Back to Authors

Ayers, Amy

https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4807-2356

Mayo Clinic

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Citations 19

Abstract A049: Spatially resolved microenvironment profiling reveals distinct follicular lymphoma archetypes
Thakkar, Bijal, Wilson, Ashley , Henderson, Jared, Ayers, Amy, Borgschatz, Sara, Harkins, R. Andrew, Lakra, Priya , Cohen, Jonathon B., Russler-Germain, David, Vega, Francisco, Chapman, J., Inghirami, Giorgio, Lossos, Izidore S. , Koff, Jean L., Nze, Chijioke, Martin, Peter, Syrbu, Sergei, Vij, Kiran, Flowers, Christopher R. , Novak, Anne J., Chihara, Dai, Sakata-Yanagimoto, Mamiko, Tobin, Joshua, Green, M, Abe, Yoshiaki , Kizhakeyil, Atish , Feldman, Andrew L. , Henderson, Jared M. , Ayers, Amy , Harkins, R. Andrew , Kaji, Daisuke , Cohen, Jonathon B. , Mou, Eric , Inghirami, Giorgio , Casulo, Carla , Koff, Jean L. , Nze, Chijioke , Syrbu, Sergei , Jaye, David L. , Cerhan, James R. , Novak, Anne J. , Burack, Richard , Sakata‐Yanagimoto, Mamiko , Tobin, Joshua W.D. , Li, Xubin

Blood Cancer Discovery | June 24, 2026 | Volume: 7 | Issue: 3_Supplement | Pages: A049-A049

10.1158/2643-3249.lymphoma26-a049 Get It

Abstract Recent single-cell transcriptomic studies of follicular lymphoma (FL) have revealed heterogeneity among malignant B (MB) cells and selected components of the tumor microenvironment (TME), but have been constrained by relatively small sample sizes and a lack of spatial context. We performed comprehensive cellular profiling and spatial dissection of over five million cells by integrating single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq) from 182 samples (FL, n = 167; control, n = 15) with single-cell spatial transcriptomics (ST) from 386 samples (FL, n = 365; control, n = 21). After stringent quality control, 1,289,073 and 3,968,427 cells from snRNA-seq and ST data, respectively, were analyzed. Unsupervised clustering of snRNA-seq data identified 58 TME cell subtypes. To extend this classification to the ST dataset, we integrated snRNA-seq and ST data by co-embedding them into a shared principal component space, enabling robust batch correction and cell-type label transfer across modalities. Using this supervised annotation framework, ST data recapitulated 54 TME cell subtypes. MB, proliferating MB (MBprolif), and healthy B (HB) cells were classified using sample-level unsupervised clustering in ST. Macrophages exhibited previously uncharacterized heterogeneity in transcriptomic profiles and spatial distribution. We identified CXCL13-expressing macrophage subtypes with high intra- and peri-follicular abundance, termed follicular macrophages (FMs). Non-negative matrix factorization of intrafollicular cell fractions identified five TME archetypes: FM, follicular stroma, two follicular T, and HB archetypes. The FM archetype was enriched for intrafollicular macrophages, including FMs, and showed a significantly higher proportion of grade 3A/3B cases (53.4%) compared to other archetypes (≤16.5%). It was also associated with a higher frequency of high tumor burden requiring treatment initiation rather than a watch-and-wait (WW) approach. Among patients managed by WW, those with the FM archetype showed significantly shorter event-free survival (EFS) compared to those with non-FM archetypes, whereas this association was not observed among treated patients. The percentage of intrafollicular macrophages (IFMP) showed excellent predictive performance for the FM archetype (area under the curve: 0.90). IFMP calculated in a published multiplex spatial protein imaging dataset from an independent cohort of 242 FL patients validated the associations between high IFMP and both pathology grade 3A/3B and shorter EFS in WW patients. Consistently, spatial neighborhood and cell–cell communication analyses revealed co-localization of FMs and MBprolif cells, forming a distinct niche with activated signaling mediated by FM-derived CXCL13, APRIL, and BAFF. Our integrative multi-modal analysis defines previously unrecognized cellular heterogeneity and spatial architecture in FL and highlights macrophage-enriched follicular ecosystems associated with aggressive clinicopathological features, providing a framework for improved biological understanding and patient management. Citation Format: Yoshiaki Abe, Bijal Thakkar, Atish Kizhakeyil, Ashley Wilson, Andrew L. Feldman, Jared Henderson, Amy Ayers, Sara Borgschatz, R. Andrew Harkins, Priya Lakra, Daisuke Kaji, Jonathon B. Cohen, David Russler-Germain, Eric Mou, Francisco Vega, Jennifer Chapman, Giorgio Inghirami, Carla Casulo, Izidore S. Lossos, Jean L. Koff, Chijioke Nze, Peter Martin, Sergei Syrbu, Kiran Vij, David L. Jaye, James R. Cerhan, Christopher R. Flowers, Anne J. Novak, Richard Burack, Dai Chihara, Mamiko Sakata-Yanagimoto, Joshua Tobin, Xubin Li, Michael R. Green. Spatially resolved microenvironment profiling reveals distinct follicular lymphoma archetypes [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR International Meeting on Advances in Malignant Lymphoma: From Discovery to Clinical Impact; 2026 Jun 24-27; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Blood Cancer Discov 2026;7(3_Suppl):Abstract nr A049.
Treatment-related outcomes and patterns of relapse in secondary CNS involvement by large B-cell lymphoma
Alderuccio, Juan Pablo , Baggio, Diva , Han, Sunwoo , Nizamuddin, Imran , Saha, Aditi, Dong, Ning , Wang, Yucai, Cherng, Hua‐Jay J. , Wagner-Johnston, Nina D., Desai, Amrita, Geethakumari, Praveen Ramakrishnan , Moyo, Tamara K. , Sandoval‐Sus, Jose , EPPERLA, NARENDRANATH, Kamdar, Manali, Tavarozzi, Rita , Danilov, A., Tun, H., Munoz, Javier, Narkhede, Mayur , Maraj, Adrian Matthew, Osborne, Wendy , Calvert, Victoria, El‐Sharkawi, Dima , Hilali, Ammar, Collins, Graham P., Elmusharaf, Nagah, Santarsieri, Anna , Karim, Farheen, Monick, Sarah, Trutzer, Iris Margalit, Can, Jones, Ayers, Amy , Feo, Jacopo Calabrese De, Ghosh, Nilanjan, Treitman, Rachel, Okcu, Izel, Hann, William D., Barrett, Aisling , Deshani, Vismay, Cwynarski, K., Wang, Yucai , Saha, Aditi , Ghione, Paola , Khwaja, Jahanzaib , Saha, Aditi , Wang, Yucai , Cherng, Hua-Jay J , Tolu, Seda , Wagner-Johnston, Nina , Ollila, Thomas A , Grover, Natalie S , Koff, Jean L , Ramakrishnan Geethakumari, Praveen , Sandoval-Sus, Jose , Epperla, Narendranath , Wallace, Danielle S , Kamdar, Manali , Tun, Han W , Narkhede, Mayur S , Rhodes, Joanna , Okosun, Jessica , El-Sharkawi, Dima , Collins, Graham P , Linton, Kim M , Santarsieri, Anna , Baidoun, Firas , Monick, Sarah E, Calabrese De Feo, Jacopo , Sharp, John , Ghosh, Nilanjan , Okcu, Izel , Hann, William , Barrett, Aisling , Deshani, Vismay , Kahl, Brad S , Chavez, Julio C , Olszewski, Adam J , Ghione, Paola , Dong, Ning, Wagner‐Johnston, Nina D. , Grover, Natalie S. , Koff, Jean L. , Epperla, Narendranath , Wallace, Danielle , Kamdar, Manali , Tun, Han W. , Muñoz, Javier, Rhodes, Joanna , Prica, Anca A. , Kühnl, Andrea , Maraj, Adrian , Smith, Jeff , Calvert, Victoria, Linton, Kim , Baidoun, Firas , Sharp, John , Kallam, Avyakta , Abeyakoon, Chathuri , Kahl, Brad S. , Olszewski, Adam J. , Cwynarski, Kate

Blood | January 5, 2026 | Volume: 147 | Issue: 16 | Pages: 1814-1827

10.1182/blood.2025031455 Get It

Abstract Secondary central nervous system (CNS) large B-cell lymphoma (SCNSL) occurs in the de novo setting, as a CNS-isolated relapse, or synchronous (concomitant CNS and systemic) relapse. SCNSL is a devastating event without therapeutic consensus. Thus, we aimed to evaluate treatment outcomes in an international cohort. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR, estimated using competing-risk models) were reported. Prognostic factors were identified in a 6-month landmark multivariate analysis. Outcomes after thiotepa autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) and chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy (CAR-T) delivered at relapse were compared after propensity score matching (PSM). A total of 1139 patients were included in the analysis (de novo: 537; relapsed SCNSL: 602). Two-year PFS estimates were 40.4%, 43.9%, and 16.2% for de novo SCNSL, CNS-isolated relapse, and synchronous relapse, respectively. Patients with CNS-isolated relapse demonstrated low rates of systemic recurrence (24-month CIR, 6%). Thiotepa-ASCT correlated with longer survival in de novo SCNSL (PFS: hazard ratio [HR], 0.57; P = .005; and OS: HR, 0.62; P = .023) and CNS-isolated relapses (PFS: HR, 0.55; P = .002; and OS: HR, 0.39; P< .0001). ASCT (thiotepa or no thiotepa) also associated with improved survival in synchronous relapses (PFS: HR, 0.57; P = .023; and OS: HR, 0.48; P = .019). Higher survival with thiotepa-ASCT than CAR-T was observed after PSM (PFS: HR, 0.45; P = .005 and OS: HR, 0.41; P = .014). These data support thiotepa-ASCT in eligible patients, particularly de novo disease and CNS-isolated relapses. CNS-isolated relapse was infrequently associated with systemic recurrence, supporting treatment regimens adopted from primary CNS lymphoma.
Frontline chemotherapy for CD30+ non-ALCL peripheral T-cell lymphoma a multi-center retrospective analysis
Han, Sunwoo , Johnson, William T. , Lingamaneni, Prasanth , Shastri, Toral, Panjrolia, Ekta, Rojas-Neira, Estela, Ayers, Amy , Jayram, Diya, Ho, Phuong , Treitman, Rachel, Chinniah, Siven, Sethi, Tarsheen , Ganesan, Nivetha, Chang, Tiffany , Qureshi, Haris, Haverkos, Bradley M. , Epstein‐Peterson, Zachary D. , Moskowitz, Alison J. , Ansell, Stephen, Trabolsi, Asaad , Johnson, William, Stuver, Robert , Ho, Phuong, Weiss, Julian J , Saeed, Hayder , Foss, Francine M. , Malpica, Luis , Bennani, N. Nora , Zhang, Yumeng , Horwitz, Steven M. , Schatz, Jonathan H

Blood | December 5, 2025 | Volume: 146 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 3641-3641

10.1182/blood-2025-3641 Get It

Abstract INTRODUCTION The ECHELON-2 trial for newly diagnosed CD30+ peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL) demonstrated superior overall survival with brentuximab vedotin plus chemotherapy (BV-CHP) compared to CHOP. However, total enrollment was restricted to only 30% of patients with non-anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) histologies and was not powered to analyze survival benefits in this cohort. Thus, the benefit of BV-CHP in non-ALCL patients remains less clear. Adding to this uncertainty, CHOP plus etoposide (CHOEP) remains a standard regimen for many non-ALCL PTCL histologies for patients <60 years of age. Which of these three regimens offers superior outcomes for patients with CD30+ non-ALCL PTCL remains to be determined, is a critical knowledge gap in this area, and could meaningfully inform the management of these patients. METHODS We conducted a retrospective analysis of chemotherapy-naïve CD30+ (≥1%) PTCL from 7 centers in the United States. Histologies were limited to PTCL-NOS and PTCL with a T follicular helper phenotype (PTCL-TFH). Frontline regimens were defined as BV-based (BV-CHP), etoposide-based (CHOEP/EPOCH), novel-CHOP (CHOP/CHOEP + novel drug on a clinical trial), or CHOP. CD30 was considered positive if any expression was reported, and when available, stratified as ≥10% or <10% of the total lymphocyte population. RESULTS The CD30+ PTCL cohort consisted of 194 patients with a median age of 68 years at diagnosis and a male (65%) predominance. Nodal PTCL-TFH (65%) was the most common histology. Most had stage III-IV disease (89%) with a high-intermediate to high-risk IPI score of 3-5 (54%). 18% had an ECOG of ≥2, 45% had ≥2 extranodal sites, and 43% had bone marrow involvement, although biopsies were not performed in all patients. CD30 expression in ≥10% of malignant T cells was observed in 55% of all quantitatively reported cases. Frontline therapy consisted of BV-based (36%), etoposide-based (30%), CHOP (27%), and novel-CHOP (7%). Baseline characteristics and CD30 expression were similar between treatment groups. The ORR was 72% (64% CR, 8% PR), with no differences observed by treatment or histology. On multivariate analysis (MVA), a high LDH was associated with lower CR (OR 2.84, p=0.003). For the patients who demonstrated a CR to frontline therapy, 61% underwent ASCT. With a median follow-up of 26.1 months (IQR 12.3-51.6), the median PFS and OS were 11.4 (9.8-14.2) and 47 (32-60.3) months, respectively. The 2-year PFS and OS were 34.9% (28.1-41.7) and 62% (54.5-68.6), respectively. PFS and OS were similar for PTCL-NOS compared to PTCL-TFH, and AITL fared similarly to non-AITL PTCL-TFH. By treatment, novel-CHOP demonstrated the most favorable PFS (median 41.9 months) and OS (median 68.1 months). Survival curves overlapped continuously with all other treatment regimens and was not statistically significant. For patients <60, PFS and OS were equivocal with BV-based (n=17) compared to etoposide-based (n=26) regimens. On MVA, stage III/IV disease conferred an inferior PFS (HR 2.00, p=0.018) as did an IPI score of 3-5 for OS (HR 2.15, p=0.001). Neither histology nor frontline treatment impacted PFS or OS. The chosen frontline treatment also had no survival impact in key subgroup analyses including patients <60 (n=56) or with CD30-expression ≥10% (n=43). For patients with CR to frontline therapy, ASCT demonstrated a significant PFS benefit (HR 0.59, p=0.028) but no statistically significant difference in OS benefit (HR 0.58, p=0.073). CONCLUSION These data provide valuable insight into the lesser-represented patient population from the pivotal ECHELON-2 trial. In this cohort of CD30+ (≥1%) non-ALCL PTCL, there was no clearly superior standard frontline regimen. The number of patients with quantitively reported CD30 expression was too small for definitive conclusions in the ≥10% CD30+ cohort and retrospective pathology review is ongoing. ASCT for patients in CR offered superior outcomes, supporting this strategy regardless of the frontline regimen, recognizing the limitations of non-randomized, retrospective analyses. Novel-CHOP regimens demonstrated encouraging survival, and clinical trials should maintain priority over standard regimens for patients with CD30+ (1-10%) PTCL-NOS and PTCL-TFH.
Multi‐Institutional Study of ALK ‐Positive Large B‐Cell Lymphoma: Outcomes in the Era of ALK Inhibitors and Biologically Informed Therapies
Atallah‐Yunes, Suheil Albert , Nze, Chijioke , King, Rebecca L. , Alderuccio, Juan Pablo , Watkins, Marcus P. , Easwar, Neela, Yamshon, Samuel , Ravindra, Aditya, Farooq, Umar , Rojas-Neira, Estela, Ayers, Amy , Ansell, Stephen M. , Nowakowski, Grzegorz S. , Flowers, Christopher R. , Easton, Neil , Nze, Chijioke C , Rees, Matthew James , Alderuccio, Juan Pablo , Watkins, Marcus , Yamshon, Samuel , Rosenthal, Allison , Habermann, Thomas , Witzig, T.E. , Ansell, Stephen M , Wang, Yucai , Easton, Neela , Atallah-Yunes, Albert , Rees, Matthew J. , Kahl, Brad S. , Ravindra, Aditya , Farooq, Umar, Muñoz, Javier , Moustafa, Muhamad Alhaj , Habermann, Thomas M. , Witzig, Thomas E. , Koff, Jean L. , Wang, Yucai

American Journal of Hematology | September 3, 2025 | Volume: 100 | Issue: 12 | Pages: 2185-2194

10.1002/ajh.70058 Get It

ABSTRACT Anaplastic lymphoma kinase‐positive large B‐cell lymphoma (ALK+ LBCL) is a rare, aggressive subtype of diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma with poor outcomes using standard chemotherapy. In this multi‐institutional retrospective study, we analyzed 39 cases of ALK+ LBCL identified at six US academic centers from 2002 to 2024, with treatment including conventional cytotoxic regimens in frontline and biologically informed and nonchemotherapy‐based strategies in the relapsed setting. Ninety‐two percent of patients received frontline anthracycline‐based chemotherapy; 43% received intensified regimens, and 15% underwent upfront autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). Despite these approaches, outcomes remained poor. At a median follow‐up of 5.4 years, median event‐free survival (EFS) was 0.6 years (95% CI, 0.4–0.9), and median overall survival (OS) was 1.5 years (95% CI, 1.3–NR). One‐ and five‐year EFS rates were 28% and 17%, while corresponding OS rates were 72% and 42%, respectively. Advanced stage and high IPI scores were associated with inferior outcomes. Twelve patients received ALK inhibitors, with alectinib showing more durable responses than crizotinib. Lenalidomide and immune checkpoint inhibitors also demonstrated activity, including durable complete responses. Five patients underwent allogeneic stem cell transplantation, with three achieving sustained remission. In conclusion, our findings highlight the limited benefit of chemotherapy, even when intensified or followed by ASCT, and support the integration of biologically targeted therapies, which may have contributed to improved OS in our cohort compared to historical outcomes. Prospective, collaborative studies are needed to better understand disease biology and define optimal use of modern therapies in this rare lymphoma.
Outcomes of Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B‐Cell Lymphoma Treated With R‐ GemOx : A Multicenter Cohort Study
Yamshon, Samuel , Koff, Jean L. , Larson, Melissa C. , Kahl, Brad S. , Casulo, Carla , Lossos, Izidore S. , Haddadi, Sara , Stanchina, Michele , Chihara, Dai , Ayers, Amy , Khurana, Arushi , Nowakowski, Grzegorz S. , Reicks, Tanner W., Cohen, Jonathon B. , Martin, Peter , Li, Jia , Shewade, Ashwini, Batlevi, Connie Lee , Lo‐Rossi, Andrea, Fox, David , Masaquel, Anthony, Mun, Yong, Flowers, Christopher R. , Habermann, Thomas , Wang, Yucai , Khurana, Arushi , Nowakowski, Grzegorz S , Farooq, Umar , Link, Brian K , Cohen, Jonathon B , Li, Jia , Shewade, Ashwini , Batlevi, Connie L , Lo-Rossi, Andrea , Fox, David , Masaquel, Anthony , Cerhan, James R , Maurer, Matthew , Kahl, Brad S , Koff, Jean L , Chihara, Dai , Casulo, Carla , Larson, Melissa C , Habermann, Thomas M. , Wang, Yucai , Link, Brian K. , Cerhan, James R. , Maurer, Matthew J. , Nastoupil, Loretta J.

American Journal of Hematology | February 7, 2025 | Volume: 100 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 606-615

10.1002/ajh.27630 Get It

ABSTRACT Rituximab, gemcitabine, and oxaliplatin (R‐GemOx) is a commonly used chemoimmunotherapy regimen for relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL), but there are limited real‐world data. In a multicenter retrospective study from a cohort of eight US academic centers (LEO CReWE), we evaluated 183 patients with R/R DLBCL and high‐grade B cell lymphoma treated with R‐GemOx, including subgroups treated without intent for consolidation with autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) or chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy ( n = 100), those utilizing R‐GemOx as a bridge to ASCT or CAR T ( n = 83), and those aged 70 and older ( n = 71). Overall response rates (ORRs) for all patients treated with R‐GemOx were 45% with a complete response (CR) rate of 29%. The median event‐free survival (EFS) was 2.3 months, and the median overall survival (OS) was 13.5 months. Patients receiving R‐GemOx without intent for ASCT or CAR T had ORR and CR rates of 33% and 18%, respectively, with median EFS and OS of 2.0 and 9.5 months, respectively. Patients receiving R‐GemOx as a bridge to ASCT or CAR T had ORR and CR rates of 57% and 36%, respectively, with median EFS and OS of 3.5 and 17.4 months, respectively. Patients receiving R‐GemOx aged 70 and older had ORR and CR rates of 53% and 33%, respectively, with median EFS and OS of 2.2 and 13.9 months, respectively. These data provide a benchmark for R‐GemOx in the rapidly evolving landscape of R/R DLBCL therapies.
Perceptions of Clinical Trials and Factors Influencing Trial Participation Among Hispanic Patients with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Romero, Alexis, Nguyen, Sophia, Ayers, Amy , Chen, Minxing , Yzquierdo, Rebecca, Rahman, Adiya, Johnson, Lauren, Vickers, Tiffany, Wafi, Zeinab, Flowers, Christopher R. , Romero, Alexis, Andersen, Clark R. , Rahman, Adiya, Johnson, Lauren, Vickers, Tiffany, McNeill, Lorna Haughton. , Cerhan, James R. , Nze, Chijioke

Blood | December 6, 2024 | Volume: 144 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 3733-3733

10.1182/blood-2024-211657 Get It

Background Hispanic patients continue to be underrepresented in clinical trials. To better understand the factors that impact clinical trial participation, we surveyed patients with NHL receiving care at an academic institution on their perspectives on clinical trials, barriers to care, and helpful aids to encourage clinical trial participation. Here we report the findings of the Hispanic patients and non-Hispanic white patients; accrual is ongoing for other cohorts of patients. Methods Consecutive patients ≥ 18 years old with histologically confirmed NHL who received care at MD Anderson Cancer Center in the Texas Medical Center in Houston, Texas were invited to participate regardless of treatment status. A self-administered questionnaire was used to assess patient sociodemographic factors, perceptions and willingness to participate in different clinical trial scenarios as well as participant perceived barriers to care and facilitators of trial participation. The questionnaire included a total of 53 items with an additional 13 demographic items. The questionnaire was available in English and Spanish. Results Of the 1204 patients invited, 316 consented to participate and 285 ultimately completed the survey (participation rate 23.7%). Among the total participants, this cohort included 100 self-identified Hispanic (H) participants and 103 non-Hispanic white (NHW) participants diagnosed with NHL who completed the survey and were included here. The histology of our cohort included Follicular Lymphoma (FL) [35.6%]; Diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) [18.2%], Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) [18.7%], T-cell Lymphoma (TCL) [9.4%] Marginal Zone Lymphoma [7.8%]. Compared with NHW participants, Hispanic patients were younger (Median age of 60 vs 66 years), less likely to be male (H 54% vs NHW 66%), less likely to commute more than an hour away from the doctor's office (54% vs 71.8%), had lower household income (income > $100,000 was 32% vs 41.7%) and less likely to have a bachelors' degree or higher (38% vs 50.5%). There were similar prevalence histologies such as DLBCL (H 20% vs NHW 16.5%) and FL (H 36% vs NHW 35%) compared to rarer histologies such as MCL (H 11.1% vs NHW 26.2%) and MZL (H 12% vs NHW 3.9% ) which had disproportional prevalences. Hispanic patients were less likely to have previously participated in a clinical trial (28% vs 51.5%) and less likely to have discussed clinical trials as an option (49% vs 70.9%). A majority of Hispanic (81.0%) and NHW (92.3%) respondents stated that they understood what was meant by a “clinical research study” or “clinical trial” somewhat well or very well. Less than half of Hispanic participants (38.0%) and NHW participants (48.5%) reported being very willing to participate in a cancer clinical trial as their initial course of treatment. The most prevalent concern of both Hispanic and NHW participants respectively was the cost of a clinical trial (34.0%, 22.3%). Other top concerns included distance to the treatment center (32.0%, 13.6%) and frequency of contact with the care team (26.0%, 14.6%). Participants identified access to written materials (69.0%, 60.2%), insurance aid (65.0%, 68.0%), and access to videos (64.0%, 51.5%) as extremely helpful resources that could reduce the burden of participating in a clinical trial. Participants identified that it was most important that a treatment may improve their quality of life by decreasing pain level, increasing activity level, or other symptoms (76.0%, 91.3%). Conclusions Although most Hispanic and NHW participants reported a very good understanding of clinical trials and similar facilitators/barriers for trial participation, Hispanic patients were less likely to have discussed trials as an option with their care teams and less likely to have previously participated in a trial. Evidence-based interventions to address various barriers to clinical trials exist but data on their effectiveness and application is limited. Implementing strategically designed evidence-based interventions to address identified barriers and facilitators will be necessary to improve participation in lymphoma clinical trials.
Outcomes of Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma Treated with R-GemOx: A Multi-Center Retrospective Cohort Study
Yamshon, Samuel , Casulo, Carla , Lossos, Izidore S. , Haddadi, Sara , Ayers, Amy , Khurana, Arushi , Nowakowski, Grzegorz S. , Reicks, Tanner W., Cohen, Jonathon B. , Martin, Peter , Li, Jia , Shewade, Ashwini, Batlevi, Connie Lee , Lo‐Rossi, Andrea, Fox, David J. , Masaquel, Anthony, Mun, Yong, Flowers, Christopher R. , Koff, Jean L. , Larson, Melissa C. , Kahl, Brad S. , Casulo, Carla , Stanchina, Michele , Chihara, Dai , Habermann, Thomas M. , Wang, Yucai , Farooq, Umar , Link, Brian K. , Cerhan, James R. , Maurer, Matthew J. , Nastoupil, Loretta J.

Blood | December 6, 2024 | Volume: 144 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 3093-3093

10.1182/blood-2024-208111 Get It

Background: Rituximab, gemcitabine, and oxaliplatin (R-GemOx) is a commonly utilized chemoimmunotherapy regimen for relapsed or refractory (R/R) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), especially for patients ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) or chimeric antigen receptor T cell therapy (CAR T). R-GemOx is used as a comparator arm in several active phase III clinical trials for R/R DLBCL, including the POLARGO (polatuzumab vedotion and R-GemOx), STARGLO (glofitamab and GemOx), SUNMO (mosunetuzumab and polatuzumab vedotin), LOTIS-5 (loncastuximab tesirine and rituximab), and EPCORE DLBCL-1 (epcoritamab) studies. However, real-world data are limited to understand the patterns of use and outcomes of R-GemOx in the US. Methods: We developed a retrospective multicenter US cohort (known as LEO CReWE) of patients with R/R DLBCL and other aggressive B-cell lymphomas at the eight US academic centers participating in the LEO Cohort Study (NCT02736357). Patients first diagnosed with DLBCL (including transformed and high-grade B-cell lymphoma) from 2007 - 2022 who received second line (2L) or later therapy for R/R DLBCL with R-GemOx were included. Baseline characteristics, treatment, and follow-up data were abstracted by chart review. Index line of therapy was defined as the first receipt of R-GemOx therapy in the 2L or later setting. Intent for CAR T and/or ASCT was evaluated at each line of therapy based on medical records at the time of treatment initiation. Subgroup analyses were pre-planned in groups of special interest, including those treated with R-GemOx without intent for ASCT or CAR T, those treated as a bridge to CAR T, and those aged 70 and older. Results: 183 patients with R/R DLBCL treated with R-GemOx were included. At time of initiation of R-GemOx, median age was 68 years (range 21-88), with 71 patients (39%) aged 70+ and 18 (10%) aged 80+. Many patients had high risk features including 13% with high grade B-cell lymphoma and 56% with IPI 3 or greater. 21% had an ECOG performance status of 2 or greater. Patients received a median of 2 lines of therapy prior to the index line of R-GemOx (range 1-7). 52% of patients did not achieve a complete response (CR) to first-line therapy, and 20% relapsed <12 months from an initial CR. In all patients receiving R-GemOx, the overall response rate (ORR) was 45% (29% CR). At a median follow-up of 39 months, median EFS was 2.3 months (95% CI: 1.8-3.2), with 12-month EFS of 21% and a 24-month EFS of 15%. Median OS was 13.5 months (95% CI: 9.6-18.1), with a 12-month OS of 52% and a 24-month OS of 38%. In patients treated without intent for ASCT or CAR T, ORR was 33% (18% CR). Median EFS was 2.0 months (95% CI: 1.6-2.5) with 12- and 24-month EFS of 14% and 9%, respectively. Median OS was 9.5 months (95% CI: 6.6-16.1) with 12- and 24-month OS of 45% and 29%, respectively. In patients receiving R-GemOx as bridging to ASCT or CAR T, ORR was 57% (35% CR). 35% received CAR T and 14% received ASCT, while the remainder did not receive the intended therapy as part of this line. Median EFS was 3.6 months (95% CI: 1.8-5.2) with 12- and 24-month EFS of 28% and 25%, respectively. Median OS was 17.4 months (95% CI: 13.4-NR); 12- and 24-month OS were 61% and 50%, respectively. In patients aged 70+, ORR was 53% (33% CR). Median EFS was 2.3 months (95% CI: 1.6-5.2), with 12- and 24-month EFS of 20% and 18%, respectively. Median OS was 13.9 months (95% CI: 8.6-30.2); 12- and 24-month OS were 57% and 39%, respectively. Conclusion: This study represents the largest reported cohort of patients treated with R-GemOx in US academic centers to date. The ORR of 45% and CR rate of 29% CR, as well as median EFS and OS of 2.3 and 13.5 months, respectively, are consistent with findings from previous phase II studies; these results highlight that responses to R-GemOx are not durable and the vast majority of patients require additional therapy. This study demonstrates real-world evidence of the efficacy of R-GemOx in a large cohort of patients with R/R DLBCL from the US over a long period, including both transplant-eligible and -ineligible patients, and patients treated in the CAR T era. These data aid in providing a benchmark for active clinical trials in the rapidly evolving landscape of R/R DLBCL therapies and allow potential comparison to a real-world cohort of patients with a broad range of clinical characteristics.
Factors Influencing Clinical Trial Participation Among Patients with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Receiving Care in a Safety Net Hospital
Romero, Alexis, Nguyen, Sophia, Ayers, Amy , Yzquierdo, Rebecca, Ma, Hilary , Overman, Michael J. , Flowers, Christopher R. , Romero, Alexis, McNeill, Lorna Haughton. , Cerhan, James R. , Nze, Chijioke

Blood | December 6, 2024 | Volume: 144 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 3746-3746

10.1182/blood-2024-211976 Get It

Background Underserved patient populations characterized by low income, lack of insurance, low levels of education, and minoritized status face significant barriers when accessing clinical trials. To better understand these challenges, patients from a safety-net county hospital were surveyed on their perspectives on clinical trials, barriers to care, and facilitators of participation. Methods Patients ≥ 18 years old with histologically confirmed non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) who received care at Lyndon B. Johnson Hospital, a safety-net county hospital in Houston, Texas, were invited to participate regardless of treatment status. A self-administered questionnaire was used and offered in English or Spanish. The questionnaire included a total of 53 items with an additional 13 demographic items assessing patient sociodemographic factors and knowledge of clinical trials. Questions also addressed barriers/facilitators of trial participation and respondent willingness to participate in a trial based on certain scenarios. Results Of the 136 patients invited to participate, a total of 49 participants diagnosed with NHL consented to the study and all completed the survey (participation rate 36%). Twenty-seven (55%) surveys were completed in Spanish. Participants self-identified as Hispanic (N=35, 71.4%), African American (N=6, 12.2%), non-Hispanic white (N=7, 14.3%), and Asian/Pacific Islander (N=1, 2%). This cohort included Diffuse Large B-cell lymphoma NOS (DLBCL) [32%], Follicular Lymphoma (FL) [28%], Marginal Zone lymphoma (12%). There were several patients with rare histologies such as Burkitt's lymphoma (4.2%); Mantle Cell lymphoma (4.2%), Plasmablastic lymphoma (4.2%) and T-cell lymphoma (4.1%). The majority of participants reported a commute of less than an hour away to the doctor's office (83%) with almost all participants commuting less than 2 hours (98% with 2% missing an answer). Participants were a median age of 55 years old (range 22-80), majority female (51%), less than a bachelor's degree as highest education (91.8%) and earning < $35,000 (49%). Among respondents, 89.8% had not participated in a clinical trial for their cancer. Only 36.7% of respondents reported that they understood what a clinical research study as “somewhat well,” while 30.6% reported their understanding as “not very well.” Regardless, a majority were very willing (38.8%) or somewhat willing (36.7%) to participate in a trial as their initial course of treatment. Respondents' biggest concerns were the cost of a clinical trial (61.2%), not being able to contact the research team with questions (38.8%), and frequency of clinic visits (32.7%). The most helpful resources that participants identified to reduce participation burden were educational resources such as written materials (77.6%), videos (67.3%), an explanation of the study in their language (65.3%), insurance aid (75.5%), and flexible study visit times (65.3%). Notably, 26.5% of participants responded that they believed they had received medication from a doctor as part of an experiment without their permission. When asked which outcome would most influence their decision to participate in a trial, 79.6% of participants rated the possibility of improving quality of life by decreasing pain and increasing activity levels as very important. Fewer patients (55%) rated other outcomes such as types of side effects (55%) and possibility of pain/discomfort (59%) as very important. Conclusions The majority of patients with NHL who participated in this observational study had little or no previous exposure to or understanding of cancer clinical trials. We identified common barriers to participation including out-of-pocket costs, the ability to contact the research team, and the frequency of clinic visits that should be addressed with specific identified resources to reduce participation burden. Interventions guided by these data should be implemented and evaluated to improve clinical trial participation for patients with lymphoma.
Prognostication and Treatment-Related Outcomes in Secondary Central Nervous System Involvement of Large B-Cell Lymphoma (SCNSL): Evidence from a Large International Cohort
Alderuccio, Juan Pablo , Han, Sunwoo , Nizamuddin, Imran , Dong, Ning , Wagner‐Johnston, Nina, Olszewski, Adam J., Desai, Amrita, Geethakumari, Praveen Ramakrishnan , Moyo, Tamara K. , Sandoval‐Sus, Jose , Danilov, Alexey V. , Munoz, Javier, Narkhede, Mayur , Maraj, Adrian , Smith, Jeffery, Osborne, Wendy , Calvert, Victoria, El‐Sharkawi, Dima , Hilali, A.A. Al, Linton, Kim , Elmusharaf, Nagah, Santarsieri, Anna , Karim, Farheen, Monick, Sarah, Trutzer, Iris Margalit, Can, Jones, Ayers, Amy , Feo, Jacopo Calabrese De, Sharp, John , Treitman, Rachel, Okcu, Izel, Deshani, Vismay, Baidoun, Firas, Hann, William D., Barrett, Aisling , Cwynarski, Kate , Linton, Kim M , Okcu, Izel , Hann, William , Khwaja, Jahanzaib , Ghione, Paola , Saha, Aditi , Wang, Yucai , Cherng, Hua‐Jay J. , Tolu, Seda , Olszewski, Adam J., Grover, Natalie S. , Koff, Jean L. , Epperla, Narendranath , Wallace, Danielle , Kamdar, Manali , Tun, Han W. , Munoz, Javier, Rhodes, Joanna , Prica, Anca A. , Kühnl, Andrea , Okosun, Jessica , Calvert, Victoria, Collins, Graham P. , Ollila, Thomas A , Ghosh, Nilanjan , Can, Jones, Kallam, Avyakta , Baidoun, Firas , Abeyakoon, Chathuri , Kahl, Brad S. , Chavez, Julio C

Blood | December 5, 2024 | Volume: 144 | Issue: Supplement 1 | Pages: 571-571

10.1182/blood-2024-199781 Get It

Introduction: Scant data exist on prognostic factors, survival and treatment (Tx)-related outcomes in SCNSL. We conducted a multicenter international analysis to identify prognostic factors and outcomes in SCNSL at diagnosis (de novo), or after frontline Tx (1L) either with (concomitant) or without (isolated) systemic (syst) relapse. Methods: This study collected data from patients (pts) treated between 2001-2023 at 35 centers. Overall (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated from SCNSL diagnosis to first event (death for OS, relapse/death for PFS) or last follow-up. Uni- (UVA) and multivariable (MVA) Cox analyses were performed to assess prognostic factors; Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate survival. Results: 1173 (US: 863, UK: 273, Canada: 37) pts with SCNSL were included. Baseline characteristics were median age: 62 years (interquartile range 52.5-69), male sex: 58.7%, elevated LDH: 71.1%, stage III/IV: 88.6%, HIV: 3%, transformed LBCL (tLBCL): 13.8%, non-germinal center B-cell like (non-GCB) subtype: 52.3%, double expressor (DE): 40%, MYC rearrangement (MYC-R): 28.3%, MYC/BCL2 double hit: 16.6%, MYC/BCL2/BCL6 triple hit (TH): 6.1%. Among 522 pts with de novo SCNSL, 84.2% had involvement of a single CNS compartment (44.7% brain parenchyma; 40.4% leptomeningeal [lepto]). 1L regimens included 36.2% R-CHOP with high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX), 12.5% MARIETTA-type, and 9.8% R-CODOX-M/IVAC; 54.6% received intrathecal chemotherapy. Consolidation Thiotepa-based autologous stem cell transplant (TT-ASCT) occurred in 15.3%. The majority of pts who underwent TT-ASCT had previously achieved CR or PR in syst (92.5%) and CNS (72.5%) compartments. At median follow-up 25.7 months (mos), subsequent relapse was observed in 27.5% TT-ASCT recipients: 36.3% had isolated CNS, 27.4% syst, and 36.3% concomitant. 588 pts presented with SCNS after 1L (66.2% isolated, 33.8% concomitant). Brain parenchyma involvement was observed in 56.8%, lepto in 22.6%. Tx included 31.6% HD-MTX combination (eg, R-MPV, MTR); 18.4% HD-MTX +/- rituximab; 16.2% MARIETTA-type; and 9.4% platinum-based regimen. Consolidation TT-ASCT occurred in 22.4% (n=132), and 13.8% (n=81) received CAR-T cell therapy (excluding subsequent relapses in de novo group). Syst (65.1%) & CNS (69.1%) responses (CR/PR) were higher before TT-ASCT compared to CAR-T cell (49.5% & 54.5%, respectively). After TT-ASCT, 52 pts (39.3%) relapsed, mainly in the CNS (n=30, 57.7%), with only 4 (7.7%) concomitant. After CAR-T, 48 pts (59.3%) relapsed: 15 (31.2%) isolated in CNS and 15 (31.2%) concomitant. 12-month cumulative incidence of relapse (with death as competing risk) was 21.1% after TT-ASCT and 55.8% after CAR-T. In 63 pts (5.4%), the first CNS event occurred >2 lines of Tx. With median follow-up of the entire cohort of 24.6 mos, median PFS and OS were 11 and 21 mos, respectively. mPFS and mOS were significantly better in pts with de novo SCNSL (13.4 & 47.4 mos) compared to SCNSL after 1L (10.4 & 14.2 mos) and >2 lines of Tx (6.5 & 9.7 mos); P<0.0001. Factors associated with significantly shorter OS in UVA across all presentations were age >60, male sex, GCB subtype, MYC-R, tLBCL, DE, TH, elevated LDH, ECOG PS ≥2, SCNSL after 1L (vs. de novo), and failure to achieve syst/CNS response to 1L. Of these, age >60, male sex, MYC-R, ECOG PS ≥2, and failure to achieve response to 1L remained significant in MVA. In de novo cases, age >60, DE, ECOG PS≥2, and failure to achieve syst/CNS response to 1L were associated with poorer OS; for pts with SCNSL after 1L, age >60, GCB subtype, and ECOG PS ≥2 were significant. Pts treated with HD-MTX-based regimens after 1L experienced longer OS than those treated with platinum regimens or high-dose cytarabine. In de novo cases, TT-ASCT was significantly associated with longer OS (HR=0.58; P=0.025) in MVA after adjusting for significant factors, 1L type, and response. For SCNSL at relapse, TT-ASCT (HR=0.34; P<.0001) and isolated SCNSL presentation (vs. concomitant HR=0.70, P=0.007) were associated with longer OS, adjusting for significant factors, type of second-line Tx, & site of CNS relapse. Conclusions: This study represents the largest analysis of SCNSL inclusive of all modes of presentation. Concomitant SCNSL at relapse was associated with poor outcomes, while TT-ASCT consolidation was associated with improved OS in de novo & relapsed disease. Despite advances in LBCL SCNSL remains an unmet therapeutic need.