HCN Oncology Year-in-Review: LymphomaDecember 21, 2021 | Oncology Hematology DA-R-EPOCH vs. R-CHOP in DLBCL: How Do We Choose? DLBCL is increasingly being recognized as a heterogeneous disease with distinct molecular subtypes. This has challenged the rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) treatment paradigm in recent years, as several DLBCL subtypes have inferior survival after standard R-CHOP therapy. So how do you choose? In this review the authors conclude with proposed clinical management scenarios in which DA-R-EPOCH may be preferred, including some for patient populations in which the use of R-CHOP vs. DA-R-EPOCH is controversial. Read full article Geriatrics Cognitive Decline Observed Six Months After Chemotherapy in Patients With Lymphoma Publication: ASH Clinical NewsOriginal Source: Journal of the National Care InstituteDesign: Assessment of longitudinal changes in memory, attention, and executive function in men and women with lymphoma (n=248; 62.5% male) prior to and six months after initiation of chemotherapy. A group of age- and sex-matched people without cancer was used as a control arm (n=212; 59% male).Results: At baseline, patients with lymphoma self-reported significantly more issues on the FACT-Cog scale (perceived cognitive impairment [PCI] and total scores) compared with sex-matched controls (p<0.05). In addition, patients with lymphoma reported significantly more attentional difficulty (p=0.01) and significantly greater PCI (p<0.03). Read full article Hematology Tisagenlecleucel vs. SOC as 2L Therapy of Primary R/R Aggressive B-Cell NHL: Analysis of the Phase III Belinda Study Adults with confirmed R/R aNHL within 12 months after first-line (1L) chemo-immunotherapy were eligible for the randomized Phase III study, which demonstrated that tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) as second-line (2L) treatment in R/R aNHL patients did not have a higher event-free survival (EFS) vs. the standard-of-care (SOC). Read this late-breaking abstract from the ASH Annual Meeting & Exhibition to discover the contributing factors leading to the results, as well as how insights from this study will inform use of cellular treatment in the 2L R/R aNHL setting and the design of future CAR-T trials. Read full article Hematology Phase II Trial of Pembrolizumab + Gemcitabine, Vinorelbine, and Liposomal Doxorubicin as SLT for Rel/Ref Classical Hodgkin Lymphoma (cHL) Second-line therapy with pembrolizumab plus gemcitabine, vinorelbine, and liposomal doxorubicin (pembro-GVD) is a highly effective and well-tolerated regimen that can efficiently bridge patients with rel/ref cHL to high-dose therapy and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HDT/AHCT). Read full article Hematology The POLARIX Study: Polatuzumab Vedotin w. Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, Doxorubicin, and Prednisone (pola-R-CHP) vs. R-CHOP Therapy in Patients w. Previously Untreated DLBCL A late-breaking abstract from the ASH Annual Meeting & Exhibition. In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, international study of 879 patients (median age: 65 (range 19–80) years; IPI 3–5 (62%)), the pola-R-CHP combination demonstrated a 27% reduction in the relative risk of disease progression, relapse, or death compared with R-CHOP, with a similar safety profile in the first-line treatment of patients with DLBCL. Read full article
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