EHA 2018 | Atezolizumab plus R-CHOP in previously untreated DLBCL

On Saturday 16^th June an oral abstract session took place at the 23^rd congress of the European Hematology Association (EHA). Abstract S803 was presented by Anas Younes, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, US, on the efficacy and safety of atezolizumab plus R-CHOP.

The results of the interim analysis were presented of a phase I/II study on the use of atezolizumab, an anti-PD-L1 antibody, in patients with previously untreated diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) (NCT02596971). The primary endpoint was complete response (CR) by PET-CT and safety. The secondary endpoints were objective response rate (ORR), duration of response (DOR) and progression-free survival (PFS) by investigator assessment and MRD.

Study Overview

• 42 patients were inducted and included in the interim safety analysis and 15 patients completed the induction and were included in the interim efficacy analysis
• The ORR at the end of induction (n = 15), was 87% as per the modified Lugano 2014 and Cheson 2007 by both the independent review committee and investigator assessment
• MRD was evaluated at 10^-5 sensitivity using Adaptive ImmunoSEQ® NGS platform (v2). 15 patient samples were collected at baseline and it was found that 5 patients were MRD negative at the end of induction
• At induction, adverse events (AEs) Grade 3-4 occurred in 64% and at consolidation Grade 3-4 AEs occurred in 15%

Dr Younes concluded that at the interim analysis, R-CHOP with atezolizumab showed encouraging activity in patients with previously untreated DLBCL with a manageable safety profile.