The phase 2 HOVON 151 study (NL6335204217) investigated the efficacy of atezolizumab consolidation therapy in participants with high-risk DLBCL who had a CMR after R-CHOP therapy (n=109). The included participants received intravenously administered 1,200 mg atezolizumab every 3 weeks for up to 18 cycles. The primary endpoint was disease-free survival (DFS) and Dr Marcel Nijland (University Medical Center Groningen, the Netherlands) presented the study's final analysis.
The 2-year DFS rate was 87.9% (90% CI 81.5–92.1), surpassing the 2-year DFS rate from a historical cohort (≤79% [2]) and meeting the primary endpoint. Moreover, the 2-year overall survival rate was 96.3%. Dr Nijland added that 13 of the 15 relapsing participants received salvage chemotherapy, of whom 77% experienced a second CMR.
Adverse events were reported in 79% of the participants, most commonly being infections (25%), musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders (9%), and nervous system disorders (9%). The research team noted 10 cases of endocrinopathy and 3 ocular toxicities during the study.
Atezolizumab consolidation therapy after R-CHOP yielded excellent results in participants with high-risk DLBCL who achieved a CMR on R-CHOP. The remarkable 2-year overall survival outcomes and the fact that most participants were chemo-sensitive at relapse support atezolizumab as a consolidation therapy for this population.
Medical writing support was provided by Robert van den Heuvel.