Encouraging results for new treatments in DLBCL

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) that has come back (relapsed) or not responded (refractory) after initial therapy can be difficult to treat. Treatment approaches include stem cell transplant, but this is a very intensive treatment and it is not suitable for many patients.

The L-MIND trial looked at whether a combination of two targeted therapies, tafasitamab and lenalidomide, could be beneficial for people with relapsed or refractory DLBCL who are not able to have a stem cell transplant.

• Tafasitamab is a new antibody therapy that targets a protein called CD19 on the surface of lymphoma cells. This attracts immune cells, which kill the lymphoma cells.
• Lenalidomide is a targeted therapy that helps your immune system attack lymphoma cells and stop them growing. Lab studies have shown that it might also boost the anti-cancer effects of tafasitamab. It is already available to treat some types of lymphoma.

People involved in the study had up to 12 cycles of tafasitamab and lenalidomide, followed by tafasitamab on its own. They continued treatment unless their lymphoma got worse or they developed troublesome side effects.

After an average of 13 months follow-up, 3 out of every 5 people had experienced a partial or complete response to tafasitamab and lenalidomide treatment. On average, these responses lasted over 21 months. The most common side effects of treatment were a low neutrophil count (neutropenia) and a low platelet count (thrombocytopenia).

The study authors concluded that tafasitamab plus lenalidomide is a well tolerated treatment option with very promising clinical activity and a high proportion of durable complete responses for people with relapsed or refractory DLBCL who are not able to have a stem cell transplant.

It is important to note that this was a phase 2 (early phase) clinical trial. The combination of tafasitamab plus lenalidomide will need to be studied in larger clinical trials to confirm whether or not it is safe and effective for people with relapsed or refractory DLBCL.

To find out more about the L-MIND trial and other clinical trials for lymphoma, or to search for a trial that might be suitable for you, visit Lymphoma TrialsLink.

20 July 2020