Key clinical point: For patients with newly diagnosed, high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), adding avadomide to R-CHOP may improve response rate.

Major finding: The complete response rate was 79%.

Study details: A phase I trial involving 35 patients with newly diagnosed, high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

Disclosures: The study was funded by Celgene. The investigators disclosed additional relationships with Kyowa Hakko Kirin, AstraZeneca, Roche, and others.

Commentary

“Avadomide, the cereblon E3 ligase monitor, was combined with R-CHOP in patients with high risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in a phase I/II study. Results from the phase I portion were presented at the 2020 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting. The majority of subjects (32/35) completed the planned 6 cycles of combination therapy. Dose limiting toxicities were primarily febrile neutropenia and infections, and the phase II dose was determined to be 3 mg for 2 of 3 weeks during each cycle of R-CHOP.

The authors reported an overall response rate of 88% with complete response rate of 79%, and a 1 year progression free survival rate of 80%. The phase II portion of this study will further assess safety and efficacy of this promising combination.”

Sarah Rutherford, MD

Assistant Professor of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine

Disclosure: Dr. Rutherford serves as a consultant to Celgene.