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ImportanceAnthracycline-containing regimens are highly effective for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL); however, patients with preexisting heart failure (HF) may be less likely to receive anthracyclines and may be at higher risk of lymphoma mortality.ObjectiveTo assess the prevalence of preexisting HF in older patients with DLBCL and its association with treatment patterns and outcomes.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis longitudinal cohort study used data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)–Medicare registry from 1999 to 2016. The SEER registry is a system of population-based cancer registries, capturing more than 25% of the US population. Linkage to Medicare offers additional information from billing claims. This study included individuals 65 years and older with newly diagnosed DLBCL from 2000 to 2015 with Medicare Part A or B continuously in the year prior to lymphoma diagnosis. Data were analyzed from September 2020 to December 2022.ExposuresPreexisting HF in the year prior to DLBCL diagnosis ascertained from billing codes required one of the following: (1) 1 primary inpatient discharge diagnosis, (2) 2 outpatient diagnoses, (3) 3 secondary inpatient discharge diagnoses, (4) 3 emergency department diagnoses, or (5) 2 secondary inpatient discharge diagnoses plus 1 outpatient diagnosis.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcome was anthracycline-based treatment. The secondary outcomes were (1) cardioprotective medications and (2) cause-specific mortality. The associations between preexisting HF and cancer treatment were estimated using multivariable logistic regression. The associations between preexisting HF and cause-specific mortality were evaluated using cause-specific Cox proportional hazards models with adjustment for comorbidities and cancer treatment.ResultsOf 30 728 included patients with DLBCL, 15 474 (50.4%) were female, and the mean (SD) age was 77.8 (7.2) years. Preexisting HF at lymphoma diagnosis was present in 4266 patients (13.9%). Patients with preexisting HF were less likely to be treated with an anthracycline (odds ratio, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.49-0.61). Among patients with preexisting HF who received an anthracycline, dexrazoxane or liposomal doxorubicin were used in 78 of 1119 patients (7.0%). One-year lymphoma mortality was 41.8% (95% CI, 40.5-43.2) with preexisting HF and 29.6% (95% CI, 29.0%-30.1%) without preexisting HF. Preexisting HF was associated with higher lymphoma mortality in models adjusting for baseline and time-varying treatment factors (hazard ratio, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.18-1.31).Conclusions and RelevanceIn this study, preexisting HF in patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL was common and was associated with lower use of anthracyclines and lower use of any chemotherapy. Trials are needed for this high-risk population.

PURPOSE Brexucabtagene autoleucel (brexu-cel) is an autologous CD19-directed chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy approved for relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). This therapy was approved on the basis of the single-arm phase II ZUMA-2 trial, which showed best overall and complete response rates of 91% and 68%, respectively. We report clinical outcomes with brexu-cel in the standard-of-care setting for the approved indication. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients who underwent leukapheresis between August 1, 2020 and December 31, 2021, at 16 US institutions, with an intent to manufacture commercial brexu-cel for relapsed/refractory MCL, were included. Patient data were collected for analyses of responses, outcomes, and toxicities as per standard guidelines. RESULTS Of 189 patients who underwent leukapheresis, 168 (89%) received brexu-cel infusion. Of leukapheresed patients, 79% would not have met ZUMA-2 eligibility criteria. Best overall and complete response rates were 90% and 82%, respectively. At a median follow-up of 14.3 months after infusion, the estimates for 6- and 12-month progression-free survival (PFS) were 69% (95% CI, 61 to 75) and 59% (95% CI, 51 to 66), respectively. The nonrelapse mortality was 9.1% at 1 year, primarily because of infections. Grade 3 or higher cytokine release syndrome and neurotoxicity occurred in 8% and 32%, respectively. In univariable analysis, high-risk simplified MCL international prognostic index, high Ki-67, TP53 aberration, complex karyotype, and blastoid/pleomorphic variant were associated with shorter PFS after brexu-cel infusion. Patients with recent bendamustine exposure (within 24 months before leukapheresis) had shorter PFS and overall survival after leukapheresis in intention-to-treat univariable analysis. CONCLUSION In the standard-of-care setting, the efficacy and toxicity of brexu-cel were consistent with those reported in the ZUMA-2 trial. Tumor-intrinsic features of MCL, and possibly recent bendamustine exposure, may be associated with inferior efficacy outcomes.

Abstract Ovarian cancer is an immune reactive tumor with a complex suppressive network that blunts immune eradication. One putative pathway of evasion may be recruitment of CD4 regulatory T cells (Treg) into the tumor microenvironment. This study investigated the association of tumor infiltrating Tregs in ovarian cancer patients with poor survival. Methods: Immunofluorescence of intraepithelial CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ Tregs, CD3+ and CD8+ cells was performed in tumors of 52 ovarian cancer patients. Average and maximum count of cells were associated with survival via Cox regression models and summarized with hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results: The maximum counts of Tregs in these patients suggests an association between higher number of Tregs and poor clinical outcome (HR=1.48, CI=0.97, 2.28), although not statistically significant (p=0.07). Moreover, presence of high CD8/Treg ratio (HR=0.7, CI=0.53, 0.91; p=0.008) as well as high CD8/CD4 ratio (HR=0.76, CI=0.57, 1.0; p=0.05) appear to be associated with good outcome. The CD3 lymphocyte count was not associated with survival (HR=0.9, CI=0.66, 1.24; p=0.52). Conclusion: Although the present pilot study was conducted with a limited number of patients, our data suggests that higher numbers of infiltrating Tregs might be associated with poor survival and low CD8/Treg ratio may be correlated with improved survival in patients with epithelial ovarian carcinoma. We plan to confirm these results in a larger set of patients.

Abstract Background Transthyretin-mediated (ATTR) amyloidosis is a rapidly progressive, debilitating, and fatal disease caused by misfolded TTR accumulating in multiple organs and tissues. Patients with hereditary (hATTR) amyloidosis (also known as ATTRv amyloidosis) or wild-type (wtATTR) amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy exhibit decreased survival. Patisiran, an IV RNAi therapeutic that inhibits synthesis of wt and variant TTR, was approved for the treatment of hATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy. Exploratory analyses of a predefined cardiac subpopulation in the APOLLO study demonstrated the potential for patisiran to improve the manifestations of cardiomyopathy in patients with hATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy. Objective To investigate the safety and efficacy of patisiran in patients with ATTR amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy in the ongoing APOLLO-B study (NCT03997383). Material & Methods Patients were 18–85 years of age with evidence of cardiac amyloidosis by echocardiography (end-diastolic interventricular wall thickness >12 mm), and either ATTR amyloid deposition on tissue biopsy or fulfilling nonbiopsy diagnostic criteria for ATTR amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy. Patients had a medical history of heart failure (HF) due to ATTR amyloidosis with at least 1 prior hospitalization for HF, or current clinical evidence of HF. Patients were randomized (1:1) to receive patisiran IV 0.3 mg/kg or placebo Q3W for 12 months. After the double-blind, placebo-controlled period, all patients may receive patisiran in an open-label extension period for up to 36 months. The primary endpoint was change from baseline in 6-MWT at Month 12 with patisiran treatment, compared with placebo. Secondary endpoints evaluated the effect of patisiran vs placebo at Month 12 on QOL (KCCQ-OS score) as well as two sets of composite endpoints: 1) All-cause mortality, frequency of CV events (CV hospitalizations and urgent HF visits) and change from baseline in 6-MWT; and 2) All-cause mortality and frequency of all-cause hospitalizations and urgent HF visits. The pharmacodynamic effect of patisiran on serum TTR level (change from baseline through Month 12) was also assessed. Results & Discussion Enrollment completed (359 patients) in May 2021. About 80% of patients have wtATTR amyloidosis. Primary and secondary endpoint data will be presented, including change in 6-MWT and KCCQ-OS score at Month 12, in addition to safety data. Summary & Conclusion The primary results of the APOLLO-B study will inform the potential of patisiran as a treatment for the cardiomyopathy of ATTR amyloidosis. APOLLO-B will continue to investigate the efficacy and safety of patisiran on ATTR amyloidosis in an open-label extension period.

Abstract Background Hereditary transthyretin-mediated (hATTR) amyloidosis, also known as ATTRv amyloidosis, is a fatal, multisystem disease that presents with progressive polyneuropathy and/or cardiomyopathy. HELIOS-A (NCT03759379) assessed the efficacy of vutrisiran, an investigational RNA interference therapeutic, in patients with hATTR amyloidosis with polyneuropathy. Purpose To evaluate the effect of 18 months of vutrisiran treatment on exploratory cardiac endpoints in the HELIOS-A Phase 3 study. Methods Patients were randomised (3:1) to vutrisiran (25 mg SC, q3m) or patisiran (0.3 mg/kg IV, q3w), a reference comparator. The APOLLO placebo group (n=77) was an external control. Primary endpoint was change from baseline in the modified Neuropathy Impairment Score +7 (mNIS+7) at 9 months, vs. external placebo. Exploratory cardiac endpoints included change from baseline in NT-proBNP levels, echocardiography parameters, and technetium (Tc) scintigraphy parameters at 18 months. A prespecified cardiac subpopulation was included (baseline left ventricular wall thickness ≥1.3 cm and no medical history of aortic valve disease or hypertension). Results HELIOS-A enrolled 164 patients and the primary endpoint was met. In the cardiac subpopulation (n=40/122 vutrisiran; n=36/77 placebo), 18 months of vutrisiran treatment significantly improved NT-ProBNP levels vs. external placebo (adjusted geometric fold change ratio: 0.49; p=0.0004) and demonstrated a trend towards improvement in echocardiographic parameters vs. external placebo (including a significant difference in cardiac output [least squares mean difference: 0.41; p=0.043]). Of the 122 vutrisiran-treated patients, 99mTc scintigraphy assessment was captured for 64 vutrisiran-treated patients at baseline, 35 (54.7%) of whom had Perugini grade ≥2 (moderate/intense) cardiac uptake of 99mTc. Among patients with evaluable scintigraphy parameters repeated at 18 months (evaluable patients), heart-to-contralateral lung ratio and normalised LV total uptake on scintigraphy improved (decrease from baseline) in 64.6% (31/48) and 68.1% (32/47), respectively, at 18 months. Of the evaluable patients, 28.1% (16/57) had an improvement (reduction from baseline) in Perugini grade of cardiac uptake, 68.4% (39/57) had no change in grade, and 3.5% (2/57) worsened in grade. Of evaluable patients with baseline Perugini grade ≥2, the proportion with improvement in heart-to-contralateral lung ratio and normalised LV total uptake was 76.9% (20/26) and 100% (25/25) respectively. No cardiac safety concerns were identified with vutrisiran treatment. Conclusions In this exploratory analysis, vutrisiran treatment was associated with a positive impact on NT-ProBNP levels and echocardiographic parameters vs. external placebo in the cardiac subpopulation. Vutrisiran treatment also reduced cardiac uptake of 99mTc potentially suggesting reduction in cardiac amyloid, although the clinical significance of this is not yet clear.

Abstract The prognostic relevance of diagnosis to treatment interval (DTI) in patients with newly diagnosed mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is unknown. Hence, we sought to evaluate the impact of DTI on outcomes in MCL using 3 large datasets (1) the University of Iowa/Mayo Clinic Specialized Program of Research Excellence Molecular Epidemiology Resource, (2) patients enrolled in the ALL Age Asthma Cohort/CALGB 50403, and (3) a multisitecohort of patients with MCL. Patients were a priori divided into 2 groups, 0 to 14 days (short DTI) and 15 to 60 days (long DTI). The patients in whom observation was deemed appropriate were excluded. One thousand ninety-seven patients newly diagnosed with MCL and available DTI were included in the study. The majority (73%) had long DTI (n=797). Patients with short DTI had worse eastern cooperative oncology group performance status (ECOG PS ≥2), higher lactate dehydrogenase, bone marrow involvement, more frequent B symptoms, higher MCL International Prognostic Index (MIPI ≥6.2), and were less likely to receive intensive induction therapy than long DTI group. The median progression-free survival (2.5 years vs 4.8 years, p<0.0001) and overall survival (7.8 years vs. 11.8 years, p<0.0001) were significantly inferior in the short DTI group than the long DTI cohort and remained significant for progression-free survival and overall survival in multivariable analysis. We show that the DTI is an important prognostic factor in patients newly diagnosed with MCL and is strongly associated with adverse clinical factors and poor outcomes. DTI should be reported in all the patients newly diagnosed with MCL who are enrolling in clinical trials and steps must be taken to ensure selection bias is avoided.

PURPOSE The International Prognostic Score (IPS) has been used in classic Hodgkin lymphoma (cHL) for 25 years. However, analyses have documented suboptimal performance of the IPS among contemporarily treated patients. Harnessing multisource individual patient data from the Hodgkin Lymphoma International Study for Individual Care consortium, we developed and validated a modern clinical prediction model. METHODS Model development via Transparent Reporting of a multivariable prediction model for Individual Prognosis Or Diagnosis guidelines was performed on 4,022 patients with newly diagnosed advanced-stage adult cHL from eight international phase III clinical trials, conducted from 1996 to 2014. External validation was performed on 1,431 contemporaneously treated patients from four real-world cHL registries. To consider association over a full range of continuous variables, we evaluated piecewise linear splines for potential nonlinear relationships. Five-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models. RESULTS The median age in the development cohort was 33 (18-65) years; nodular sclerosis was the most common histology. Kaplan-Meier estimators were 0.77 for 5-year PFS and 0.92 for 5-year OS. Significant predictor variables included age, sex, stage, bulk, absolute lymphocyte count, hemoglobin, and albumin, with slight variation for PFS versus OS. Moreover, age and absolute lymphocyte count yielded nonlinear relationships with outcomes. Optimism-corrected c-statistics in the development model for 5-year PFS and OS were 0.590 and 0.720, respectively. There was good discrimination and calibration in external validation and consistent performance in internal-external validation. Compared with the IPS, there was superior discrimination for OS and enhanced calibration for PFS and OS. CONCLUSION We rigorously developed and externally validated a clinical prediction model in > 5,000 patients with advanced-stage cHL. Furthermore, we identified several novel nonlinear relationships and improved the prediction of patient outcomes. An online calculator was created for individualized point-of-care use.