Mosunetuzumab Monotherapy Demonstrates Encouraging Activity and a Manageable Safety Profile in Patients with Heavily Pre-Treated Relapsed or Refractory Mantle Cell Lymphoma
Authors: Budde L. Elizabeth , Matasar Matthew , Sehn Laurie H. , Assouline Sarit E. , Kuruvilla John , Flinn Ian W. , Yoon Sung-Soo , Bosch Francesc , Greenwald Daniel , Gutierrez Norma C. , Tzachanis Dimitrios , Marlton Paula , McGuirt Delaney , Yin Shen , Wei Michael C. , Kwan Antonia , Tracy Samuel , Penuel Elicia , Bartlett Nancy L. 
Published: December 2024

Background: New treatment options are needed for patients (pts) with relapsed/refractory (R/R) mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), especially those with progressive disease (PD) after Bruton's tyrosine kinase inhibitor (BTKi) therapy. Mosunetuzumab, a CD20xCD3 T-cell engaging bispecific antibody, redirects T cells to eliminate B cells, including those that cause malignant disease. In a Phase I/II study (NCT02500407), mosunetuzumab demonstrated durable remissions with a manageable safety profile in pts with R/R B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, including those with R/R MCL (Budde et al. J Clin Oncol 2024). Here we report the first efficacy and safety data from an expansion cohort for mosunetuzumab monotherapy at the recommended Phase II dose in pts with MCL who are R/R to BTKi therapy.
Methods: Eligible pts with MCL, R/R to ≥1 prior regimen containing a BTKi, were enrolled. Mosunetuzumab was administered intravenously in 21-day cycles with step-up dosing in Cycle (C)1 (C1 Day [D]1, 1mg; C1D8, 2mg; C1D15/C2D1, 60mg; C3D1 and onwards, 30mg). Hospitalization was not mandatory. Pts with a complete response (CR) by C8 discontinued treatment; those with a partial response or stable disease continued treatment for up to 17 cycles. The primary endpoints were safety and tolerability. Efficacy was a secondary endpoint and was assessed by investigators according to Cheson 2007 criteria. Cytokine release syndrome (CRS) events were graded using the ASTCT criteria.
Results: As of May 13, 2024, 25 pts were enrolled. Median age was 70 years (range: 50-89), 92% of pts had Ann Arbor stage III/IV disease, 64% had ECOG performance status 1, and 84% had MCL International Prognostic Index (MIPI) score ≥6. Median number of prior therapies was 3 (range: 2-6). All pts had ≥2 prior therapies, 80% had ≥3 prior therapies; 32% had a prior autologous stem cell transplant; 72% and 96% were refractory to a prior anti-CD20 therapy and a prior BTKi, respectively; 92% were refractory to their most recent regimen. Median number of mosunetuzumab cycles was 5 (range: 1-17), with 3 pts receiving &gt;8 cycles. Median duration of follow-up for overall survival (OS) was 54.5 months.
The best overall response rate (ORR) and CR rate were 44% and 24%, respectively. Median duration of response was 10.3 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.3-19.5); median duration of CR was 18.0 months (95% CI: 10.3-22.3). Median progression-free survival was 3.7 months (95% CI: 1.4-5.8) and median OS was 7.3 months (95% CI: 3.6-25.9). The ORR and CR rate were consistent in pts with MIPI ≥6 (n=21; ORR 43%, CR 24%); additional subgroup efficacy analyses based on Ki-67 proliferation index and blastoid/pleomorphic morphology will be presented.
The most common adverse events (AEs) were CRS (52%), fatigue (36%), and pyrexia (36%). CRS events were predominantly Grade (Gr) 1/2 (48%); Gr 3 CRS occurred in 1 pt; no Gr ≥4 CRS events were reported. CRS events occurred only in C1 and all events resolved. The median duration of CRS was 3 days (range: 1‒7). In pts with CRS, 4 (31%) received tocilizumab. Suspected immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) events occurred in 3 pts (Gr 1 confusional state [n=2]; Gr 2 delirium [n=1]); 2 events occurred concurrently with CRS. All events occurred early (C1 and C2) and resolved without steroid use. Gr 3/4 AEs were reported in 19 (76%) pts; Gr 3/4 AEs occurring in ≥10% of pts included neutropenia (28%; no febrile neutropenia), hypophosphatemia (20%), thrombocytopenia (16%), and anemia (12%). Serious AEs (excluding fatal PD) occurred in 14 (56%) pts; 10 (40%) were treatment related. No Gr 5 AEs were reported (excluding PD). An AE leading to treatment discontinuation occurred in 1 pt (subdural haematoma; unrelated to mosunetuzumab).
Conclusions: Fixed-duration mosunetuzumab demonstrated encouraging single-agent activity in a challenging-to-treat population of pts with high-risk and refractory MCL. The safety profile was manageable, characterized by predominantly low-grade CRS events confined to C1, all of which resolved. Mosunetuzumab's tolerability, off-the-shelf availability, lack of mandatory hospitalization, and convenient dosing schedule provide rationale for further exploration in this setting. Currently, mosunetuzumab is being investigated in combination with polatuzumab vedotin for pts with R/R MCL (NCT03671018).