Brentuximab Vedotin Demonstrates Significant Activity in B-Cell Lymphoma

the Cancer Therapy Advisor take:

According to a new study published in the journal Blood, researchers from various institutions across the United States have found that brentuximab vedotin has significant activity in patients with refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) and a variety of CD30 expression levels.

For the open-label, phase 2 study, researchers sought to investigate the efficacy of brentuximab vedotin in patients with relapsed or refractory CD30-positive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), and in this planned subset analysis, researchers included 49 patients with DLBCL and 19 patients with other B-cell NHLs.

Results showed an objective response rate of 44% for patients with DLBCL. Specifically, 17% achieved a complete remission with a median duration of 16.6 months as of this analysis.

Although all patients that experienced a response had quantifiable CD30 levels, researchers found no statistical correlation between objective response and CD30 expression level. In addition, patients with other B-cell NHLs also responsed to brentuximab vedotin (8 complete responses, 2 partial responses).

In regard to safety, observed adverse events were similar to known toxicities of the anti-CD30 antibody-drug conjugate. When brentuximab vedotin was used in combination with rituximab, similar activity was observed with a well tolerated safety profile.