Abstract PO-010: Trial in Progress: Phase 1 Study of ARV-393, a PROTAC BCL6 Degrader, in Advanced Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Authors: Caimi Paolo , Huntington Scott , Landrette Sean , Gough Sheryl M , Dai Vivian , Jackson Bryan , Chavez Juan , Tannenbaum-Dvir Sarah , Matasar Matthew 
Published: June 2024

Background: Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) represents a biologically and clinically diverse group of hematologic malignancies originating from B cells, T cells, and/or natural killer cells, with those of B-cell origin constituting ∼80–85% of all NHL cases. The BCL6 transcription factor is a key oncogenic driver of B-cell lymphomagenesis, and deregulated BCL6 expression is a common feature of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), the most common type of NHL. BCL6 translocations have been observed in follicular lymphomas, the second most prevalent NHL, with studies suggesting that these translocations may portend a higher risk of transformation into aggressive lymphoma. BCL6 is also a lineage-defining transcription factor of T follicular helper cells, the cell of origin for angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL). Moreover, BCL6 expression has been identified in biopsies of patients with AITL, and its continued expression was required for tumor growth in a mouse model of AITL, supporting BCL6 as a cancer driver in this type of NHL as well. ARV-393, an orally administered PROteolysis TArgeting Chimera (PROTAC) BCL6 degrader, is a bifunctional small molecule consisting of a BCL6-binding domain attached by a linker to a cereblon E3 ubiquitin ligase–binding domain. ARV-393 induces ubiquitination and subsequent degradation of BCL6 by the proteasome. In preclinical studies, ARV-393 induced rapid and robust degradation (&gt;90%) of BCL6 in NHL cell lines and demonstrated dose-responsive tumor growth inhibition leading to tumor stasis or regression in xenograft models, supporting further investigation in patients with NHL. This multicenter, first-in-human, phase 1 study will evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and preliminary antitumor activity of ARV-393 in patients with advanced B-cell NHL or AITL.

Methods: Eligible patients (aged ≥18 years) have relapsed/refractory mature B-cell NHL and ≥2 prior systemic therapies, or histologically confirmed AITL that has recurred or progressed following institutional standard-of-care therapy. Patients must also have ≥1 measurable lesion at study entry, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of 0 or 1, freshly biopsied or archival tumor tissue available, adequate organ function, no active central nervous system involvement, and no prior allogeneic stem cell transplant or solid organ transplantation. Autologous stem cell transplant must not have occurred ≤100 days and previous CAR T-cell therapy ≤60 days prior to cycle 1 day 1 of ARV-393 treatment. ARV-393 will be administered orally in 28-day cycles with dose escalation according to a Bayesian optimal interval design. The primary objectives are to evaluate the safety and tolerability of ARV-393, determine maximum tolerated dose if necessary, and identify the recommended phase 2 dose(s) and dosing schedule. Secondary objectives are to characterize the pharmacokinetic profile of ARV-393 and evaluate its preliminary anti-tumor activity. Enrollment for this study will open in 2024.

Citation Format: Paolo Caimi, Scott Huntington, Sean Landrette, Sheryl M Gough, Vivian Dai, Bryan Jackson, Juan Chavez, Sarah Tannenbaum-Dvir, Matthew Matasar. Trial in Progress: Phase 1 Study of ARV-393, a PROTAC BCL6 Degrader, in Advanced Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fourth AACR International Meeting on Advances in Malignant Lymphoma: Maximizing the Basic-Translational Interface for Clinical Application; 2024 Jun 19-22; Philadelphia, PA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Blood Cancer Discov 2024;5(3_Suppl):Abstract nr PO-010.