Search

Background: Rituximab (RTX) alone or in combination with chemotherapy has substantially improved treatment outcomes for patients (pts) with marginal zone lymphoma (MZL), but relapse is common and not all pts are acceptable candidates for, or respond to, current salvage therapies. Umbralisib is a novel, next-generation PI3K-delta inhibitor with unique inhibition of casein kinase-1ϵ (CK1ϵ) and, compared to earlier generation PI3K-delta inhibitors, exhibits a differentiated tolerability profile with reduced rates of immune-mediated toxicity (Burris et al, 2018). This registration-directed study evaluates the efficacy and safety of umbralisib in pts with relapsed/refractory (R/R) MZL. Methods: Pts had histologically confirmed MZL, ECOG PS ≤2, and had previously received ≥1 prior therapy including at least one CD20 monoclonal antibody (mAb)-containing regimen. All pts received umbralisib 800 mg orally once daily until progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary study endpoint was overall response rate (ORR) as assessed by an independent review committee (IRC) according to 2007 IWG criteria. ORR by investigator assessment is reported here, and ORR by IRC is forthcoming. Secondary endpoints included duration of response (DOR), progression-free survival (PFS), and safety. Results: Sixty-nine pts were enrolled; we report on the first 38 who are eligible for at least 6 months (mos) of follow-up as of the data cutoff date. Disease status for the 38 pts: extranodal (n=23), nodal (n=8), and splenic (n=7). Median age was 67 years (range, 34-81). Median number of prior systemic therapies was 2 (range, 1-5). Seven pts (18%) had received monotherapy RTX only, and 26 (68%) had received at least one CD20 mAb-containing chemoimmunotherapy. As of the cut-off date, the median follow-up was 9.6 mos. Per investigator assessment, ORR was 55% (4 CRs and 17 PRs), 29% of pts (n=11) had stable disease (SD) of which 6 of these SD pts remain on study with durations ranging from 7-12+ mos. The clinical benefit rate (CR+PR+SD) was 84%, and 91% of pts with at least 1 post-baseline assessment experienced tumor reductions. The median time to initial response was 2.7 mos, while the median DOR was not reached (95% CI: 8.4-not reached). The 12-month PFS was 71%. The most common (≥20%) adverse events (AE) of any grade included: diarrhea (45%), nausea (29%), fatigue (26%), headache (26%), cough (24%), and decreased appetite (21%). The most common Grade 3/4 events were neutropenia (8%), febrile neutropenia (5%), and diarrhea (5%). As of the cutoff date, 16 pts discontinued treatment (PD: 18%; AEs: 8%; pt decision: 8%; physician decision: 8%) and 58% continue treatment. Conclusions: PI3K-delta inhibition with single-agent umbralisib is active and well tolerated in pts with R/R MZL, achieving durable responses with chemotherapy-free therapy. Citation Format: Nathan H. Fowler, Felipe Samaniego, Wojciech Jurczak, Ewa Lech-Maranda, Nilanjan Ghosh, Bertrand Anz, Piers Patten, James A. Reeves, Lori A. Leslie, Piotr Smolewski, Julio C. Chavez, Paolo Ghia, Corrado Tarella, John M. Burke, Jeff Sharman, Kathryn Kolibaba, Owen A. O'Connor, Chan Y. Cheah, Hari P. Miskin, Peter Sportelli, Michael S. Weiss, Pier Luigi Zinzani. Umbralisib monotherapy demonstrates efficacy and safety in patients with relapsed/refractory marginal zone lymphoma: A multicenter, open-label, registration directed Phase II study [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2019; 2019 Mar 29-Apr 3; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(13 Suppl):Abstract nr CT132.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) cells rapidly undergo apoptosis in vitro, suggesting that the in vivo microenvironment provides crucial antiapoptotic signals. Overexpression of the antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2 and Mcl-1 is a hallmark of CLL, and their expression is further enhanced in the lymphoid tissues. However, the high levels of Mcl-1 found in peripheral blood samples, coupled with its short half-life, led us to hypothesize that it must be actively maintained in the peripheral circulation. Coculture of CLL cells with human vascular endothelial cells significantly enhanced tumor cell survival, an effect that was not observed with normal B cells. This was associated with elevated levels of the antiapoptotic proteins Bcl-2, Mcl-1, and Bcl-XL and marked increased expression of CD38 and CD49d, both of which are associated with clinically aggressive disease. Because CD38, CD49d, and some Bcl-2 family genes are transcriptional targets for NF-κB, we assessed NF-κB activation following coculture with endothelial cells. DNA binding of the NF-κB subunit Rel A was significantly increased and strongly correlated with changes in transcription of CD38, CD49d, BCL2, MCL1, and BCLXL, effects that were reversed by a peptide inhibitor of Rel A. These effects were not observed following coculture with nonendothelial cell lines. Therefore, CLL cells receive specific survival signals following interaction with endothelial cells mediated through the activation of NF-κB and the induction of downstream target genes. This type of interaction in the peripheral vasculature may explain the constitutive NF-κB activation and the overexpression of Bcl-2 family proteins commonly seen in this disease. Cancer Res; 70(19); 7523–33. ©2010 AACR.