Maintenance Therapy with Ipilimumab Plus Lenalidomide after Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Patients with Lymphoma
Authors: Khouri Issa F. , Milton Denái R. , Ledesma Celina , Jabbour Elias , Bashir Qaiser , Im Jin S. , Fayad Luis , Lee Hun Ju , Nair Ranjit , Nastoupil Loretta J. , Samaniego Felipe , Iyer Swami P. , Flowers Christopher , Champlin Richard E. , Sharma Padmanee , Gulbis Alison 
Published: November 2020

Background: Relapse is the major cause of failure after autologous stem cell transplantation (autoSCT) for patients (pts) with lymphoma. Targeting immune checkpoints with ipilimumab (Ipi) could result in lasting responses but only in few pts. We have previously reported that combination strategies of Ipi with lenalidomide (LEN) 10 mg (Ipi+LEN) resulted in enhanced immune activity manifested by a significant increase in the numbers of ICOS+CD4+FoxP3- T cells (Khouri I et al. Clin Cancer Res 2018:1011-1018). We have demonstrated proof-of-principle of this activity in one pt with refractory double hit lymphoma (DHL) (failed an autoSCT then relapsed after an allogeneic SCT) and another pt with CLL (failed ibrutinib, CART cell, and allogeneic SCT). Both pts then achieved complete remission with Ipi+LEN that has lasted 5+ and 4+ years, respectively. Hence, we have used Ipi+LEN to prevent relapse after autoSCT in pts with high-risk lymphoma, including double-expressor (DEL)/DHL who have been reported to have a 0% progression-free survival (PFS) rate at 4-years after autoSCT (Herrera et al. J Clin Oncol. 2017; 35:24-33). Patients andMethods: In this prospective trial, pts with lymphoma were enrolled within 6 months post-autoSCT. Inclusion criteria included: age 18 to 80 years; an ECOG PS 0-2; adequate liver (bilirubin and liver enzyme concentrations up to two times the upper limit of normal), renal (serum creatinine &lt; 1.6 mg/dl) , cardiac (ejection fraction 45%), and pulmonary (diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide 40% of predictive value) function; no active infections; ANC ≥ 1.5x109/L and a platelet count ≥ 75x109/L. Treatment consisted of LEN 10 mg PO daily for 21 days (cycles 1) alternating with Ipi 3 mg/kg IV on day 1 (Cycle 2) for up to 8 cycles. LEN dose reduction was permitted to 5 mg based on standard clinical practice. Results: Twenty-three pts were enrolled in the study. The median age at autoSCT was 56 years (range, 33-74). Fifteen (65%) were males and 5 (22%) pts had an HCT-CI ≥ 3. The median # of prior chemotherapies excluding their SCT was 2 (range, 1-5). Two pts had failed a prior autoSCT and were enrolled after a second transplant. Histologies included [DEL/DHL (n=8, 35%), DLBCL nonDEL/nonDHL (n=6, 23%), mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) (n=4, 17%; including 2 with 2 prior transplants, 1 with CNS involvement, 2 had blastoid histology, 1 in partial response to induction chemotherapy), follicular lymphoma (n=1; 4%; 3 prior therapies) Hodgkin's disease (n=2, 9%; including 1 with persistent PET+ post-transplant), angioimmunoblastic t-cell lymphoma (n=2, 9%). Most pts received R-BEAM (n=17, 74%) or BEAM (n=3, 13%) conditioning for their autoSCT. Median # of cycles of immunotherapy received after autoSCT was 5 (range, 2-8). Two pts are continuing their pre-planned treatment. Median follow-up duration was 35 months (range, 4-78 months). The 3-year rates of overall survival (OS) and PFS were 92% and 73%, respectively (Figure 1). Only 1 death was observed: this occurred in a pt with MCL who received 2 prior autoSCT and then developed post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder without any evidence of MCL recurrence. The most common other grade 3-4 AEs were 10 events of neutropenia, anemia (1), perianal infection (1), and one developed pulmonary embolism on therapy. All AEs resolved. An immune-related AE occurred in one patient (dermatitis, gr 3) after the second ipilimumab dose and resolved with steroids. DEL/DHL group (n=8): This group was heavily pre-treated. The median # of prior chemotherapies excluding their SCT was 3 (range, 1-5). Five have failed DA-REPOCH, one had failed R-Hyper-CVAD and one was induced with R-CHOP. With a median follow-up of 35 months (range, 4-78months), all pts remain alive. One patient with DEL/DHL who was transplanted during second remission relapsed at 1.6 months after initiating therapy (just after finishing the cycle 2). All others remain in complete remission (Figure 2). Conclusions: Maintenance therapy with Ipi+LEN after autoSCT for high-risk lymphoma shows encouraging survival rates, including pts with DEL/DHL who usually have dismal outcomes. The treatment has favorable toxicity profile. These results warrant a randomized trial for confirmation.

Disclosures
Khouri: Bristol Myers Squibb: Research Funding; Pfizer: Research Funding. Jabbour:Genentech: Other: Advisory role, Research Funding; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Other: Advisory role, Research Funding; Amgen: Other: Advisory role, Research Funding; BMS: Other: Advisory role, Research Funding; Takeda: Other: Advisory role, Research Funding; AbbVie: Other: Advisory role, Research Funding; Pfizer: Other: Advisory role, Research Funding. Lee:Seattle Genetics: Research Funding; Oncternal Therapeutics: Research Funding; Bristol-Myers Squibb: Consultancy, Research Funding; Aptitude Health: Speakers Bureau; Guidepoint Blogal: Consultancy; Celgene: Research Funding; Takeda: Research Funding. Nastoupil:Pfizer: Honoraria, Research Funding; Gilead/KITE: Honoraria; Merck: Research Funding; Genentech, Inc.: Honoraria, Research Funding; Novartis: Honoraria, Research Funding; TG Therapeutics: Honoraria, Research Funding; LAM Therapeutics: Research Funding; Gamida Cell: Honoraria; Bayer: Honoraria; Celgene: Honoraria, Research Funding; Janssen: Honoraria, Research Funding; Karus Therapeutics: Research Funding. Iyer:Merck: Research Funding; Afffimed: Research Funding; Spectrum: Research Funding; Target Oncology: Honoraria; Legend Biotech: Consultancy; CRISPR: Research Funding; Curio Biosciences: Honoraria; Rhizen: Research Funding; Seattle Genetics, Inc.: Research Funding; Trillium: Research Funding; Daiichi Sankyo: Consultancy. Flowers:TG Therapeutics: Research Funding; Millennium/Takeda: Consultancy, Research Funding; Leukemia and Lymphoma Society: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Burroughs Wellcome Fund: Research Funding; V Foundation: Research Funding; National Cancer Institute: Research Funding; Bayer: Consultancy; Kite: Research Funding; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group: Research Funding; AbbVie: Consultancy, Research Funding; Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas: Research Funding; Celgene: Consultancy, Research Funding; Acerta: Research Funding; BeiGene: Consultancy; Spectrum: Consultancy; Pharmacyclics/Janssen: Consultancy; Karyopharm: Consultancy; OptumRx: Consultancy; Gilead: Consultancy, Research Funding; Denovo Biopharma: Consultancy; Genentech, Inc./F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd: Consultancy, Research Funding. Champlin:Genzyme: Speakers Bureau; Johnson and Johnson: Consultancy; Omeros: Consultancy; Actinium: Consultancy; Takeda: Patents & Royalties; DKMS America: Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Cytonus: Consultancy. Sharma:BioAlta: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Achelois: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Apricity Health: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Constellation: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Dragonfly Therapeutics: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Forty-Seven Inc.: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Hummingbird: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Lava Therapeutics: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Lytix Biopharma: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Marker Therapeutics: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Oncolytics: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Adaptive Biotechnologies: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Glympse: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Polaris: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Jounce Therapeutics: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees, Patents & Royalties; BioNTech: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Codiak BioSciences: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; ImaginAb: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees; Infinity Pharma: Consultancy, Current equity holder in publicly-traded company, Membership on an entity's Board of Directors or advisory committees.

OffLabel Disclosure:
Maintenance therapy with Ipilimumab and Lenalidomide after transplantation