Six-Year Results from the Phase 3 Randomized Study Relevance Show Similar Outcomes for Previously Untreated Follicular Lymphoma Patients Receiving Lenalidomide Plus Rituximab (R 2) Versus Rituximab-Chemotherapy Followed By Rituximab Maintenance
Authors: Morschhauser Franck , Nastoupil Loretta , Feugier Pierre , Schiano De Colella Jean Marc , Tilly Hervé , Palomba M. Lia , Bachy Emmanuel , Fruchart Christophe , Libby Edward , Casasnovas Rene-Olivier , Flinn Ian W. , Haioun Corinne , Maisonneuve Herve , Ysebaert Loic , Bartlett Nancy L. , Bouabdallah Kamal , Brice Pauline , Ribrag Vincent , Le Gouill Steven , Daguindau Nicolas , Delwail Vincent , Pica Gian-Matteo , Martin Garcia-Sancho Alejandro , Lopez-Guillermo Armando , Larouche Jean-Francois , Ando Kiyoshi , Maria Gomes da Silva , André Marc , Wu Ka Lung , Sehn Laurie H. , Izutsu Koji , Cartron Guillaume , Gkasiamis Argyrios , Crowe Russell , Xerri Luc , Fowler Nathan H. , Salles Gilles 
Published: November 2021

Background: Immunochemotherapy induction followed by rituximab maintenance is the standard of care in previously untreated symptomatic follicular lymphoma (FL). The phase 3 RELEVANCE study of chemotherapy-free combination immunotherapy with lenalidomide and rituximab (R 2) showed promising activity comparable to standard rituximab + chemotherapy (R-chemo) options (Morschhauser, F and Fowler, NH, et al. N Engl J Med. 2018). Reported here are the results of the second interim analysis.

Methods: RELEVANCE is a global, randomized, phase 3 trial (NCT01650701) of R 2 vs R-chemo followed by rituximab in patients with previously untreated grade 1-3a FL requiring therapy according to GELF criteria. Lenalidomide dose was 20 mg/d, d2-22/28 for 6-12 cycles (c), continued in responders at 10 mg/d for a total of 18 c. Rituximab dose was 375 mg/m 2 weekly c1 and d1 c2-6 and continued in responders for 12 additional c (q8wk). R-chemo was given per investigator's choice of standard R + cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP), R + bendamustine (R-B), or R-CVP, followed by 12 c of rituximab (q8wk). Co-primary endpoints were complete response (CR)/CR unconfirmed (CRu) at 120 wk and progression-free survival (PFS) by independent review committee (IRC) based on 1999 IWG criteria. The prespecified second interim analysis was done after 75% of total PFS events were reached.

Results: 1030 patients with high tumor burden were randomized to R 2 (n = 513) and R-chemo (n = 517; 72% R-CHOP, 23% R-B, 5% R-CVP); baseline characteristics were similar in both groups. As of October 30, 2020, at median follow-up of 72 mo, 6-year PFS, according to IRC assessment using FDA censoring rules, was 60% for R 2 and 59% for R-chemo with a hazard ratio (HR) of 1.03 (95% CI, 0.84-1.27). Data according to investigator assessment and EMA censoring rules are shown in the table. Median PFS was not reached for both groups. CR/CRu rates at 120 wk by IRC was 48% for R 2 and 53% for R-chemo (P = 0.10). Secondary endpoints, including overall survival, event free survival, and time to next antilymphoma treatment, were also similar in both groups. 162 (32%) R 2 and 166 (32%) R-chemo patients experienced progression/relapse according to investigator assessment of which 107 and 99 patients received additional treatment(s), respectively. Histological transformation was documented in 13/513 patients the R 2 group and 11/517 patients in the R-chemo group over the 72 mo follow-up period. ORR and overall survival after subsequent treatment(s) for relapse/progression were similar in both groups. The overall safety profile in both groups was consistent with the 1st interim analysis. The number of patients with second primary malignancies (SPMs) were similar between both groups, occurring in 57 (11%) R 2-treated and 67 (13%) R-chemo-treated safety population patients. The total number of SPMs was 64 in the R 2 group and 87 in the R-chemo group, with invasive SPM accounting for 43 (67%) and 52 (60%), respectively. Grade 5 adverse events were reported in 9 (2%) R 2 and 6 (1%) R-chemo treated patients.

Conclusions: R 2 continues to demonstrate comparable efficacy vs R-chemo in patients with previously untreated grade 1-3a FL requiring therapy with similar 6-year PFS (60% and 59%) and 6-year OS (89% in both groups). Also, response and overall survival after subsequent treatment were similar in both groups. The overall safety profile of both groups was consistent with the previous analysis, with no new safety signals detected. R 2 provides a chemo-free alternative to R-chemo based on immunotherapy/immunomodulation.

Figure 1 Figure 1.

Disclosures

Morschhauser: Chugai: Honoraria; Gilead: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; AstraZenenca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Celgene: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Genmab: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Consultancy; Genentech, Inc.: Consultancy; AbbVie: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Consultancy, Speakers Bureau; Novartis: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Janssen: Honoraria; Epizyme: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Nastoupil: Bayer: Honoraria; Denovo Pharma: Other: DSMC; Gilead/Kite: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Honoraria, Research Funding; MorphoSys: Honoraria; Caribou Biosciences: Research Funding; Genentech: Honoraria, Research Funding; ADC Therapeutics: Honoraria; Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; IGM Biosciences: Research Funding; Takeda: Honoraria, Other: DSMC, Research Funding; Epizyme: Honoraria, Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb/Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding. Feugier: Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Amgen: Honoraria; Astrazeneca: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria. Palomba: Wolters Kluwer: Patents & Royalties; Lygenesis: Honoraria; Pluto: Honoraria; Ceramedix: Honoraria; Priothera: Honoraria; Nektar: Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy; Seres: Honoraria, Other: Stock, Patents & Royalties, Research Funding; Rheos: Honoraria; Magenta: Honoraria; Juno: Patents & Royalties; BeiGene: Consultancy; Kite: Consultancy; WindMIL: Honoraria; Notch: Honoraria, Other: Stock; PCYC: Consultancy. Bachy: Kite, a Gilead Company: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria; Daiishi: Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy. Libby: Genentech: Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Research Funding; BMS: Research Funding; GSK: Research Funding. Casasnovas: Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; Gilead Kite: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; MSD: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; BMS: Consultancy, Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Amgen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Janssen: Consultancy, Honoraria; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria. Flinn: Infinity Pharmaceuticals: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Curis: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Karyopharm Therapeutics: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Pfizer: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Novartis: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Genentech: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Loxo: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; BeiGene: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Agios: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Great Point Partners: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Yingli Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Nurix Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Kite, a Gilead Company: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Janssen: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Roche: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; ArQule: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Celgene: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Iksuda Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Seagen: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Forma Therapeutics: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Rhizen Pharmaceuticals: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Takeda: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Constellation Pharmaceuticals: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Pharmacyclics LLC, an AbbVie Company: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; IGM Biosciences: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Incyte: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Forty Seven: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Portola Pharmaceuticals: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Verastem: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Unum Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Acerta Pharma: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Other: All Consultancy and Research Funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; MorphoSys: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Juno Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy and research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Calithera Biosciences: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Merck: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Teva: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Trillium Therapeutics: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Triphase Research & Development Corp.: Other: All research funding payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Century Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Hutchison MediPharma: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Vincerx Pharma: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Sarah Cannon Research Institute: Current Employment; Servier Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Yingli Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Seagen: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Servier Pharmaceuticals: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute; Unum Therapeutics: Consultancy, Other: All consultancy payments made to Sarah Cannon Research Institute, Research Funding; Johnson & Johnson: Current holder of individual stocks in a privately-held company; Seattle Genetics: Research Funding. Haioun: Amgen: Honoraria, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company); Roche: Consultancy, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company); Janssen-Cilag: Consultancy; Miltenyi Biotec: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Celgene: Consultancy, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company); Gilead Sciences: Consultancy, Honoraria; Servier/Pfizer: Honoraria; Novartis: Honoraria. Ysebaert: Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Janssen, Roche: Other: Advisory Board, Research Funding. Bartlett: Celgene: Research Funding; Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Forty Seven: Research Funding; Genentech: Research Funding; Janssen: Research Funding; Kite, a Gilead Company: Research Funding; Merck: Research Funding; Millennium: Research Funding; Pharmacyclics: Research Funding; Autolus: Research Funding; Seagen: Consultancy, Research Funding; Roche/Genentech: Consultancy; ADC Therapeutics: Consultancy, Research Funding. Brice: MSD: Honoraria; BMS: Honoraria; Takeda: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Ribrag: Nanostring: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; PharmaMar: Honoraria, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Infinity Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; GSK: Research Funding; Argen-X: Research Funding; Epizyme: Honoraria, Research Funding; Roche: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Astex Pharmaceuticals: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; MSD Pharmaceuticals: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Servier: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Incyte: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees. Martin Garcia-Sancho: Celgene: Honoraria, Other: travel; Celgene/BMS: Consultancy; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy; Takeda: Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy; Kern Pharma: Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company); Eusa Pharma: Consultancy; Clinigen: Consultancy; Kyowa Kirin: Consultancy; Morphosys: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy, Honoraria; Servier: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel/Accommodations/Expenses; Roche: Consultancy, Honoraria, Other: Travel/Accommodations/Expenses. Lopez-Guillermo: Roche, Gilead/Kite, Celgene, Novartis, Janssen, AbbVie, Spectrum: Consultancy, Honoraria, Research Funding. Larouche: Gilead: Consultancy. Ando: Astellas Pharma: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria; Chugai Pharmaceutical: Research Funding; Kyowa Kirin: Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria; Takeda Pharmaceutical: Research Funding. Maria: Roche: Consultancy, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company); Gilead: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company), Research Funding; Astrazeneca: Research Funding; Janssen: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company); Bristol Myers Squibb: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Abbvie: Other: TRAVEL, ACCOMMODATIONS, EXPENSES (paid by any for-profit health care company). André: Johnson & Johnson: Research Funding; Roche: Other: Travel/accomodation/expenses, Research Funding; Incyte: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy, Other: Travel/Accommodations/Expenses; Karyopharm: Consultancy; Bristol-Myers-Squibb: Consultancy, Other: Travel/Accommodations/Expenses; AbbVie: Other: Travel/accomodation/expenses; Celgene: Other: Travel/accomodation/expenses; Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding. Sehn: Genmab: Consultancy; Novartis: Consultancy; Debiopharm: Consultancy. Izutsu: Takeda: Honoraria, Research Funding; Symbio: Honoraria; Solasia: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding; Ono Pharmaceutical: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; MSD: Research Funding; Kyowa Kirin: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Incyte: Research Funding; Huya Biosciences: Research Funding; Genmab: Honoraria, Research Funding; Fuji Film Toyama Chemical: Honoraria; Eisai: Honoraria, Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Honoraria, Research Funding; Chugai: Honoraria, Research Funding; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Beigene: Research Funding; Bayer: Research Funding; AstraZeneca: Honoraria, Research Funding; Yakult: Research Funding; Allergan Japan: Honoraria; AbbVie: Honoraria. Cartron: Roche, Celgene-BMS: Consultancy; Danofi, Gilead, Novartis, Jansen, Roche, Celgene-BMS, Abbvie, Takeda: Honoraria. Fowler: Bristol Myers Squibb, F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, TG Therapeutics and Novartis: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Research Funding; BostonGene, Corp: Current Employment, Current holder of stock options in a privately-held company. Salles: Velosbio: Consultancy; Epizyme: Consultancy, Honoraria; Morphosys: Consultancy, Honoraria; Loxo: Consultancy; Regeneron: Consultancy, Honoraria; Novartis: Consultancy; Takeda: Consultancy; Incyte: Consultancy; Rapt: Consultancy; Kite/Gilead: Consultancy; Ipsen: Consultancy; Miltneiy: Consultancy; Genmab: Consultancy; Janssen: Consultancy; Genentech/Roche: Consultancy; Debiopharm: Consultancy; Allogene: Consultancy; BMS/Celgene: Consultancy; Beigene: Consultancy; Abbvie: Consultancy, Honoraria; Bayer: Honoraria.