Martin, Peter

Abstract Abstract 1618 Introduction: Primary breast lymphoma is a rare type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), representing about 1% of breast tumors and 2% of extranodal NHL. Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common primary subtype presenting in the breast. Due to the low incidence of primary breast DLBCL, outcome data is limited. The aim of this study was to retrospectively assess the natural history of primary breast DLBCL in the pre and post rituximab eras, with specific emphasis on the incidence of local, systemic and central nervous system (CNS) relapses. Methods: Data was retrospectively collected on patients with primary breast DLBCL from seven USA academic medical centers. Institutional review board approval was obtained at each participating site. Patients were identified through institutional databases and tumor registries at each site. Charts were reviewed to obtain demographic and clinical variables including treatment history and dates of relapse and death when applicable. Only patients with stage I/II disease (involvement of breast and localized lymph nodes) were included. All histologies apart from primary DLBCL were excluded. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from the diagnosis date to the date of death or last follow-up. Time to Progression (TTP) was calculated from diagnosis data until the date of pathological evidence of recurrence or death. Data were summarized using descriptive statistics, and survival was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Between 1984 and 2012, 75 patients were identified who met the eligibility criteria. The median age was 62 years (range 17–87); 81% presented with a palpable mass; 12% had their disease detected incidentally by mammography; 4% presented with B-symptoms; 59% had right breast involvement; 67% had stage I and 33% had stage II disease. The stage-adjusted international prognostic index (IPI) score was 0 in 28% of patients, 1 in 41%, 2, in 25%, 3 in 4% and 4 in 1%. 91% of patients were treated with chemotherapy; 31% of these were treated in the pre-rituximab era and 69% received rituximab. Radiation therapy (RT) was utilized in 68% of patients and was the only treatment modality in 8% of those receiving RT. 8% of patients received CNS prophylaxis with intrathecal chemotherapy. After a median follow-up of 4.5 years (range 0.6 – 20.6 years), the Kaplan-Meier estimated median TTP was 10.4 years (95% CI 6.2 – 14.6 years) and the median OS was 14.6 years (95% CI 6.5 – 22.6 years). The 5-year TTP and 5-year OS were 65% (95% CI 53–77%) and 75% (95% CI 64–86%) respectively. Among the patients who relapsed, 67% occurred within the first 2 years. A total of 7 relapses in the breast were observed, none in patients treated with combination of chemotherapy and RT. In univariate analysis, rituximab exposure was not associated with any difference in TTP or OS. The stage-adjusted IPI was associated with OS; the 5-year OS was 88% (95% CI 79–98%) in patients with a score of 0–1 versus 48% (95% CI 25–71%) in those with a score of 2–4 (log rank p < 0.001). The very limited-disease group with a stage-adjusted IPI of 0 had a 5-year OS of 94% (95% CI 83–100%) compared to all others who had a 5-year OS of 67% (95% CI 52–81%; log rank p = 0.001). There was no difference in TTP and OS in patients with solitary versus multiple breast masses or between patients with tumors less than versus more than 7cm. Patients receiving RT in addition to chemotherapy had a longer TTP than those who did not (log rank p = 0.03), but RT was not associated with an improved OS. Patients who relapsed and underwent stem cell transplant (SCT) had similar OS to those who never relapsed. Ten patients (13%) had CNS relapse (3 with leptomeningeal disease, 5 with brain parenchymal disease and 2 with both). All CNS relapses occurred within the first 2.8 years from the time of diagnosis. There was no difference in the rate of CNS relapse in the patients who received IT prophylaxis versus those who did not. Conclusions: In this multicenter study, the largest published to date, primary breast DLBCL appears to have a worse prognosis than early-stage DLBCL in nodal or other extranodal sites. RT was associated with improved TTP. Patients who relapsed were successfully salvaged with SCT, and had similar survival times to those who never relapsed. A high CNS relapse rate (∼1 in 8 patients, including parenchymal disease in 70%) was observed. The small numbers preclude definitive conclusions on the value of intrathecal prophylaxis or the utility of rituximab. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract Waldenströms Macroglobulinemia (WM) is a unique form of lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma, in which the tumor compartment is comprised of B-lymphocytes, plasmacytoid lymphocytes and plasma cells. The majority of WM cases are immunophenotypically characterized by expression of surface antigens that are present on both B-cells (CD19/20) and plasma cells (CD38/138). However, in advanced stage disease, which has been treated with various chemoimmunotherapeutics the molecular profile of WM cells can drastically shift resulting in a majority of the WM tumor compartment exhibiting loss of CD20 and concurrent upregulation of atypical surface antigens (Barakat et al, Am J Clin Pathol 2011; Morice et al Mod Pathol 2009). These external immunophenotypic changes are associated with underlying epigenetic and genomic alterations, whose integrated study may provide further insight into the biology of advanced stage WM. Moreover, such an analysis holds clinical potential by uncovering of therapeutic vulnerabilities, which can direct the selection of appropriate therapeutics for patients with CD20- WM. With this in mind, we conducted comprehensive molecular testing coupled with functional studies to understand if underlying genomic/epigenetic changes correlated with drug sensitivity using appropriate preclinical models of CD20+ WM (BCWM.1 cell line) and CD20- WM (RPCI-WM1 cell line). Importantly, the index patient from whom the CD20- cells were developed had received a total of 6 lines of treatment, two of which contained rituximab and was documented as being refractory to rituximab. Immunophenotyping of CD20- cells showed differential downregulation of 19 and upregulation of 7 CD antigens relative to CD20+ WM cells (cutoff at 1.5 fold; >20% gated expression). Upregulated antigens were associated with a phenotype reminiscent of a memory B-cell with plasmacytoid features. Next, we conducted RNA-Seq analysis (Illumina HiSeq), which revealed downregulation of 6,673 and upregulation of 4,594 genes (>1.5 fold cutoff) in CD20- WM cells compared with CD20+ cells. Gene pathway enrichment analysis (NextBio, Illumina Inc.) of mRNA differentially expressed in CD20- cells showed significant enrichment of upregulated genes corresponding to Protein Transport (p<1.8E-98) and Response to Unfolded Protein Gene Ontology groups (p<5.9E-20). Interestingly, pathway analysis of downregulated genes in CD20- WM cells showed enrichment within the B-cell receptor-signaling (BCR) pathway (Broad MSigDB) (p<6.1E-14) relative to CD20+ WM cells. BCR signaling has been linked to dysregulated expression of several micro-RNAs (miRs). Consistent with pathway analysis results, we observed decreased levels of numerous miRs (Exiqon qPCR) in CD20- vs. CD20+ WM cells, which target and regulate components involved in BCR activation. To examine further epigenetic changes that may account for decreased BCR signaling, we examined the global methylation profile (Infinium HumanMethylation 450K array) of CD20- and CD20+ WM cells and noted hypermethylation of the promoter sites (200 base pairs upstream) for a number of transcription factors involved in the BCR pathway. We therefore examined sensitivity of CD20- WM cells to the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib, which abrogates BCR signaling. As anticipated, CD20- WM cells retained >90% viability and demonstrated significantly less apoptosis in presence of ibrutinib (4uM) compared to CD20+ cells, suggesting decreased reliance on canonical BCR signaling for survival. In parallel and guided by pathway analysis results, we exposed both CD20- and CD20+ WM cells to a novel 19S proteasome inhibitor (VLX1570), which caused profound proteotoxicity and ER stress at concentrations ranging between 250 – 500nM. We noted CD20- cells were significantly more sensitive (p<0.01) to 19S proteasome inhibition than CD20+ WM cells indicating the formers critical dependence on tightly regulated protein homeostasis. In summary we describe for the first time, a comprehensive molecular and immunophenotypic investigation of CD20- WM cells compared to CD20+ WM cells, using validated preclinical models of the two disease phenotypes. Overall our data suggests significant architectural differences between CD20+ and CD20- WM, which can potentially impact the behavior of the cells and their sensitivity towards novel therapeutics being developed for treatment of advanced stage WM. Disclosures Martin: Janssen: Honoraria.

Abstract Background: While B-cell receptor (BCR) signaling is essential for the development, of normal B cells, its aberrant hyper-activation results in neoplastic transformation of B-lymphocytes. Recent investigations using small molecule inhibitors validate the BCR pathway as a valuable target. Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK) is one of the components of a signaling hub that transduces signals from the BCR into the cell for its activation and has been shown to be a therapeutic target. Ibrutinib (PCI-32765), an irreversible BTK inhibitor has shown clinical efficacy in CLL, mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and Waldenströms macroglobulinemia (WM). Ibrutinib binds to cysteine-481 of the BTK protein and blocks its phosphorylation, resulting in termination of BCR-mediated activation of cells with a concomitant induction of death. Despite the clinical success of ibrutinib, a high percentage of patients achieve only partial response and eventually acquire resistance to the drug, resulting in aggressive relapse of the disease. A mutation of Cys481-Ser in BTK (ibrutinib-BTK binding site) has been reported to be one of the reasons for the development of ibrutinib resistance (IR). To understand the mechanisms resulting in acquisition of IR, we developed preclinical models of IR in WM and MCL. Materials: Ibrutinib was obtained from Pharmacyclics, CA. Validated human WM models (BCWM.1, RPCI-WM1 and MWCL.1 cell lines) and human MCL models (Jeko-1 and Maver cell lines) were used for the study. Results: BTK was constitutively phosphorylated at Y223 and Y551 in all the cell lines tested and this was inhibited by ibrutinib in a dose dependent manner. Phosphorylation of other kinases in the cascade such as SYK (Y323 and Y525/526) and PLCg2 (Y759 and Y1217) were also inhibited while AKT phosphorylation at both Ser473 and Thr308 was consistently increased in presence of ibrutinib. Treatment with ibrutinib induced cell cycle arrest in the G1 phase by 24h followed by apoptosis. Cell growth assays (MTS assay) showed that BCWM.1 was the most sensitive cell line followed by MWCL-1, RPCI-WM1, Maver and Jeko-1. Exposure of WM and MCL cells for prolonged periods of time with progressively increasing concentrations of ibrutinib resulted in outgrowth of clones (IR WM and MCL cell lines) that were resistant to apoptosis with a slow growth rate as compared to wild type parental cells. IR cells attained 2 – 20 fold resistance to ibrutinib as compared to the respective parental lines as determined by MTS assay. Sequence analysis of the BTK gene in all the cell lines revealed no mutation in IR cells at Cys481 suggesting that in an acquired IR state, resistance to ibrutinib can be developed independent of BTK Cys481 mutation. Interestingly, we found p-BTK levels to be markedly reduced in IR cells. Ibrutinib reversal experiments suggested that while a continuous presence of ibrutinib is needed for inhibition of BTK phosphorylation, a stable IR state could be maintained (for >1 month) in the absence of ibrutinib. This suggested the cells reliance on a parallel survival pathway, independent of BTK phosphorylation. Focused mRNA (Nanostring nCounter assay) and immunoblot analysis revealed significant changes in the expression profiles of several cellular elements. These included transcription factors such as PU.1, IRF4, BLIMP1, BCL-6 b-catenin as well as the phosphorylated ERK1/2, STAT1 and 3 suggesting a reprogramming of critical cellular networks, which IR tumor cells might be utilizing to overcome ibrutinib-induced cytotoxicity. Importantly, we observed that IR cells retained high levels of p-AKT and showed an increase in expression of BCL2 family members, as well as BCL-2 itself. Treatment of IR cells with ibrutinib +/- MK2206 (AKT inhibitor), or ABT-199 (BCL-2 inhibitor), synergistically induced cytotoxicity in IR cells, suggesting the importance of these parallel survival pathways (AKT/BCL2) in maintaining an IR state. Conclusion: Here we demonstrate that in the absence of BTK Cys481 mutation, an IR state is associated with reprogramming of transcriptional networks countering ibrutinib-induced toxicity by activation of AKT and BCL-2. Our current data exposes multiple vulnerabilities within IR cells, which can be therapeutically exploited to potentially delay onset of IR, by targeting alternative oncogenic mechanisms that are activated in presence of sustained BTK inhibition. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Abstract Background:The pathological behavior of Waldenströms macroglobulinemia (WM) cells relies on aberrant B-cell receptor (BCR), and Toll-like receptor (TLR) signaling and is intricately supported by malfunctions in initiation of apoptosis. In this dynamic, a complex shift between functionally active pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins from the Bcl-2 family occurs and bestows the malignant cells with a significant survival advantage. This defective apoptotic signaling is associated with aggressive clinical behavior, chemoresistance, and a poor prognosis in many B-cell cancers, including WM. Thus, BCR/TLR induced proliferation and abnormal apoptotic signaling due to dysregulation of Bcl-2 signaling, act in concert for the assurance of the malignant WM cells survival. Clinically, mitigation of BCR signaling with the first in class BTK inhibitor, ibrutinib, has shown promising results in WM and other B-cell cancers. However, clinical responses to the BTK inhibitor alone are less than optimal and development of ibrutinib-resistant disease is being recognized as an important and impending dilemma. We have previously shown the utility of disrupting pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein interactions in WM, chronic lymphocytic leukemia and multiple myeloma and that this functional interference results in re-sensitization (or heightened sensitivity) of tumor cells towards chemoimmunotherapy. As such, we examined the effects of ABT-199, a Bcl-2 specific small molecule inhibitor, in preclinical models of WM. Importantly; we conducted this investigation in proprietarily developed WM cells that have acquired resistance mechanisms towards either ibrutinib (IR WM subclones) or bortezomib (BR WM subclones). Materials:WM cell lines (BCWM.1, MWCL.1 and RPCI-WM1; WT cells) including their bortezomib resistant (BR) or ibrutinib resistant (IR) subclones were used in this study. Results: An initial comparison of Bcl-2 family members, Bcl-2, Mcl-1, BCL-xL, A1 (anti-apoptotic members), Noxa, Puma, Bim (pro-apoptotic initiators) and Bak and Bax (pro-apoptotic effectors), revealed that BR WM cells express increased levels of pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members, particularly Bcl-2, relative to WT cells. Similarly, A1 and Bcl-2 levels were up regulated in IR cell lines suggesting that the Bcl-2 mediated survival pathway is involved in resistance to both bortezomib and ibrutinib. Cell growth (MTS) assays using ABT-199 indicated that both BR and IR cells were equally sensitivity to Bcl-2 inhibition, with an IC50 ranging between 2 – 4mM. ABT-199 induced a dose dependent increase in MOMP with concomitant induction of apoptotic cell death, the latter confirmed by observation of PARP-1 cleavage. ABT-199 induced an intrinsic apoptotic program with the activation of caspase 9 and caspase 3 in all the cells tested. This data indicated the Bcl-2 pathway as being relevant and essential in WM cell lines even under drug resistant conditions. To evaluate the priming effect of ABT-199 on bortezomib and ibrutinib induced cell death, MTS assays were performed with these drugs in presence of IC25 concentrations of ABT-199. The addition of ABT-199 significantly reduced the IC50of both bortezomib and ibrutinib in WT, BR and IR cells. This suggested that re-sensitization of BR and IR cells towards either bortezomib or ibrutinib, respectively, was possible in presence of ABT-199. Further, combined addition of ABT-199 with bortezomib or ibrutinib showed synergistic cell death (combination index range: 0.004 – 0.6, CalcuSyn, Biosoft UK) in BR or IR WM cells, respectively. Conclusion: Dysregulation of Bcl-2 signaling is associated with the pathogenesis and promotion of drug resistance in B-cell cancers, including WM. Our report is first to highlight in WM preclinically, the antiproliferative effect of disrupting Bcl-2, through use of ABT-199. Altogether, our data suggests that therapeutic interference of Bcl-2 function with ABT-199 complements the anti-WM activity of ibrutinib or bortezomib in a synergistic manner and can in fact restore sensitivity of either drug in WM cells that are resistant to proteasome or BTK inhibitors. Focused mRNA and protein profiling analyses are currently underway to delineate the mechanisms accounting for synergy observed between concomitant Bcl-2/BTK inhibition as well Bcl-2/proteasome inhibition. Disclosures Ansell: Biothera: Research Funding. Martin:Janssen: Honoraria. Coleman:Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Millennium: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Speakers Bureau; Onyx: Speakers Bureau.

Abstract Abstract 3702 Background: Both drug choice and delivered dose of intended treatment potentially influence outcome in patients treated for follicular lymphoma (FL). Historically, observational studies have solely evaluated drug choice. The National LymphoCare Study (NLCS) is a prospective, observational study that enrolled >2700 patients with FL in the United States between 2004 and 2007. We report on measures of delivered dose and its impact on outcomes for the most common first-line regimens. Methods: All evaluable patients treated with R-CHOP, R-CVP, or R-fludarabine (R-Flu)–containing regimens in the NLCS were included, except those with FL plus other lymphoma histology, non-FL histology, or those who progressed before first treatment or before being assigned to watchful waiting. Associations between baseline factors and choice of treatment (R-CHOP, R-CVP, or R- Flu–containing regimen), number of cycles received (≤4, 5–6, 7+), and completion of therapy were assessed using the Pearson chi-square test. Factors associated with risk of early discontinuation were assessed using logistic regression, and a generalized logits model was used to assess the relationship between baseline factors and number of cycles received. Kaplan-Meier methods and the log-rank test were used to estimate progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and time to next treatment. Results: Among 1165 evaluable patients, a total of 648 received R-CHOP, 296 received R-CVP, and 221 received R-Flu combinations. Patient characteristics were similar between groups with the following exceptions: patients receiving R-CHOP were more likely to have grade 3 FL (38% vs 11% for R-CVP and 13% for R-Flu), and patients receiving R-CVP were older (25% ≥75 vs 8% for R-CHOP and 13% for R-Flu) and had higher Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI) risk scores (50% poor FLIPI vs 41% for R-CHOP and 36% for R-Flu). The distribution of delivered cycles demonstrated a high degree of compliance with published regimens, with most patients receiving ≥5 cycles of treatment (R-CHOP 86%, R-CVP 81%, R- Flu 67%, P<.0001). The median cycle length was 21 days for both R-CHOP and R-CVP, and 29 days for the R-Flu regimens. Cycle intensity, defined as the expected cycle length (21 days for R-CHOP and R-CVP, and 28 days for R-Flu) divided by the actual cycle length, was between 0.9 and 1.1 for 68% of R-CHOP patients, 75% of R-CVP patients, and 45% of R-Flu patients. The percentage of patients with longer-than-expected time between cycles (cycle intensity <0.9) was similar for the 3 treatment groups; however, R-Flu patients were more likely to have shorter-than-expected time between cycles (24% vs 4% for R-CHOP and 3% for R-CVP). We sought to understand the reasons for patients receiving ≤4 cycles. Most patients who received ≤4 cycles were considered to have completed the intended duration of therapy (58% for R-CHOP, 62% R-CVP, and 75% R-Flu); rates of early discontinuation from the intended treatment were significantly less for patients receiving ≥5 cycles. Early discontinuation was associated with age ≥75 years and treatment with R-Flu (particularly in patients with grade 1–2 FL). Toxicity was the most commonly cited reason for early discontinuation (47% for R-CHOP, 46% for R-CVP, and 71% for R-Flu). The higher rate of R-Flu discontinuation due to toxicity is consistent with findings from other studies. Disease progression was rarely cited as the reason for early discontinuation. Time to retreatment was significantly shorter for patients receiving ≤4 cycles for patients receiving R-CHOP and R-CVP compared with patients receiving 5–6 cycles and 7+ cycles (P=.002 and P<.001 respectively; medians not yet reached). Delivery of ≤4 treatment cycles was associated with lower response rates (76% CR/PR vs 90% for 5–6 cycles and 92% for 7+ cycles) and worse PFS and OS, among patients who received R-CVP (all P<.01) but not among other regimens. Conclusions: Most patients with FL receiving chemoimmunotherapy in the NLCS completed ≥5 cycles of treatment. Most who received fewer cycles were considered to have completed therapy, and therapy commonly was given at or above the expected cycle intensity. Strategies to improve dose delivery appear unlikely to impact patient outcomes, except possibly in patients receiving R-CVP. Disclosures: Martin: Genentech: Speakers Bureau. Link:Genentech: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Byrtek:Genentech: Employment. Dawson:Genentech, A Member of the Roche Group: Employment. Friedberg:Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Cerhan:Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Flowers:Genentech: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

SummaryBendamustine (B) with rituximab (R) is a standard frontline treatment for medically fit follicular lymphoma (FL) patients. The safety and efficacy of maintenance rituximab (MR) after BR induction has not been formally compared to observation for FL, resulting in disparate practice patterns. Prospective trials have shown benefit of MR after R‐CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) or R‐CVP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone), yet recent data from the GALLIUM study comparing outcomes of patients treated with chemotherapy with R or obinutuzumab (G) showed higher than anticipated fatal adverse events with BR/BG. In order to assess the efficacy and tolerability of MR after BR, we retrospectively collected data on 640 newly diagnosed patients treated with FL. We found that patients who achieved partial remission (PR) after ≥4 cycles of BR had improved duration of response (DOR) with MR vs. no maintenance, whereas those in complete remission did not. These findings were confirmed in a validation cohort. In the entire study population, the known fatal adverse event rate after BR was 2·5% and did not significantly differ in those receiving MR versus no maintenance. [Correction added on 14 January 2019, after online publication: The preceding sentence has been corrected in this current version.] Within the limitations inherent to retrospective analysis, these data suggest that FL patients with a PR to BR experience prolongation of remission with MR with an acceptable safety profile.

SummaryPrimary breast diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is a rare subtype of non‐Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) with limited data on pathology and outcome. A multicentre retrospective study was undertaken to determine prognostic factors and the incidence of central nervous system (CNS) relapses. Data was retrospectively collected on patients from 8 US academic centres. Only patients with stage I/II disease (involvement of breast and localized lymph nodes) were included. Histologies apart from primary DLBCL were excluded. Between 1992 and 2012, 76 patients met the eligibility criteria. Most patients (86%) received chemotherapy, and 69% received immunochemotherapy with rituximab; 65% received radiation therapy and 9% received prophylactic CNS chemotherapy. After a median follow‐up of 4·5 years (range 0·6–20·6 years), the Kaplan–Meier estimated median progression‐free survival was 10·4 years (95% confidence interval [CI] 5·8–14·9 years), and the median overall survival was 14·6 years (95% CI 10·2–19 years). Twelve patients (16%) had CNS relapse. A low stage‐modified International Prognostic Index (IPI) was associated with longer overall survival. Rituximab use was not associated with a survival advantage. Primary breast DLBCL has a high rate of CNS relapse. The stage‐modified IPI score is associated with survival.

BACKGROUNDDrug choice and delivered dose of treatment potentially influence outcome in patients treated for follicular lymphoma (FL). Historically, observational studies have evaluated drug choice. The National LymphoCare Study (NLCS) is a prospective, observational study of patients with FL who were enrolled at academic and community practice sites in the United States between 2004 and 2007. In the current study, the authors report on measures of delivered dose and its impact on outcomes for the most common first‐line regimens.METHODSAll evaluable patients with FL who were treated with initial rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R‐CHOP); rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (R‐CVP); or rituximab plus a fludarabine‐containing regimen (R‐Flu) were included. Associations between baseline factors, choice of treatment, number of cycles received, completion of therapy, and patient outcomes were assessed.RESULTSA total of 646 patients received R‐CHOP, 297 received R‐CVP, and 222 received R‐Flu. Characteristics were similar between the 3 groups with the following exceptions. Patients receiving R‐CHOP were more often found to have grade 3 FL and patients receiving R‐CVP were older and had higher Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index scores. The majority of patients (80%) received ≥ 5 cycles of treatment. Toxicity, but not disease progression, was commonly cited as the reason for the early discontinuation of treatment (51% vs 6%). Time to retreatment was shorter for patients receiving ≤ 4 cycles, regardless of the treatment regimen used. The number of cycles was associated with overall survival, progression‐free survival, and lymphoma‐related mortality for patients receiving R‐CVP.CONCLUSIONSThe majority of patients with FL receiving chemoimmunotherapy in the NLCS completed ≥ 5 cycles of treatment. Strategies to improve dose delivery appear unlikely to impact outcomes, except possibly in patients receiving R‐CVP. Although early treatment discontinuation appears to be associated with survival, this analysis does not implicate causality. Cancer 2013;119:4129–4136. © 2013 American Cancer Society.