Phillips, Tycel

Abstract The Bridging the Gaps (BTG) in Leukemia, Lymphoma and Multiple Myeloma Consensus Conference 2025 brought together a multidisciplinary group of oncology experts to address the complexities of lymphoma management, focusing on mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL). This article presents consensus recommendations developed through a modified Delphi process, which emphasize the need for tailored therapeutic strategies in light of recent advancements in treatment options. Key recommendations include the screening for high‐risk features in MCL, use of the BOVen regimen (zanubrutinib, obinutuzumab, and venetoclax) for TP53 ‐aberrant cases, and integration of chimeric antigen receptor T‐cell therapy for patients with mantle cell lymphoma that is refractory to covalent Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitors. For CLL, recommendations include consideration of time‐limited therapies for younger patients and a “watch and wait” strategy for asymptomatic patients despite the improved activity and safety of current treatment regimens. For DLBCL, this article highlights the challenges in treatment sequencing and the role of circulating tumor DNA and minimal residual disease testing in monitoring disease progression. Overall, the conference describes the importance of ongoing research to refine management strategies and improve patient outcomes in lymphoma care, addressing the gaps in clinical practice where high‐level evidence is lacking.

Abstract This real-world retrospective cohort study evaluated utilization and comparative effectiveness of covalent Bruton tyrosine kinase inhibitor (cBTKi) monotherapies in relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma (R/R MCL) from electronic health records in the United States. Adults with R/R MCL who received second- or third-line (2L/3L) zanubrutinib, acalabrutinib, or ibrutinib monotherapy, on or after 1 January 2018, were included. Inverse probability of treatment weighting was used in adjusted Cox models to compare real-world time-to-next treatment (rwTTNT) and overall survival (rwOS). Among 698 patients who received 2L/3L cBTKi monotherapy, 49%, 32%, and 19% received acalabrutinib, ibrutinib, and zanubrutinib, respectively. Unadjusted analyses showed median rwTTNT for 2L zanubrutinib, acalabrutinib, and ibrutinib was 14.5 (95% confidence interval [CI], 11.0-23.2), 12.8 (95% CI, 10.5-15.6), and 10.3 (95% CI, 7.6-13.7) months, and median rwOS was 26.4 (95% CI, 23.2 to not reached [NR]), 29.2 (95% CI, 22.9-38.1), and 29.3 (95% CI, 21.8-41.6) months, respectively. Median rwTTNT for 3L zanubrutinib, acalabrutinib, and ibrutinib was 21.1 (95% CI, 3.9 to NR), 9.2 (95% CI, 6.8-14.7), and 9.6 (95% CI, 4.8-18.0) months, and median rwOS was NR (95% CI, 27.3 to NR), 27.4 (95% CI, 15.1-42.2), and 27.0 (95% CI, 15.6 to NR) months, respectively. Adjusted models in the 2L/3L cohorts combined showed numerically longer rwTTNT and statistically significantly longer rwOS for zanubrutinib vs ibrutinib (hazard ratio, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.42-0.96), and trends for improved rwTTNT and rwOS for zanubrutinib over acalabrutinib. Toxicity was a frequent reason for changing to another cBTKi. These findings suggest potential improvements in rwTTNT and rwOS with the use of second- and next-generation cBTKis for R/R MCL from 2018 and beyond.

Abstract Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) within the tumor microenvironment (TME) play an important role in tumor growth and progression. TAMs have been involved in producing immunosuppressive TME via various factors; however, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear in B-cell lymphoma, including mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). We identified that chemokine receptor-1 (CCR1) is highly expressed on monocytes (Mo) and macrophages (MΦ), and CCR1 pharmacological inhibition or CCR1 siRNA abolished lymphoma-mediated Mo/MΦ migration in a chemotaxis assay. The deficiency of host CCR1 (CCR1 KO) was associated with decreased infiltration of peritoneal-MΦ compared with WT-CCR1. Functional studies indicated that the genetic depletion of CCR1 or treatment inhibited protumor MΦ (M2-like) phenotype by decreasing CD206 and IL-10 expression. Moreover, CCR1 depletion reprogrammed MΦ toward an MHCII+/TNFα+ immunogenic phenotype. Mechanistically, protumor MΦ driven–IL-10 provides a positive feedback loop to tumor-CCL3 by regulating the CCL3 promoter via STAT1 signaling. Therapeutic in vivo targeting of CCR1 with CCR1 antagonist BX-471 significantly reduced FC-muMCL1 mouse tumors in the syngeneic MCL model by the depletion of M2-TAMs and increased infiltration of cytotoxic CD8+ T cells. Our study established that CCR1 exerts a pivotal role in macrophage programming, thus shaping protumor TME and lymphoma progression. CCR1 inhibition through CCR1 antagonists may be a promising therapeutic strategy to reprogram macrophages in lymphoma-TME and achieve better clinical outcomes in patients.