PF474 RETROSPECTIVE REAL‐LIFE STUDY OF BRENTUXIMAB VEDOTIN IN ASSOCIATION WITH BENDAMUSTINE IN REFRACTORY OR MULTIPLE RELAPSED HODGKIN LYMPHOMA
Authors: Iannitto E. , Romano A. , Scalzulli P.R. , Bonanno V. , Scalone R. , Chiarenza A. , Martino E. , Minoia C. , Mantuano S. , De Santis G. , Salerno M. , Crescimanno A. , Porretto F. , Li Gioi F. , Ricciuti G. , Greco A. , Pavone E. , Guarini A. , Tarantini G. , Mannina D. , Consoli U. , Pavone E. , Cascavilla N. , Di Raimondo F. , Musso M. 
Published: December 2023

Background:

The association of brentuximab vedotin (Bv) with bendamustine (B) has recently been reported to be active (ORR 71% CRR 31%) as salvage treatment in multiple relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma and anaplastic lymphoma. Interestingly, in primary refractory disease and first relapse the association BVB has shown a very high CR rate (73%) and manageable toxicity profile with a substantial fraction of patients proceeding to autologous stem cell transplant (auto‐SCT) after just 2 cycles of therapy (75%).

Aims:

This retrospective multicentre study aimed to evaluate the activity and toxicity of BvB association in a cohort of multiple relapsed or refractory Hodgkin lymphoma (RR‐HL) patients.

Methods:

Medical records of 47 RR‐HL patients (pts) treated with BvB in second relapse or beyond between 2015 and 2018 in eight Italian centres were retrospectively reviewed.

Results:

Thirty‐five pts (75%) were resistant to first‐line treatment, 39 (89%) had a clinical response to the former treatment lasting less than 12 months, 12 (25%) had relapsed after auto‐SCT and 17 (36%) had previously received Bv as monotherapy. The median number of previous treatments was 2 (1–3). Bv was given at 1,8 mg/Kg on day 1 and bendamustine at 90 mg/m2 on day 1 and 2 every 4 weeks. All patients also received i.v steroids as premedication prior to starting bendamustine infusion. The median number of BvB cycles was 4 (2–7), and all 47 patients were evaluable for efficacy. The CR and OR rates were 50% and 73%, respectively. Interestingly, the ORR in patients who had previously received an auto‐SCT was 83% (CR 50%), and in those failing after Bv was 76% (CR 35%). Twenty‐four (52%) pts in major clinical response (17 CR 7 PR) and two with stable disease, received a SCT procedure (20 autologous; 4 allogeneic; 2 tandem autologous‐allogeneic); two pts in PR are scheduled to receive an auto‐SCT. Nineteen (49%) responding pts continued treatment with Bv as monotherapy following completion of BvB combination therapy (8 pts) or after ASCT (11 pts). After a median follow‐up of 15 months (5–47) the median PFS was 18 months (95%CI: 23–29), and the median OS was not reached with 72% of patients alive at 2 years. For patients who received BvB alone, median PFS was 7 months (3–11), compared to 33 months (15–51) for patients who received also a SCT (p = 0,001) (Fig. 1); the corresponding features for OS were 12 months (4–18) vs not reached (p = 0.008). The intended six cycles of treatment were completed by 58% of pts. Reasons for premature therapy discontinuation included: toxicity (5), patient refusal (4), switch to SCT procedure (10). Twenty‐five (53%) pts experienced severe (G ≥3) toxicity. The main toxicities were neutropenia (23%), gastrointestinal (17%), neuropathies (8%) and Infection (4%). None of the patients died of treatment‐related toxicity.

Summary/Conclusion:

This analysis based on a real‐life series confirms that BvB is a very active regimen in R/R HL, irrespective of previous exposure to Bv or auto‐SCT. Seventy‐six percent of responding patients proceeded to a SCT procedure. Toxicity is manageable, though relatively substantial, and requires a careful monitoring. These results suggest that BvB is an effective third‐line rescue and bridge‐to‐transplant regimen in RR Hodgkin lymphoma patients.

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