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Radioimmunotherapy versus autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in relapse/refractory follicular lymphoma: a Fondazione Italiana Linfomi multicenter, randomized, phase 3 trial
Ladetto, M., Tavarozzi, R., Zanni, M., Evangelista, A., Ferrero, S., Tucci, A., Botto, B., Bolis, S., Volpetti, S., Zilioli, V. R., et al
Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology. 2023
Abstract
BACKGROUND Optimal consolidation for young patients with relapsed/refractory (R/R) follicular lymphoma (FL) remains uncertain in the rituximab era, with an unclear benefit of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT). The multicenter, randomized, phase 3 FLAZ12 (NCT01827605) trial compared anti-CD20 radioimmunotherapy (RIT) to ASCT as consolidation after chemoimmunotherapy, both followed by rituximab maintenance (RM). PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients (age 18-65 years) with R/R FL and without significant comorbidities were enrolled and treated with three courses of conventional, investigator-chosen chemoimmunotherapies. Those experiencing at least a partial response were randomized 1:1 to ASCT or RIT before CD34+ collection, and all received post-consolidation RM. Progression-free survival (PFS) was the primary endpoint. The target sample size was 210 (105/group). RESULTS During Aug 2012-Sept 2019, of 164 screened patients, 159 were enrolled (median age 57 [49-62] years, 55% male, 57% stage IV, 20% bulky disease). The study was closed prematurely because of low accrual. Data were analyzed on June 8, 2023, on an intention-to-treat basis, with a 77-month median follow-up from enrollment. Of 141 patients (89%), 70 were randomized to ASCT and 71 to RIT. Estimated 3-yrs PFS in both groups was 62% (HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.69-1.80, P = 0.6662). Three-year overall survival also was similar between the two groups. Rates of grade ≥3 hematological toxicity were 94% with ASCT vs 46% with RIT (P < 0.001), and grade ≥3 neutropenia occurred in 94% vs 41%, respectively (P < 0.001). Second cancers occurred in nine patients after ASCT and three after radioimmunotherapy (P = 0.189). CONCLUSION Even if prematurely discontinued, our study did not demonstrate superiority of ASCT vs RIT. ASCT was more toxic and demanding for patients and health service. Both strategies yielded similar, favorable long-term outcomes, suggesting that consolidation programs milder than ASCT require further investigation in R/R FL.
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High Levels of Circulating Tumor Plasma Cells as a Key Hallmark of Aggressive Disease in Transplant-Eligible Patients With Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma
Bertamini, L., Oliva, S., Rota-Scalabrini, D., Paris, L., Morè, S., Corradini, P., Ledda, A., Gentile, M., De Sabbata, G., Pietrantuono, G., et al
Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 2022;:Jco2101393
Abstract
PURPOSE High levels of circulating tumor plasma cells (CTC-high) in patients with multiple myeloma are a marker of aggressive disease. We aimed to confirm the prognostic impact and identify a possible cutoff value of CTC-high for the prediction of progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), in the context of concomitant risk features and minimal residual disease (MRD) achievement. METHODS CTC were analyzed at diagnosis with two-tube single-platform flow cytometry (sensitivity 4 × 10(-5)) in patients enrolled in the multicenter randomized FORTE clinical trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02203643). MRD was assessed by second-generation multiparameter flow cytometry (sensitivity 10(-5)). We tested different cutoff values in series of multivariate (MV) Cox proportional hazards regression analyses on PFS outcome and selected the value that maximized the Harrell's C-statistic. We analyzed the impact of CTC on PFS and OS in a MV analysis including baseline features and MRD negativity. RESULTS CTC analysis was performed in 401 patients; the median follow-up was 50 months (interquartile range, 45-54 months). There was a modest correlation between the percentage of CTC and bone marrow plasma cells (r = 0.38). We identified an optimal CTC cutoff of 0.07% (approximately 5 cells/µL, C-index 0.64). In MV analysis, CTC-high versus CTC-low patients had significantly shorter PFS (hazard ratio, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.49 to 2.97, P < .001; 4-year PFS 38% v 69%) and OS (hazard ratio, 2.61; 95% CI, 1.49 to 4.56; P < .001; 4-year OS 68% v 92%). The CTC levels, but not the bone marrow plasma cell levels, affected the outcome. The only factor that reduced the negative impact of CTC-high was the achievement of MRD negativity (interaction P = .039). CONCLUSION In multiple myeloma, increasing levels of CTC above an optimal cutoff represent an easy-to-assess, robust, and independent high-risk factor. The achievement of MRD negativity is the most important factor that modulates their negative prognostic impact.
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Randomized Trial Comparing R-CHOP Versus High-Dose Sequential Chemotherapy in High-Risk Patients With Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphomas
Cortelazzo, S., Tarella, C., Gianni, A. M., Ladetto, M., Barbui, A. M., Rossi, A., Gritti, G., Corradini, P., Di Nicola, M., Patti, C., et al
Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2016;34(33):4015-4022
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Abstract
Purpose The benefit of high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) as first-line treatment in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphomas is still a matter of debate. To address this point, we designed a randomized phase III trial to compare rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP)-14 (eight cycles) with rituximab plus high-dose sequential chemotherapy (R-HDS) with ASCT. Patients and Methods From June 2005 to June 2011, 246 high-risk patients with a high-intermediate (56%) or high (44%) International Prognostic Index score were randomly assigned to the R-CHOP or R-HDS arm, and 235 were analyzed by intent to treat. The primary efficacy end point of the study was 3-year event-free survival, and results were analyzed on an intent-to-treat basis. Results Clinical response (complete response, 78% v 76%; partial response, 5% v 9%) and failures (no response, 15% v 11%; and early treatment-related mortality, 2% v 3%) were similar after R-CHOP versus R-HDS, respectively. After a median follow-up of 5 years, the 3-year event-free survival was 62% versus 65% ( P = .83). At 3 years, compared with the R-CHOP arm, the R-HDS arm had better disease-free survival (79% v 91%, respectively; P = .034), but this subsequently vanished because of late-occurring treatment-related deaths. No difference was detected in terms of progression-free survival (65% v 75%, respectively; P = .12), or overall survival (74% v 77%, respectively; P = .64). Significantly higher hematologic toxicity ( P < .001) and more infectious complications ( P < .001) were observed in the R-HDS arm. Conclusion In this study, front-line intensive R-HDS chemotherapy with ASCT did not improve the outcome of high-risk patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.