Epcoritamab plus pola-R-CHP as first-line treatment for patients with DLBCL: Results from the phase Ib/II EPCORE NHL-5 trial

The ongoing phase Ib/II EPCORE NHL-5 trial (NCT05283720) is evaluating the safety and efficacy of epcoritamab, a subcutaneous CD3 × CD20 bispecific antibody, in combination with antineoplastic agents in adult patients with NHL.1 The first results from Arm 3 of this trial, which included 37 adult patients with newly-diagnosed DLBCL treated with first-line epcoritamab plus pola-R-CHP, were presented at the SOHO 2024 Annual Meeting by Kerr.1

Key learnings

Fixed-duration epcoritamab plus pola-R-CHP resulted in high response rates, with an ORR and CR rate of 100% and 88.6%, respectively.

Response rates were rapid, with a median time to response of 2.7 months; durable, with the median duration of CR not reached; and consistent across patient subgroups.

The safety profile was consistent with previous findings, with no DLTs, ICANS, CTLS, or Grade ≥3 CRS observed. Grade 1/2 CRS occurred in 49% of patients and all events were resolved.

The most common Grade ≥3 TEAE was neutropenia (65%); however, there were no resulting discontinuations. Rates of infection were low.

These results suggest that epcoritamab plus pola-R-CHP is well tolerated and effective as a first-line treatment for patients with DLBCL, with results comparing favorably to pola-R-CHP or R-CHOP alone.

Abbreviations: CR, complete response; CRS, cytokine release syndrome; CTLS, clinical tumor lysis syndrome; DLBCL, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; DLT, dose-limiting toxicity; ICANS, immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome; NHL, non-Hodgkin lymphoma; ORR, objective response rate; pola-R-CHP, polatuzumab vedotin, rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone; R-CHOP, rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone; SOHO, Society of Hematologic Oncology; TEAE, treatment-emergent adverse event.