ALBERT

Description: Abstract 2724 Background: The NHL 1 study, a prospective, multicenter, randomized, phase 3 study which compared B-R and CHOP-R as first-line treatment in indolent lymphomas and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), demonstrated a significant benefit in progression-free survival (PFS) as well as improved tolerability for B-R compared with CHOP-R. Here we present an analysis of the impact of response quality on outcome. Methods: 514 patients (pts) with indolent or MCL were randomized to receive B-R or CHOP-R for a maximum of 6 cycles. Results: The overall response rate in the 514 pts (261 B-R; 253 CHOP-R) was 92.7% and 91.3% in the B-R and CHOP-R arms, respectively (as presented at the last ASCO meeting, J Clin Oncol 30, 2012 (suppl; abstr 3). A complete response (CR) was observed in 39.8% in the B-R arm and in 30% in the CHOP-R arm (p=0.021). The achievement of CR was associated with a significantly prolonged PFS and overall survival (OS) (Table 1). Analysis by treatment arm revealed a trend for superior PFS and a significantly improved OS for patients achieving CR following treatment with B-R. In the CHOP-R arm, patients in CR had a significantly superior PFS compared to those in PR with a trend to superior OS. Regardless of the quality of response, PFS was superior with B-R versus CHOP-R: For patients in CR, the median PFS was not reached with B-R, whereas for CHOP-R it was 53.7 months (p=0.0204). In patients achieving PR, treatment with B-R resulted in a median PFS of 57.2 months, and this was 30.9 months with CHOP-R (p=0.0002). We noted a statistically significant difference in CR rates between male (n=272, median age 63 years) and female (n=242, median age 64 years) patients. The CR rate was 28.6% in male patients and 42.1% in female patients (p=0.0016). Female patients had a longer median PFS (51.4 months) compared to male patients (38.6 months), however, this difference was not statistically significant (p=0.0866). Conclusions: Patients in CR following first-line treatment in our study had a significantly longer PFS and OS compared to those achieving a PR. Therefore, our results strongly suggest an association between quality of response and outcome. Disclosures: No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Description: Abstract 2679 Poster Board II-655 Introduction: Bendamustine, a hybrid alkylating agent, shows a unique mechanism of action with a good toxicity profile in various hematological malignancies, particularly in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Bendamustine (B) in combination with Rituximab (R) was demonstrated to be an effective regimen in first- or second-line treatment of patients (pts) with indolent lymphomas. So far, however, no data about the capacity of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) mobilization or a possible stem cell toxicity of B has been studied. It is still an open and clinically relevant question, if pts treated with B are able to mobilize enough stem cells for subsequent high dose therapy with autologous stem cell support. Objective: We performed a prospective randomized multicenter phase-III trial to compare the efficacy and safety of the combination of Bendamustine plus Rituximab (B-R) versus CHOP plus Rituximab (CHOP-R) as first-line therapy for follicular, indolent and mantle cell lymphomas. Chemotherapy was given in 6 cycles each (B: 90 mg/m2 d1+2). One of the secondary objectives (not mandatory) of this study was to evaluate the possibility to mobilize a sufficient number (at least 2.0 × 10E6 CD 34+ cells/kg) of PBSC and progenitor cells in younger pts after completing either B-R or CHOP-R and to compare both stem cells yields. Results: 549 pts have been randomized, 513 pts (B-R = 260, CHOP-R = 253) are evaluable. In each arm, 23 PBSC mobilizations have been performed. In the B-R as well as in the CHOP-R arm each 18 mobilizations were performed directly after completion of therapy, and in 5 pts stem cells were collected at the time of first relapse. Patient characteristics: initial bone marrow involvement was observed in 17 of 23 pts in the B-R arm and 14 of 23 pts in the CHOP-R arm, respectively. Median patient age was 51 years (B-R) and 53 years (CHOP-R). The mobilization regimen was either high dose cyclophosphamide + G-CSF (9 pts in each arm) or G-CSF alone in 7 pts after B-R and in 2 pts after CHOP-R, respectively. Alternative regimens such as Dexa-BEAM, DHAP, ICE and others were also used in the remaining patients. The median CD34+ cell-count/kg was not significantly different in the two arms with 4.55 × 10E6 CD34+ cells/kg (range 1.68 – 12.35) in the B-R group and 6.17 × 10E6 CD 34+ cells/kg (range 1.68 – 20.39) in the CHOP-R group, respectively. In both arms the medium number of apheresis to achieve these yields was not different (B-R: 1.85 vs. CHOP-R: 1.66). Only 3 pts were not able to mobilize at least 2.0 × 10E6 CD 34+ cells/kg: 1 patient after B-R (1.68 × 10E6 CD 34+ cells/kg), and 2 pts after CHOP-R (1.68 × 10E6 CD 34+ cells/kg, and in 1 patient no mobilization was possible). In patients who were mobilized directly after completion of first-line chemotherapy (18 pts in each arm), again, no differences (B-R: median 5.52 × 10E6 CD 34+ cells/kg vs. CHOP-R: median 7.35 × 10E6 CD 34+ cells/kg) were observed. The yield of stem cells in each 5 pts of both arms who were mobilized at the time of first relapse was also nearly the same (B-R: median 8.79 × 10E6 CD 34+ cells/kg vs. CHOP-R: median 7.3 × 10E6 CD 34+ cells/kg). Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that the collection of sufficient numbers of PBSC after B-R treatment is possible and appears to be comparable to the PBSC yield after prior treatment with CHOP-R. Disclosures: Rummel: Roche Pharma AG: Honoraria, Research Funding; Mundipharma: Honoraria, Research Funding.

Description: Background: Promising results have been observed in our previous phase-II study evaluating the combination of Bendamustine plus Rituximab (B-R) in patients with relapsed/refractory indolent or mantle cell lymphomas. An overall response rate (ORR) of 90%, including a 60% rate of complete remissions (CR) was documented. Objective: In October 2003, we initiated a multicenter randomized phase-III study to compare efficacy and safety of the combination B-R versus CHOP plus Rituximab (CHOP-R) as first-line therapy for follicular, indolent and mantle cell lymphomas. Methods: Patients (pts) were randomized to receive Rituximab 375 mg/qm (day 1) plus either Bendamustine 90 mg/qm (days 1+2) every 28 days or the standard CHOP regimen every 21 days for a maximum of 6 cycles. The primary endpoint was event-free survival (EFS). The trial was calculated to power the study to demonstrate a non-inferior EFS associated with B-R treatment, as defined by a difference in EFS between the two regimes of less than 10% after 3 years. An event was defined by a response less than a partial response, disease progression, relapse, or death from any cause. The study is closed according to the planned recruitment schedule. Results: 546 patients have been randomized. For this second interim analysis, 437 patients are evaluable for response (B-R: n=221; CHOP-R: n=212). Median patient age is 64 years. Histologies are equally distributed between arms: follicular 52%, mantle cell 20%, and other indolent lymphomas 28% in both treatment groups, each. The ORR for pts treated with B-R was similar to that associated with CHOP-R (94% vs 93%, respectively). CR was also similar at 41% for B-R compared to 33% for CHOP-R. The median follow-up time for both groups is 28 months. Thus far, 50 deaths have been observed (B-R: 25; CHOP-R: 25). Progressive or relapsed disease has been documented during the follow-up period: 58 in pts treated with B-R and 75 in the CHOP-R group. The median EFS for B-R is not yet reached, the median EFS for CHOP-R is 39 months with no statistical significant difference for the EFS between both groups. The B-R regimen appears to have a better toxicity profile, as evidenced by a lower rate of total alopecia (0% with B-R vs. 89% CHOP-R) and a lower number of infectious complications (number of patients with infections of any grade were 56 (25%) in the B-R group vs. 78 (37%) in CHOP-R group). Correlating, the CHOP-R regimen was more hematotoxic: WHO grade 3/4 leukocytopenia was reported in 36% CHOP-R treated pts compared with 19% in pts treated with B-R, while in the CHOP-R group more frequently G-CSF was used. Conclusions: In this second interim analysis, the combination of Bendamustine plus Rituximab appears to be non-inferior to the standard CHOP-R while showing a better tolerability profile. Further updated results will be presented at this time.

Description: Abstract 405 Introduction: Promising results have been observed in two phase-II studies evaluating the combination of Bendamustine plus Rituximab (B-R) in patients with relapsed/refractory indolent or mantle cell lymphomas (Rummel et al., JCO 2005; Robinson et al., JCO 2008). In order to further investigate the role of the combination B-R we initiated a multicenter randomized phase-III study in October 2003 to compare efficacy and safety of B-R versus CHOP plus Rituximab (CHOP-R) as first-line therapy for patients with follicular (FL), indolent and mantle cell lymphomas (MCL). Patients and Methods: 549 patients (pts) in need of treatment for their disease were randomized to receive Rituximab 375 mg/m2 (day 1) plus either Bendamustine 90 mg/m2 (days 1+2) every 28 days or the standard CHOP regimen every 21 days for a maximum of 6 cycles. The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS). Patients characteristics, including age, stage, LDH, IPI, FLIPI, bone marrow infiltration and extranodal involvement did not statistically significant differ between both arms. The median patient age was 64 years (range 31-83) (64 yrs for B-R and 63 yrs for CHOP-R). Most patients were in stage IV (76,9% in BR and 77,5 in CHOP-R) and stage III (19,2% in B-R and 18,6% in CHOP-R). Histologies were distributed equally between B-R and CHOP-R: follicular 55% and 56%, mantle cell 18% and 19%, and other indolent lymphomas 27% and 24%, respectively. Prophylactic use of antibiotics or growth factors were not generally recommended in this protocol. Results: Of the 549 pts 36 pts were not evaluable: 10 did not receive any study medication, 9 due to withdrawal of consent, 13 due to incorrect diagnosis (4 × DLBCL, 3 × CLL, 2 × MM, 1 × HD, 3 × solid tumors), and 4 for other reasons. 513 randomized pts are evaluable for the final analysis (B-R: n=260; CHOP-R: n=253). Out of these 9 pts were not evaluable for response evaluation: 4 pts (3 × CHOP-R, 1 × B-R) due to early death in neutropenic sepsis, 3 pts due to a subsequent change of therapy after severe toxicity in 1st cycle of CHOP-R, 1 B-R pt due to progress of disease, and 1 B-R due to early death. All patients were counted for evaluation of PFS, overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS; an event was defined by a response less than a partial response, disease progression, relapse, or death from any cause), and for time to next treatment (TTNT). A median number of 6 cycles was given in both treatment arms each. 82% of B-R pts and 86% of CHOP-R pts received 6 cycles. At the time of analysis in August 2009, the median observation time was 32 months. Overall response rate for pts treated with B-R was similar to the CHOP-R group (93,8% vs 93,5%, respectively). The CR rate was significantly higher with 40,1% for B-R compared to 30,8% for CHOP-R (p=0.0323). The median PFS, EFS and TTNT were significantly longer after B-R compared to after CHOP-R: PFS 54,8 months for B-R versus (vs) 34,8 months for CHOP-R (p=0.0002), Hazard Ratio (HR) 0.5765 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.4292 to 0.7683); EFS 54 months for B-R vs 31 months for CHOP-R (p=0.0002, HR 0.6014 (95% CI 0.4515 to 0.7845); and TTNT median not yet reached in the B-R group vs 40,7 months in the CHOP-R group (p=0.0002; HR 0.5416, 95% CI 0.3897 to 0.7491). OS did not differ between both groups at this point of time. Thus far, 67 deaths have been observed (B-R: 34; CHOP-R: 33). CHOP-R treatment was more frequently associated with serious adverse events (SAE) (n=49 in B-R vs n=74 in CHOP-R). Significant differences in hematologic toxicities were observed for neutropenia grade 3+4 (BR 10,7% vs CHOP-R 46,5%; p

Description: Abstract 441 Introduction: By means of standard chemotherapy advanced stage follicular lymphoma (FL) is an incurable disease. Clinical courses are characterized by a continuous tendency to relapse caused by residual neoplastic cells. Quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) to detect lymphoma cell that carry the t(14;18) translocation is a suitable method to measure minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients with FL. Despite several reports dealing with MRD qPCR in FL, its role in the clinical management of patients is still not clearly defined. Therefore, we carried out a multicenter study, to assess the prognostic value of sequential quantitative MRD detection in first-line treatment of FL using an improved version of a LightCycler based qPCR specific for the major breakpoint region (MBR) positive IgH/bcl2 translocation, provided by Roche Diagnostics® (Penzberg Germany). Patients and Methods: We analysed 718 blood (PB) samples of 179 patients with newly diagnosed FL treated within the multicenter randomized trial NHL1, conducted by the German StiL group (Study group indolent Lymphomas), comparing 6 cycles of R–CHOP versus R–Bendamustin (R-B). Samples were taken at diagnosis, after 6 cycles of either R–CHOP or R–B immuno-chemotherapy and every three months during follow-up. All samples were analyzed in the department of Hematology at Heinrich-Heine University in Duesseldorf. Results: At diagnosis, 112 out of 179 patients (62.6%) were positive for IgH/bcl2 within the MBR in the peripheral blood. Significantly higher amounts of bcl2/IgH positive cells were found in patients with bone marrow infiltration (p=0.012) and depending on the number of lymphatic nodes (LN) with disease involvement (〉3 LN p=0.003; 〉5 LN p=0.0009; 〉7 LN p=0.022). Overall, a remarkable inter-individual variation of bcl2/IgH positive cells in the PB at diagnosis, reflected by ratios from 0.000281 to 81, was found. The estimated event free survival (EFS) at 2 years of patients who presented at diagnosis low to normal amounts of bcl2/IgH positive cells in the PB (ratio 〈 2, n=83) was 82% (SE 0.045), which was significantly better than the 47% (SE 0.11) observed in patients showing the highest amount of bcl2/IgH positive cells (ratio 〉2, n=24) in the PB (p=0.003). By univariate and multivariate analysis, we found that the amount of bcl2/IgH positive cells in the PB at diagnosis (p=0.001) as well as the achievement of a negative MRD status after therapy (p=0.0001) were significant predictors for relapse free survival. Monitoring of MRD levels before and after therapy revealed that 6 cycles of immuno-chemotherapy significantly reduced the amount of bcl2/IgH positive cells in the PB compared with pre-treatment MRD levels (p=0.0001; median bcl2/IgH/tPA ratio: before treatment 0.0734, range: 0.000281–81, after treatment negative, range: negative–0.17). After treatment, 86% of the patients (n=82) achieved a molecular remission in the PB defined as qPCR negative, whereas 14% (13 patients) remained PCR positive. Not reaching a molecular remission in the PB at the end of therapy had a significant negative influence on PFS. After a median follow-up of two years, patients who remained MRD positive in the first measurement after therapy had a significant lower PFS than MRD negative patients (p=0.0001; 9 months vs. not reached). There was no significant difference in the degree of tumor cell depletion in the PB induced by the two different regimens. So far, 539 follow-up samples from 3 up to 39 months after therapy were analyzed. Patients with a consistent negative MRD status throughout follow-up showed a trend towards longer PFS. After 38 months follow-up, MRD positive patients had a PFS of 54% compared to 78% in the group of MRD negative patients (p=0.066). Conclusion: QPCR for the t(14;18) performed at diagnosis and during follow-up on PB samples predicts treatment response and long-term clinical outcome of patients with FL. Disclosures: Zohren: Roche: Honoraria, Research Funding. Rummel:Roche Pharma AG: Honoraria, Research Funding; Mundipharma: Honoraria, Research Funding; Amgen: Honoraria. Kobbe:Roche: Research Funding.

Description: Key Points Independent prognostic relevance of quantitative Bcl-2/IgH monitoring in the PB of patients with FL before and after first-line therapy.