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Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common type of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), comprises a heterogeneous group of diseases with different biology, clinical presentations, and response to treatment. R-CHOP remains the mainstay of therapy and can achieve long-term disease control in nearly 90% of patients presenting with limited-stage and in up to 60% of those presenting with advanced stages. Advances on the understanding of the genetic landscape and molecular features of DLBCL have identified high-risk subsets with poor outcomes to chemo-immunotherapy that are actively being studied in clinical trials. Novel therapies could potentially improve outcomes for patients with high-risk disease. Studies evaluating risk-adapted therapy based on classification by cell of origin (COO) and molecular features are ongoing. Developments in the fields of immunotherapy, mostly with adoptive T-cell therapy, have significantly improved the outcomes of patients with relapsed refractory disease. In this review, we will summarize the recent data and discuss ongoing efforts to improve DLBCL treatment in the frontline and relapsed refractory settings.

Importance Treatment options for Sezary syndrome (SS) are limited and associated with low response rates. Brentuximab vedotin is a CD30-directed antibody-drug conjugate approved for refractory CD30-positive cutaneous T-cell lymphoma. However, limited data exist on its efficacy in SS, including in the pivotal phase 3 ALCANZA (A Phase 3 Trial of Brentuximab Vedotin (SGN-35) Versus Physician’s Choice [Methotrexate or Bexarotene] in Participants With CD30-Positive Cutaneous T-Cell Lymphoma) trial. Objective To assess the preliminary efficacy and tolerability of brentuximab vedotin for SS. Design, Setting, and Participants From January 1, 2017, to July 31, 2020, a total of 13 patients with SS received brentuximab vedotin and were analyzed as part of a retrospective case series. Median follow-up was 10.4 months (range, 1.4-34.6 months). All patients were 18 years or older with a diagnosis of SS and with B2 blood involvement at the time brentuximab vedotin therapy was initiated. This single-center study was conducted at a major academic referral center. Interventions Intravenous brentuximab vedotin administration approximately every 3 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures The primary end point was the global response rate. Outcomes were assessed in the skin and lymph nodes per the 2011 European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer–International Society of Cutaneous Lymphoma response criteria and in the blood per the 2018 Prospective Cutaneous Lymphoma International Prognostic Index revised blood response criteria. Results The study included 13 patients (8 [62%] male; mean [SD] age, 68.2 [8.6] years). Of these 13 patients, 5 (38%) achieved a global response after a median of 6 cycles, including 1 complete response. Response rates by disease compartment were 38% in the skin, 63% in the blood, and 50% in the lymph nodes. Three of 11 patients (27%) with pruritus reported improvement. Skin CD30 positivity (>10%) was detected in 9 patients but was not associated with responses. Among responders, the median time to response was 6 weeks (range, 6-9 weeks), and the median duration of response was 5.5 months (range, 2.5-28.9 months). The median time to next treatment was 3.2 months (range, 1.5-36.7 months). Peripheral neuropathy occurred in 4 patients but resolved in 2 patients. Grade 2 adverse events were neuropathy (n = 2), constipation (n = 1), and hand-foot syndrome (n = 1). Conclusions and Relevance In this case series, brentuximab vedotin use was associated with some efficacy in SS across multiple disease compartments and in the setting of refractory disease or low CD30 skin expression. Brentuximab vedotin may offer a manageable treatment schedule and low incidence of significant toxic effects.

Summary Background Recognising that the immune suppressive microenvironment promotes tumour growth in Hodgkin lymphoma, we hypothesised that activating immunity might augment the activity of targeted chemotherapy. We evaluated the safety and activity of combinations of brentuximab vedotin with nivolumab or ipilimumab, or both in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma. Methods In this multicentre, open-label, phase 1/2 trial, patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma aged 18 years or older who had relapsed after at least one line of therapy, with an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 2 or lower, and adequate organ and marrow function, with no pulmonary dysfunction were eligible for inclusion. Phase 1 primary objectives were to determine the maximum tolerated dose and dose limiting toxicities of brentuximab vedotin combined with ipilimumab (ipilimumab group), nivolumab (nivolumab group), or both (triplet therapy group) using a 3 + 3 dose escalation design with expansion cohorts. During the dose escalation phase, patients were enrolled sequentially into one of six cohorts: in the ipilimumab group fixed brentuximab vedotin 1·8 mg/kg with ipilimumab 1 mg/kg (cohort A) or 3 mg/kg (cohort B); in the nivolumab group fixed nivolumab 3 mg/kg with brentuximab vedotin 1·2 mg/kg (cohort D) or 1·8 mg/kg (cohort E); and in the triplet therapy group fixed nivolumab 3 mg/kg and ipilimumab 1 mg/kg with brentuximab vedotin 1·2 mg/kg (cohort G) or 1·8 mg/kg (cohort H). Additional patients were enrolled in the expansion phase at the same doses of cohorts B, E, and H. All drugs were given intravenously; brentuximab vedotin and nivolumab were given every 3 weeks, ipilimumab was given every 6 weeks in the ipilimumab group and every 12 weeks in the triplet therapy group. All eligible and treated patients were included in the analysis. This phase 1/2 study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT01896999 . The phase 2, randomised portion of the trial is still enrolling. Findings Between March 7, 2014, and Dec 28, 2017, 64 patients were enrolled; two patients in the ipilimumab group and one patient in the nivolumab group were excluded due to ineligibility after enrolment and 61 were evaluable. A total of six dose limiting toxicities were reported in four patients, and the doses used in cohorts B, E, and H were established as maximum tolerated doses and patients were subsequently enrolled onto expansion cohorts (C, F, and I) with these schedules. There were ten (43%) grade 3–4 treatment related adverse events in the ipilimumab group, three (16%) in the nivolumab group, and 11 (50%) in the triplet therapy group including: eight (13%) of 64 patients reporting rash, and colitis, gastritis, pancreatitis and arthritis, and diabetic ketoacidosis each occurring in one (2%) patient. There were two (3%) treatment related deaths, one in the nivolumab group and one in the triplet therapy group. The overall response rate was 76% (95% CI 53–92) in the ipilimumab group, 89% (65–99) in the nivolumab group, and 82% (60–95) in the triplet therapy group, and the complete response rate was 57% (95% CI 34–78%) in the ipilimumab group, 61% (36–83%) in the nivolumab group, and 73% (50–89%) in the triplet therapy group. With a median follow-up of 2·6 years (IQR 1·8–2·9) in the ipilimumab group, 2·4 years (2·2–2·6) in the nivolumab group, and 1·7 years (1·6–1·9) in the triplet therapy group, median progression-free survival is 1·2 years (95% CI 1·7–not reached) in the ipilimumab group, but was not reached in the other two treatment groups. Median overall survival has not been reached in any of the groups. Interpretation There are clear differences in activity and toxicity of the three combination regimens. The tolerability and preliminary activity for the two most active regimens, brentuximab vedotin with nivolumab and the triplet therapy, are being compared in a randomised phase 2 trial ( NCT01896999 ). Funding Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group–American College of Radiology Imaging Network and the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health.

Background Targeted therapies and checkpoint blockade therapy (CBT) have shown efficacy for patients with Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) in the relapsed and refractory (R/R) setting, but once discontinued due to progression or side effects, it is unclear how successful further therapies will be. Moreover, there is no data on optimal sequencing of these treatments with standard therapies and other novel agents. In a multicenter, retrospective analysis we investigated whether exposure to CBT could sensitize HL to subsequent therapy. Materials and methods Seventeen centers across the US and Canada retrospectively queried medical records for eligible patients. The primary aim was to evaluate the overall response rate (ORR) to post-CBT treatment using the Lugano criteria. Secondary aims included progression free survival (PFS), duration of response (DOR), and overall survival (OS). Results Eighty-one patients were included. Seventy-two percent had stage 3-4 disease, and the population was heavily pretreated with a median of 4 therapies before CBT. Most patients (65%) discontinued CBT due to progression. The ORR to post-CBT therapy was 62%, with a median PFS of 6.3 months and median OS of 21 months. Post-CBT treatment regimens consisted of chemotherapy (44%), targeted agents (19%), immunotherapy (15%), transplant conditioning (14%), chemotherapy/targeted combination (7%), and clinical trials (1%). No significant difference in OS was found when stratified by post-CBT regimen. Conclusion In a heavily pretreated R/R HL population, CBT may sensitize patients to subsequent treatment, even after progression on CBT. Post-CBT regimen category did not impact OS. This may be a novel treatment strategy, which warrants further investigation in prospective clinical trials. Implications for practice Relapsed and refractory (R/R) Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) presents a clinical challenge, and better treatment strategies are greatly desired to prevent these patients from ultimately succumbing to their disease. The results of this multicenter analysis concur with a smaller, earlier report that checkpoint blockade therapy usage in R/R HL may sensitize patients their subsequent treatment. This approach may potentially be used to extend the number of options patients have or to bridge them to transplant. Prospective data is warranted prior to practice implementation. As more work is done in this area, we may also be able to optimize sequencing of CBT and novel agents in the treatment paradigm to minimize treatment-related toxicity and thus improve patient quality of life.

The association of warm autoimmune hemolytic anemia (wAIHA) with various lymphoproliferative disorders is well reported in the literature. But the association of wAIHA with T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL), a very rare lymphoproliferative disorder, has never been reported. A 71-year-old man was in his usual state of health until three years ago when he developed intermittent bouts of worsening anemia associated with mild peripheral blood lymphocytosis. He was diagnosed with wAIHA and steroid therapy was initiated, resulting in an improvement in the hemoglobin level of the patient. His lymphocyte count remained persistently elevated but he did not develop any malignancy-related signs or symptoms. A diagnosis of 'indolent' T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (small cell variant) was made by combining distinctive clinical, morphologic, immunophenotypic, and cytogenetic analysis. His wAIHA went into complete remission and steroid therapy was successfully tapered off. He has not required any treatment for his T-PLL during the last two years' follow-up.

There is a paucity of data regarding outcomes and response to standard therapy in patients with limited-stage (LS) agressive B-cell lymphoma (LS-ABCL) who harbor MYC rearrangement (MYC-R) with or without BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements. We conducted a multicenter retrospective study of MYC-R LS-ABCL patients who received either rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP), or more intensive immunochemotherapy (IIC) plus or minus consolidative involved-field radiation therapy (IFRT). One hundred four patients from 15 academic centers were included. Forty four patients (42%) received R-CHOP, of whom 52% had IFRT. Sixty patients (58%) received IIC, of whom 40% had IFRT. Overall response rate was 91% (84% complete response [CR]; 7% partial response). Patients with double-hit lymphoma (DHL; n = 40) had a lower CR rate compared with patients with MYC-R only (75% vs 98%; P = .003). CR rate was higher in the IFRT vs no-IFRT group (98% vs 72%; P < .001). Median follow-up was 3.2 years; 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) and overal survival (OS) were 78% and 86% for the entire cohort, and 74% and 81% for the DHL patients, respectively. PFS and OS were similar across treatment groups (IFRT vs no IFRT, R-CHOP vs IIC) in the entire cohort and in DHL patients. Our data provide a historical benchmark for MYC-R LS-ABCL and LS-DHL patients and show that outcomes for this population may be better than previously recognized. There was no benefit of using IIC over R-CHOP in patients with MYC-R LS-ABCL and LS-DHL.

Background: Early reports suggested that cancer patients have a 1.7-fold increased risk of contracting SARS-CoV-2 and higher rates of severe events and mortality compared with general population. Patients with hematologic malignancies may have worse COVID-19 outcomes, due to an impaired humoral immune response from their underlying malignancy and concurrent anticancer therapy. In this multi-center, retrospective, observational study, we evaluate the associations of COVID-19 outcomes with patient and lymphoma disease characteristics. Methods: EMRs at 10 study centers across the USA identified 519 patients with a diagnosis of lymphoma, CLL, or other lymphoid malignancies, who had a documented positive result of SARS-CoV-2 PCR or nucleocapsid antibody testing. Descriptive statistics were used to summarize the demographic and clinical characteristics. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the associations of individual characteristics with COVID-19 outcomes, adjusted for center (NYU vs. other). The interactions between each of the variables was also included in these models; since the interactions were generally small and non-significant, only the main effect of center was included. Two-sided p-values ≤0.05 were considered significant; there were no adjustments for multiple variables or endpoints. Each analysis was based on complete data for that analysis. Results: Tables 1 and 2 provide demographic and clinical characteristics, respectively, of the 519 patients. The mean age was 61.9 years, with 296 (57%) male and 374 (72%) white patients. NYU had the largest cohort (318 patients), with the remaining centers contributing a range of 3 to 69 patients (median 14). Logistic regression models for the association of each COVID-19 outcome with individual clinical and patient characteristics included adjustments for the center (NYU/other). While center effects were statistically significant, center by covariate interaction effects were not and are not included in the final models. The odds ratio (OR) estimates and p-values for each patient and CLL/lymphoma clinical variable are shown in Tables 3 and 4, respectively. The risks of experiencing a severe event, death, and hospital admission increased with age; for each 10 years of age increase, the ORs were 1.58 for experiencing severe events, 1.78 for death, and 1.65 for hospital admission. The risks of poor outcome were higher in males than in females (OR 1.93 for severe events, 1.85 for death, and 1.47 for hospital admission). Patients with Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) >5 had a higher risk of severe events (OR 2.46), mortality (3.30) and hospital admission (2.73) compared to patients with CCI ≤5. Compared to patients with HL, patients with aggressive NHL had a higher risk of severe events (OR 4.05), mortality (4.68) and hospital admission (4.65). Patients with CLL similarly had a higher risk of severe events (OR 4.64), mortality (4.65) and hospital admission (5.93) compared to HL patients. Patients with indolent NHL had a higher risk of hospital admission (OR 3.95) but not a higher risk of mortality compared to HL. Patients in remission at the time of COVID-19 diagnosis had a lower risk of severe events (OR 0.42), mortality (0.36) and hospital admission (0.40) relative to those who were not in remission. Patients who received cytotoxic chemotherapy within 28 days of their COVID-19 diagnosis had a higher risk of severe events (OR 2.54), mortality (2.79), and hospital admission (2.31). Patients who received an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody within 6 months of COVID-19 diagnosis had a higher risk of severe events (OR 2.60), mortality (2.17) and hospital admission (3.28). Conclusions: In addition to demographic and comorbidity risk factors identified in previous studies, our study shows that patients with aggressive NHL and CLL, or patients who have received recent cytotoxic chemotherapy or anti-CD20 mAB, may be at risk for poor COVID-19 outcome. The difference in risk between NHL and HL patients is likely associated with young age of HL patients but may also be related to differences in underlying innate and adaptive immune defects. Patients at high risk for poor outcome should be a priority for studies of monoclonal antibody prophylaxis. If defects in humoral immunity are at the root of poor outcome, this may be compounded by poor response to vaccination. Multivariate analysis of this data will be completed in advance of the meeting. Figure 1 Figure 1. Disclosures Olszewski: Celldex Therapeutics: Research Funding; PrecisionBio: Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Acrotech Pharma: Research Funding; Genentech, Inc.: Research Funding; Genmab: Research Funding. Barta: Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria; Seagen: Honoraria; Acrotech: Honoraria; Kyowa Kirin: Honoraria. Hernandez-Ilizaliturri: AbbVie: Other: Advisory Boards; Incyte: Other: Advisory Boards; Celgene: Other: Advisory Boards; BMS: Other: Advisory Boards; Pharmacyclics: Other: Advisory Boards; Amgen: Other: Advisory Boards; Kite: Other: Advisory Boards; Gilead: Other: Advisory Boards; Epyzime: Other: Advisory Boards. Leslie: Janssen: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Merck: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Epizyme: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; PCYC/Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Seagen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Celgene/BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy; BeiGene: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Karyopharm Therapeutics: Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau; Pharmacyclics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Speakers Bureau. Diefenbach: Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Merck Sharp & Dohme: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Morphosys: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Genentech, Inc./ F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Perlmutter Cancer Center at NYU Langone Health: Current Employment; Incyte: Research Funding; AbbVie: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; IGM Biosciences: Research Funding; IMab: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding; Gilead: Current equity holder in publicly-traded company; MEI: Consultancy, Research Funding; Celgene: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding.

Integrin αEβ7 (CD103) can interact with E-cadherin and promote T cell retention in epithelial tissue. However, whether the expression of CD103 on chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cells may augment T cell anti-tumor activity remains unknown. Using a preclinical model, we demonstrate that CD103 engineering of human CAR-T cells significantly improves their therapeutic effects on eliminating pre-established E-cadherin expressing tumor cells in immune deficient NOD.scid.Il2Rγcnull (NSG) mice. Human T cells that were engineered with CAR containing 4-1BB and CD3zeta intracellular signaling domains (named BBz) expressed reduced level of CD103 in mice model. Ex vivo assays confirmed the effect of 4-1BB on repressing CD103 expression in CAR-T cells. On the other hand, we generated CD103 expressing CAR-T cells by introducing the αE gene into the CAR structure (named CD103-BBz CAR-T cells). As compared to BBz CAR-T cells, CD103-BBz CAR-T cells produced higher levels of IL-2 and underwent greater expansion in cultures and acquired greater capacity to control the growth and metastasis of E-cadherin expressing lymphoma cells in NSG mice. This effect of CD103-BBz CAR-T cells was associated with their increased capacity to infiltrate into the tumor and persist in vivo, leading to significantly improved overall survival of lymphoma mice. Our findings suggest that engineering tumor-reactive T cells with CD103 may represent a novel strategy to improve adoptive T cells anti-tumor efficacy, and this strategy may have broad implication in the epithelial solid tumor treatment.HighlightsCAR-T cells with 4-1BB costimulatory domain express reduced level of CD1034-1BB signaling antagonist TGF-β1 induced CD103 expressionEctopically expression of CD103 on CAR-T cells enhanced their anti-E-cadherin positive tumor capacityGraphical Abstract:Graphic Summary: The co-stimulatory molecule 4-1BB within the CAR protein potently suppresses CD103 expression. Engineering CAR-T cells with CD103 significantly enhances their capacity to proliferate and infiltrate into the solid tumor, leading to augmented anti-tumor immunity.

Purpose Patients with double-hit lymphoma (DHL) rarely achieve long-term survival following disease relapse. Some patients with DHL undergo consolidative autologous stem-cell transplantation (autoSCT) to reduce the risk of relapse, although the benefit of this treatment strategy is unclear. Methods Patients with DHL who achieved first complete remission following completion of front-line therapy with either rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) or intensive front-line therapy, and deemed fit for autoSCT, were included. A landmark analysis was performed, with time zero defined as 3 months after completion of front-line therapy. Patients who experienced relapse before or who were not followed until that time were excluded. Results Relapse-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) rates at 3 years were 80% and 87%, respectively, for all patients (n = 159). Three-year RFS and OS rates did not differ significantly for autoSCT (n = 62) versus non-autoSCT patients (n = 97), but 3-year RFS was inferior in patients who received R-CHOP compared with intensive therapy (56% v 88%; P = .002). Three-year RFS and OS did not differ significantly for patients in the R-CHOP or intensive therapy cohorts when analyzed by receipt of autoSCT. The median OS following relapse was 8.6 months. Conclusion In the largest reported series, to our knowledge, of patients with DHL to achieve first complete remission, consolidative autoSCT was not associated with improved 3-year RFS or OS. In addition, patients treated with R-CHOP experienced inferior 3-year RFS compared with those who received intensive front-line therapy. When considered in conjunction with reports of patients with newly diagnosed DHL, which demonstrate lower rates of disease response to R-CHOP compared with intensive front-line therapy, our findings further support the use of intensive front-line therapy for this patient population.

The outcomes of patients with DLBCL and primary treatment failure (PTF) in the rituximab era are unclear. We analyzed 331 patients with PTF, defined as primary progression while on upfront chemoimmunotherapy (PP), residual disease at the end of upfront therapy (RD) or relapse

Adult T-cell leukemia lymphoma (ATLL) acute and lymphoma subtypes have a poor prognosis, with median survival of about one year. The malignant cells are characterized by high levels of nuclear factor kappa B (NFkappaB). In order to improve therapy, we assessed the safety, tolerance, and efficacy of a combination of dose-adjusted EPOCH chemotherapy (etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin), combined with proteasome inhibitor, bortezomib, to prevent degradation of the inhibitor of NFkappaB (IkappaB). In addition, integrase inhibitor, raltegravir, was added to the regimen to block virus replication occurring during treatment. This multicenter study enrolled 18 of 20 planned subjects over 2.5 yrs in the U.S., although 15 of the subjects were born in the Caribbean. Six subjects had acute ATLL, and the remainder lymphoma subtype, all but one with stage 4 disease. Therapy was well tolerated; subjects received 1-6 cycles of therapy (mean 4.5 cycles). Two subjects achieved complete remission lasting for >12 mos, 10 subjects had a partial remission, and 3 subjects had stable disease as their best response. Baseline calcium level, absolute lymphocyte count, and proviral DNA load were not predictive of response. Correlations with proviral expression, integration site, and integrase gene analyses will be presented. Supported by NIH grants CA94056, CA1730, CA63413, Lymphoma Leukemia Society grant 6067-10, and Lymphoma Research Foundation grant 307181203. Authors’ details Division of Oncology, Washington University, St Louis, MO, USA. University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA. Lymphoma & Hematology Division, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA. Divisions of Hematology-Oncology, Montefiore Hospital, New York, NY, USA. Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. Division of Hematologic Malignancies, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD, USA. NINDS, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.