CR after 1 line of salvage therapy vs PR after 1 line of salvage therapy vs CR after &gt;1 line of salvage therapy vs PR after &gt;1 line of salvage therapy, respectively (Table 2). In multivariate Cox regression models adjusted for age at ASCT and sex, patients requiring &gt; 1 line of salvage therapy, compared to those who required 1 line of salvage therapy, had significantly inferior PFS with a hazard ratio (HR) of 3.25 (95% CI 1.82-5.78, P &lt;0.0001) and OS with a HR of 3.50 (95% CI 1.86-6.60, P=0.0001). However, there remained no significant difference in survival based on response status (CR vs PR) with a HR for PFS 0.78 (95% CI 0.52-1.17, P=0.23) and OS 0.93 (95% CI 0.58-1.47, P=0.74). Conclusions: Survival after ASCT was excellent in patients with late relapsed DLBCL achieving CR after 1 line of salvage chemotherapy. Favorable survival outcomes were seen in patients who achieved PR after 1 line of salvage therapy. These data support the current clinical practice of ASCT consolidation in these patients. However, post-ASCT survival was poor in patients who required more than 1 line of salvage chemotherapy, despite achieving a satisfactory response to subsequent lines of salvage therapy. Alternative treatment strategies such as CAR-T therapy should be considered in such patients.
Outcomes for Patients with Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma Who Relapse after Autologous Stem Cell Transplant in the Era of Novel Therapies
Drill, Esther , Ganesan, Nivetha , Baron, Kelsey, Casper, Ellie, Chang, Tiffany , Galasso, Natasha, Herrera, Alex F. , Micallef, Ivana N. , Moskowitz, Alison J. , Stuver, Robert , Desai, Sanjal H. , Falade, Ayo , Mei, Matthew , Merryman, Reid W. , Shah, Harsh

Blood | December 1, 2023 | Volume: 142 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 3069-3069

10.1182/blood-2023-182143 Get It

Background: For patients with relapsed and refractory (R/R) classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL), the standard of care remains salvage therapy followed by autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) for responding patients. Historical data suggest 40% of patients may relapse after ASCT, and these patients have generally a poor median overall survival (OS) of less than 2 years (Moskowitz et al., Br J Haematol. 2009;146(2):158-62). However, since these reports, the treatment landscape of R/R HL has dramatically improved, most notably with the introduction of two novel therapies, brentuximab vedotin (BV) and anti-PD1 agents. To refine our understanding of clinical outcomes in this context, we characterized patients who relapsed after ASCT in the modern era. Methods: We used a multicenter retrospective patient database at 5 transplant centers in the United States to identify patients with HL aged ≥ 12 years at diagnosis who had received ASCT on or after 1/1/2010. The primary objective was to determine the median OS for patients who relapsed after ASCT (post-ASCT-relapse OS), defining survival as the time from relapse after ASCT to subsequent death from any cause. Univariable Cox regression was performed to evaluate the impact of various factors on post-ASCT OS. Outcomes by era were evaluated using three different eras based on approval dates of novel agents: (1) pre-BV approval (pre-7/31/2011), (2) post-BV approval (8/1/2011-4/30/2016), (3) post-anti-PD1 approval (5/1/16-present). Results: A total of 215 patients were identified. The median age at ASCT was 34. Before ASCT, 128 patients (62%) had no exposure to novel agents, 76 patients (35%) had received BV and no anti-PD-1 therapy, and 11 patients (5.1%) had received anti-PD-1 therapy with or without BV. Conditioning was mostly with BEAM (59%) or CBV (32%). The median time to relapse after ASCT was 6 months (range: 1-109 months). Nearly half all relapses (47%) occurred within 6 months of ASCT. Only 14% of relapses occurred after 1 year. Among 126 patients with available treatment information, the median number of post-ASCT lines of therapy was 2 (IQR: 1, 4). Therapy for post-ASCT relapse included BV and no anti-PD-1 therapy in 41 patients (29%), anti-PD-1 therapy with or without BV for 70 patients (50%), and no novel agents for only 15 patients (11%). The median followup time from the date of ASCT among survivors was 5.0 (IQR: 2.8, 7.8) years. The median post-ASCT-relapse OS was not reached ( Figure 1). The 2- and 5-year post-ASCT-relapse OS were 75% (95% CI: 70%-81%) and 59% (95% CI: 53%-67%), respectively. On univariable Cox regression for post-ASCT-relapse OS ( Table 1), time to relapse greater than 6 (HR 0.55, 95% CI 0.35-0.85) or 12 months (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.29-0.96) were significantly associated with improved post-ASCT-relapse OS. Increasing age at relapse was associated with worse OS (HR 1.05, 95% CI 1.04-1.07). Receipt of a novel agent (compared to chemotherapy alone) as the first salvage regimen for post-ASCT relapse was associated with improved post-ASCT OS (BV: HR 0.43, 95% CI 0.20-0.96; anti-PD-1: HR 0.44, 95% CI 0.18-1.08). Outcomes improved over time as regulatory approvals for novel agents occurred (post-BV-approval: HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.39-1.24; post-anti-PD-1 approval: HR 0.45, 95% CI 0.23-0.91). Conclusion: We show prolonged overall survival post-ASCT relapse compared to historical data likely due to the introduction of BV and anti-PD1 agents. This report represents one of the largest datasets of post-ASCT relapse in cHL, and this data should serve as an updated benchmark for future evaluations.
A First in Human Phase I Trial (LS1681) of Abraxane/Rituximab 160 Nm Nanoparticle (AR160) in Relapsed Refractory B-Cell Lymphomas Including Transformed Follicular Lymphoma: A Final Report
LaPlant, Betsy, Micallef, Ivana N. , Finnes, Heidi D. , Klebig, Robin, Hanley, Nikki, King, Rebecca L. , Habermann, Thomas M. , Schimke, Jill M. , Witzig, Thomas E. , Markovic, Svetomir N.

Blood | December 1, 2023 | Volume: 142 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 4471-4471

10.1182/blood-2023-175014 Get It

Introduction: Nanotechnology for cancer therapy aims to increase drug delivery to tumor sites while lowering toxicity. AR160 is a novel 160 nm nano-immunoconjugate consisting of commercial grade nab-paclitaxel (NP) nanoparticles non-covalently coated with rituximab (R) for targeted delivery into tissues expressing CD20. The drug delivery system and clinical grade product was developed in the laboratory of Svetomir N. Markovic, M.D.,Ph.D. Single agent rituximab at a dose of 375 mg/m 2 in relapsed patients with aggressive lymphomas is not utilized and has limited activity in patients with multiple relapses. Taxanes (Younes 1995, Wilson 1995) have modest clinical activity as a single agent with overall response rates of 23% and 17%, respectively, when administered at doses of 200 mg/m 2 and 140 mg/m 2 in previously treated patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). We hypothesized that utilizing the targeted ability of rituximab that the AR160 taxane nanoparticle would have activity in relapsed B-cell NHL and offer a new class of agents for relapsed B-cell NHL. Methods: A 3+3 phase I clinical trial was conducted in patients with relapsed refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma to determine the maximum tolerated dose of AR160 administered intravenously on days 1, 8, and 15 of a 28-day cycle. Patients were required to have had prior systemic treatment with no other therapy with clinical benefit. Patients with aggressive lymphoma were required to have a stem cell transplant if transplant eligible. AR160 was prepared on-site in the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center Research Pharmacy, and the product was reconstituted by mixing the two agents delivering as one combined infusion at a specific concentration. The starting dose level (DL1) was NP at 100mg/m 2 with R at 40 mg/m 2. These doses were significantly lower than standard doses. Disease evaluations were conducted after every 2 treatment cycles using CT based criteria from the revised 2014 Lugano Classification or PET scans. Patients were treated until disease progression or intolerability. Samples were collected for pharmacokinetic (PK) studies. Results: Nine (7 males and 2 females) patients with a median age of 61 (range 55-84 years) were enrolled (2 follicular lymphoma (FL), 1 previously transformed from FL to diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) followed by FL relapse, 1 high-grade B-cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 rearrangements transformed from FL, 1 transformed FL to DLBCL, 2 high-grade B-cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 rearrangements, 1 high-grade B-cell lymphoma NOS and 1 mantle cell lymphoma. The median number of prior treatments was 4 (range 3-16). At dose level 1, all 3 of the first 3 patients experienced grade 3 or 4 neutropenia (C1D15, C4D1, and C1D15) with the C4D1 a grade 4 and unlikely related. After the first three patients, de-escalation to dose level -1 was implemented per protocol with NP at 75 mg/m 2 and rituximab at 30 mg/m 2. There was one patient with a grade 3 non-hematological adverse event all possibly related to treatment (anorexia, diarrhea, and enterocolitis). There were 6 partial responses (71%), 1 complete response (14%) with high-grade B-cell lymphoma with MYC and BCL2 rearrangement, 1 stable disease with mantle cell lymphoma and 1 patient had progressive disease. Six of the 9 patients were alive with subsequent therapies. PK evaluation is pending. Conclusion: AR160 therapy is a novel drug delivery system incorporating significantly lower doses of paclitaxel and rituximab that is safe and demonstrates promising clinical activity in patients with low-grade and high-grade previously treated B-cell lymphomas. This principle of treatment is applicable to other disorders. Further clinical testing is warranted in these patient populations.