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Although an expanding array of effective treatments has resulted in recent improvement in survival of patients with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), outcomes remain heterogeneous, and identification of prognostic factors remains a priority. We assessed the prognostic impact of time to progression of disease (POD) after first-line therapy among 455 patients with relapsed MCL. Patients were categorized by duration of first remission as PRF/POD6, defined as progressive disease during induction or POD within 6 months of diagnosis (n = 65; 14%); POD6-24, defined as POD between 6 and 24 months after diagnosis (n = 153; 34%); and POD>24, defined as POD >24 months after diagnosis (n = 237; 53%). The median overall survival from POD (OS2) was 1.3 years (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.9-2.4) for patients with PRF/POD6, 3 years (95% CI, 2-6.8) for those with POD6-24, and 8 years (95% CI, 6.2-NR) for those with POD>24. Median OS2 was inferior in patients with early POD (defined as PRF/POD6 or POD6-24) after both intensive and less intensive frontline treatment. The prognostic performance of time until POD was replicated in an independent cohort of 245 patients with relapsed MCL, with median OS2 of 0.3 years (95% CI, 0.1-0.5) for PRF/POD6, 0.8 years (95% CI, 0.6-0.9) for POD6-24, and 2.4 years (95% CI 2.1-2.7) for POD>24. Early POD is associated with inferior OS2 in patients with relapsed MCL, identifying a high-risk population for future prospective studies.

BackgroundAlthough many patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) undergo routine radiographic surveillance during their first remission, no consensus exists on the modality, duration, frequency, or need for routine imaging studies. The authors retrospectively examined the effect of surveillance imaging on relapse detection and overall survival (OS) in patients with FL.MethodsPatients with newly diagnosed FL who had a response to induction therapy were identified from the Lymphoid Malignancies Enterprise Architecture Database (LEAD) at Emory University and from the Molecular Epidemiology Resource (MER) of the University of Iowa/Mayo Clinic. Patients were evaluated for both relapse and method of relapse detection (ie, clinical concerns vs radiologic detection through surveillance imaging in an asymptomatic patient).ResultsOf 148 patients in the LEAD cohort, 55 (37%) relapsed, and the majority (n = 35; 64%) of relapses were detected clinically. In the MER cohort, 63 of 177 relapses (54%) were detected clinically. There was no significant difference in OS from the date of diagnosis between the 2 methods of relapse detection in the LEAD (hazard ratio [HR], 0.61; 95% CI, 0.13-2.94; P = .54) and MER (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.47-2.21; P = .96) cohorts. Similarly, there was no significant difference in OS from the date of relapse between the 2 methods of relapse detection in the LEAD (HR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.10-2.27; P = .35) and MER (HR, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.47-2.21; P = .96) cohorts.ConclusionsThese findings suggest a limited role for routine surveillance imaging in patients with FL who complete front-line therapy. Future studies should evaluate which patients may benefit from a more aggressive surveillance approach and should explore novel methods of relapse detection.

Objective: We report patient-reported outcomes (PROs) measuring health-related quality of life (HRQoL) from the ROSEWOOD trial (NCT03332017), which demonstrated superior efficacy and a manageable safety profile with zanubrutinib plus obinutuzumab (ZO) versus obinutuzumab (O) in patients with heavily pretreated relapsed/refractory follicular lymphoma (R/R FL). Methods: PROs were assessed using the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire – Core 30 (EORTC QLQ-C30) and EQ-5D-5L questionnaires at baseline and subsequently every 12 weeks. All QLQ-C30 domains and EQ-5D-5L visual analog scale (VAS) scores were analyzed descriptively. At the key clinical timepoints (weeks 12 and 24), a mixed model for repeated measures (MMRM) analysis was used to evaluate the key PRO endpoints, including global health status, physical and role functioning, and symptoms of fatigue, pain, diarrhea, and nausea/vomiting. Clinically meaningful change was defined as a ≥ 5-point mean difference from baseline and between the ZO and O arms. Results: Patients were randomized to ZO (n = 145) or O (n = 72). By week 48, descriptive analysis results indicated that patients in the ZO arm demonstrated improved outcomes in role functioning and fatigue and nausea/vomiting symptoms, compared with those in the O arm. Both groups experienced improvements in pain symptoms. EQ-5D-5L VAS scores showed no observable differences between treatment arms through week 48. MMRM analysis revealed that the global health status/quality of life of patients treated with ZO improved, as did fatigue, at week 12. At week 24, patients in the ZO arm experienced a clinically meaningful improvement in role functioning, pain, and fatigue. Conclusions: In patients with R/R FL, ZO was associated with improved PROs compared with O. These findings suggest that zanubrutinib contributed clinically meaningful benefits to patient HRQoL when added to obinutuzumab. Trial registration: The ROSEWOOD trial is registered on ClinicalTrials.gov (BGB-3111-212; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03332017). PLAIN LANGUAGE SUMMARY: Follicular lymphoma (or FL) is a common blood cancer where abnormal white blood cells form lumps in organs and glands in the body that normally help fight infection (lymph nodes). Zanubrutinib selectively blocks Bruton tyrosine kinase, which can prevent cancer cells growing and lead to their death. Obinutuzumab binds to a protein called CD20 on cancer cells, facilitating their removal using the body's natural defense system. Previous results from the ROSEWOOD trial showed that zanubrutinib plus obinutuzumab had improved cancer-fighting effects versus obinutuzumab alone, with manageable side effects in patients whose cancer returned after treatment or when treatment had failed. This study examined how these two cancer treatments impacted the patients' wellbeing and day-to-day functioning as reported directly by them (patient-reported outcomes). Researchers found that by week 48 of the trial, patients who received zanubrutinib plus obinutuzumab found it easier to manage daily activities (role functioning) and had fewer symptoms of feeling exhausted all the time (fatigue) and nausea/vomiting versus those who received obinutuzumab alone. Further analysis showed that the patients who received zanubrutinib plus obinutuzumab had noticeable improvements from the start of treatment in role functioning, pain, and fatigue versus patients receiving obinutuzumab alone at week 24 of the trial. In conclusion, this study showed that zanubrutinib plus obinutuzumab was associated with improved patient-reported outcomes versus obinutuzumab alone in patients with relapsed or refractory FL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeHodgkin lymphoma (HL) survivors experience high risks of second cancers and cardiovascular disease, but no studies have considered whether the occurrence of these and other medical conditions differ by sociodemographic factors in adolescent and young adult (AYA) survivors.MethodsData for 5,085 patients aged 15-39 when diagnosed with HL during 1996-2012 and surviving ≥ 2 years were obtained from the California Cancer Registry and linked to hospitalization data. We examined the impact of race/ethnicity, neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES), and health insurance on the occurrence of medical conditions (≥ 2 years after diagnosis) and the impact of medical conditions on survival using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression.ResultsTwenty-six percent of AYAs experienced at least one medical condition and 15% had ≥ 2 medical conditions after treatment for HL. In multivariable analyses, Black HL survivors had a higher likelihood (vs. non-Hispanic Whites) of endocrine [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.05-1.78] and circulatory system diseases (HR = 1.58, CI 1.17-2.14); Hispanics had a higher likelihood of endocrine diseases [HR = 1.24 (1.04-1.48)]. AYAs with public or no insurance (vs. private/military) had higher likelihood of circulatory system diseases, respiratory system diseases, chronic kidney disease/renal failure, liver disease, and endocrine diseases. AYAs residing in low SES neighborhoods (vs. high) had higher likelihood of respiratory system and endocrine diseases. AYAs with these medical conditions or second cancers had an over twofold increased risk of death.ConclusionStrategies to improve health care utilization for surveillance and secondary prevention among AYA HL survivors at increased risk of medical conditions may improve outcomes.

With the addition of rituximab and other treatment advances, survival after diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) has improved, but subsequent primary malignancies (SPMs) have emerged as an important challenge for DLBCL survivorship. We calculated standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for SPMs among 23 879 patients who survived at least 1 year after a first primary DLBCL diagnosed during 1989-2012, compared to the general population in California. Cumulative incidence (CMI) of SPMs, accounting for the competing risk of death, also was calculated. We found that the incidence of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) nearly doubled in the post-rituximab era [SIR (95% CI) 4·39 (2·51-7·13) pre- (1989-2000) and 8·70 (6·62-11·22) post-rituximab (2001-2012)]. Subsequent thyroid cancer was rare pre-rituximab, but increased substantially after 2001 [0·66 (0·08-2·37) vs. 2·27(1·44-3·41)]. The 5-year CMI for all SPMs (4·77% pre- vs. 5·41% post-rituximab, P = 0·047), AML (0·15% vs. 0·41%, P = 0·003), thyroid cancer (0·03% vs. 0·15%, P = 0·003) and melanoma (0·25% vs. 0·42%, P = 0·020) were greater in DLBCL patients diagnosed in the post- versus pre-rituximab period. This study provides insight into the changing pattern of SPM occurrence after the introduction of rituximab, which may elucidate the aetiology of SPMs and should guide future cancer surveillance efforts among DLBCL patients.

Purpose Oral targeted therapies represent a significant advance for the treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL); however, their high cost has raised concerns about affordability and the economic impact on society. Our objective was to project the future prevalence and cost burden of CLL in the era of oral targeted therapies in the United States. Methods We developed a simulation model that evaluated the evolving management of CLL from 2011 to 2025: chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) as the standard of care before 2014, oral targeted therapies for patients with del(17p) and relapsed CLL from 2014, and for first-line treatment from 2016 onward. A comparator scenario also was simulated where CIT remained the standard of care throughout. Disease progression and survival parameters for each therapy were based on published clinical trials. Results The number of people living with CLL in the United States is projected to increase from 128,000 in 2011 to 199,000 by 2025 (55% increase) due to improved survival; meanwhile, the annual cost of CLL management will increase from $0.74 billion to $5.13 billion (590% increase). The per-patient lifetime cost of CLL treatment will increase from $147,000 to $604,000 (310% increase) as oral targeted therapies become the first-line treatment. For patients enrolled in Medicare, the corresponding total out-of-pocket cost will increase from $9,200 to $57,000 (520% increase). Compared with the CIT scenario, oral targeted therapies resulted in an incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of $189,000 per quality-adjusted life-year. Conclusion The increased benefit and cost of oral targeted therapies is projected to enhance CLL survivorship but can impose a substantial financial burden on both patients and payers. More sustainable pricing strategies for targeted therapies are needed to avoid financial toxicity to patients.

Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is a proven target in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), an aggressive subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. However, resistance to BTK inhibitors is a major clinical challenge. We here report that MALT1 is one of the top overexpressed genes in ibrutinib-resistant MCL cells, while expression of CARD11, which is upstream of MALT1, is decreased. MALT1 genetic knockout or inhibition produced dramatic defects in MCL cell growth regardless of ibrutinib sensitivity. Conversely, CARD11-knockout cells showed antitumor effects only in ibrutinib-sensitive cells, suggesting that MALT1 overexpression could drive ibrutinib resistance via bypassing BTK/CARD11 signaling. Additionally, BTK knockdown and MALT1 knockout markedly impaired MCL tumor migration and dissemination, and MALT1 pharmacological inhibition decreased MCL cell viability, adhesion, and migration by suppressing NF-[kappa]B, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and integrin signaling. Importantly, cotargeting MALT1 with safimaltib and BTK with pirtobrutinib induced potent anti-MCL activity in ibrutinib-resistant MCL cell lines and patient-derived xenografts. Therefore, we conclude that MALT1 overexpression associates with resistance to BTK inhibitors in MCL, targeting abnormal MALT1 activity could be a promising therapeutic strategy to overcome BTK inhibitor resistance, and cotargeting of MALT1 and BTK should improve MCL treatment efficacy and durability as well as patient outcomes., Introduction Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is an incurable subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma with aberrant activation of the B cell receptor (BCR) pathway. Upon BCR stimulation, Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK) is [...]

The future directions in leveraging real-world evidence (RWE) and real-world data (RWD) in the field of lymphoma, as compared to traditional experimental clinical trials, are poised to significantly impact research methodologies, treatment strategies, and patient care. Current methods of clinical trials involve a well-controlled design and patient selection bias. Integrating RWE and RWD with experimental clinical trials offers a multifaceted approach to understanding lymphoma and enhancing patient outcomes. In this review, we discuss how RWE has helped shape lymphoma clinical trials, and we compare and evaluate evidence obtained from real-world lymphoma studies/databases with that obtained from clinical trials. We also discuss methods for utilizing surrogate endpoints to facilitate clinical trials and expedite drug development. RWE can be leveraged to bridge the gap between data obtained from clinical trial populations and the broader patient population encountered in clinical practice, by highlighting differences in outcomes and the need for effective treatment strategies across diverse patient groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation has been linked to adverse health outcomes, yet it is unclear whether neighborhood-level social determinants of health (SDOH) measures affect overall survival in adolescent and young adult patients with cancer. Methods This study used a diverse cohort of adolescent and young adult patients with cancer (N = 10 261) seen at MD Anderson Cancer Center. Zip codes were linked to Area Deprivation Index (ADI) values, a validated neighborhood-level SDOH measure, with higher ADI values representing worse SDOH. Results ADI was statistically significantly worse (P  < .050) for Black (61.7) and Hispanic (65.3) patients than for White patients (51.2). Analysis of ADI by cancer type showed statistically significant differences, mainly driven by worse ADI in patients with cervical cancer (62.3) than with other cancers. In multivariable models including sex, age at diagnosis, cancer diagnosis, and race and ethnicity, risk of shorter survival for people residing in neighborhoods with the least favorable ADI quartile was greater than for individuals in the most favorable ADI quartile (hazard ratio = 1.09, 95% confidence interval = 1.00 to 1.19, P  = .043). Conclusion Adolescent and young adult patients with cancer and the worst ADI values experienced a nearly 10% increase in risk of dying than patients with more favorable ADI values. This effect was strongest among White adolescent and young adult survivors. Although the magnitude of the effect of ADI on survival was moderate, the presence of a relationship between neighborhood-level SDOH and survival among patients who received care at a tertiary cancer center suggests that ADI is a meaningful predictor of survival. These findings provide intriguing evidence for potential interventions aimed at supporting adolescent and young adult patients with cancer from disadvantaged neighborhoods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]