Lenalidomide Maintenance after Autologous Stem Cell Transplant in Patients with High-Risk Relapsed/Refractory Lymphomas Is Feasible and Compares Favorably to Historical Controls: Results of a Phase I/II Trial

• Published in: Blood 2016-12, Vol.128 (22), p.4639-4639
• Main Authors: Svoboda, Jakub, Strelec, Lauren E., Landsburg, Daniel J., Nasta, Sunita Dwivedy, Mato, Anthony R., Hwang, Wei-Ting, Nagle, Sarah Jordan, Chong, Elise A., Garrett, Samantha, Waite, Terease S., Napier, Ellen, Schuster, Stephen J.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0006-4971; 1528-0020
• DOI: 10.1182/blood.V128.22.4639.4639

Background: Lymphoma patients with residual hypermetabolic lesions on FDG-PET imaging after salvage chemotherapy have poor outcomes following autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). We have previously shown progression free survival (PFS) of only 5 months (range: 1-19) in this population with only 7% of patients without progression at 12 months (Svoboda et al, BMT 2006). We hypothesized that these high-risk patients may benefit from continued therapy after ASCT. Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory agent which has been used as maintenance in other hematologic malignancies, but its toxicity and efficacy have not been well described in lymphoma patients following ASCT. Methods: We are conducting a phase I/II prospective, open-label trial of lenalidomide maintenance after ASCT in lymphoma patients at high risk for relapse defined by residual FDG-PET positive lesions (SUV ≥ 2.5) immediately prior to ASCT. The primary objective of phase I was to determine the safety and dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of lenalidomide maintenance. A 3+3 de-escalation design was used with a starting dose of lenalidomide at 10 mg on days 1 through 28 of each 28-day cycle. Lenalidomide was initiated 28-100 days post-ASCT and planned for up to 24 cycles. DLT was defined as non-hematologic toxicity ≥ grade 3 or hematologic toxicity ≥ grade 4 during the first 28 days of lenalidomide. The primary objectives of phase II were PFS and overall survival (OS). Survival outcomes were calculated from the date of ASCT. Enrollment began in 5/2012; we report data through 7/2016. Results: Fourteen patients were enrolled and 11 were evaluable (one patient withdrew consent and two progressed prior to initiation of lenalidomide). Eight (73%) evaluable patients had diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL): 4 with germinal center (GC) origin and 4 non-GC by Hans algorithm. Three (27%) patients had Hodgkin lymphoma. Median age was 44 years (29-61), ECOG PS 0 (0- 1), prior therapies 2 (2-5). Median follow-up was 24 months (range 8-44), and median time on lenalidomide was 13 cycles (1-24). No DLTs were observed in phase I, and the dose of 10 mg daily was determined to be appropriate for phase II. Six (55%) patients discontinued lenalidomide: 3 due to disease progression, 2 at investigator’s discretion (1 subsequently progressed), and 1 due to grade 3 rash possibly related to lenalidomide. Of 3 patients who discontinued lenalidomide due to progression, 1 (non-GC DLBCL) died of disease progression, 1 (GC DLBCL) ac