A Randomized Phase II Study of Mosunetuzumab SC Plus Polatuzumab Vedotin Demonstrates Improved Outcomes Versus Rituximab Plus Polatuzumab Vedotin in Patients (Pts) with Relapsed or Refractory (R/R) Large B-Cell Lymphoma (LBCL)
Julio C. Chávez, Adam J. Olszewski, Mariana Bastos‐Oreiro, Sarit Assouline, Izidore S. Lossos, Catherine Diefenbach, Nilanjan Ghosh, Dipenkumar Modi, Waleed Sabry, Seema Naik, Nirav N. Shah, Ronan Foley, Daniel J. Hodson, Sneha Makadia, Song Pham, Elicia Penuel, Hao Wu, Wahib S. Ead, Iris To, Connie Lee Batlevi, Michael C. Wei, Lihua E. Budde
Abstract
Background: The ongoing Phase Ib/II study (NCT03671018) evaluates mosunetuzumab (Mosun) plus polatuzumab vedotin (Pola; M-Pola) in pts with R/R LBCL. The Phase II single-arm expansion cohort showed a manageable safety profile and highly durable responses with M (IV administration)-Pola at primary analysis (Budde et al. Nat Med 2024). To delineate the contribution of Mosun to the M-Pola combination, we conducted an analysis of a Phase II randomized cohort evaluating M (SC administration)-Pola vs rituximab (R)-Pola in R/R LBCL. Methods: Eligible pts had confirmed R/R LBCL (diffuse LBCL [DLBCL] not otherwise specified, follicular lymphoma [FL] Grade [Gr] 3b, high-grade B-cell lymphoma [HGBCL], or transformed [tr]FL) and had received ≥1 prior therapy (including an anti-CD20 antibody). Pts were randomized 1:1 to M (SC)-Pola or R-Pola (stratified by number of prior therapies [1 vs ≥2]). Treatment cycles were 21 days. Mosun SC was given with Cycle (C)1 step-up dosing (5mg on C1 Day [D]1; 45mg on C1D8, C1D15, and D1 of C2-8) to mitigate cytokine release syndrome (CRS). Hospitalization was not mandatory. Pola IV (1.8mg/kg) was given on D1 of C1-6. Rituximab IV (375mg/m2) was given on D1 of C1-8. Pts on R-Pola with disease progression during or at end of treatment (EOT) or stable disease at EOT could cross over to receive M-Pola (up to 8 cycles of cumulative Pola). Primary endpoint was best ORR using Lugano 2014 criteria. CRS events were defined per ASTCT criteria. Results: As of January 30, 2024, 80 pts were enrolled to receive M (SC)-Pola (n=40) or R-Pola (n=40). 20 pts on R-Pola received crossover treatment with M-Pola, and 1 pt in the R-Pola arm did not receive treatment (study withdrawal). For M-Pola vs R-Pola, median age was 71.5 vs 67.0 years, 48% vs 54% had IPI 3-5, and 78% vs 85% had Ann Arbor Stage III/IV disease, 68% vs 82% of pts had DLBCL, 8% vs 3% of pts had Gr 3b FL, and 25% vs 15% of pts had HGBCL; among pts with DLBCL and HGBCL, 13% vs 23% had trFL. Median number of prior therapies in the M-Pola vs R-Pola arms was 2 (range 1-5) vs 3 (range 1-9), 35% vs 39% of pts received prior CAR-T, and 15% vs 23% had prior ASCT. A total of 50% vs 62% of pts on M-Pola vs R-Pola were primary refractory (relapse <6 months after first-line [1L] therapy), 71% (n=10/14) vs 80% (n=12/15) were refractory to CAR-T, and 13% vs 8% had early relapse (6-12 months after 1L therapy). For M-Pola vs R-Pola, ORR was 78% (95% CI: 61.6-89.2) vs 50% (95% CI: 33.8-66.2), CR rate was 58% (95% CI: 40.9-73.0) vs 35% (95% CI: 20.6-51.7), median duration of response was NR vs 10.1 months (95% CI: 3.6-NR; HR 0.40 [95% CI: 0.1-1.2]), median duration of CR was NR in both arms (HR 0.38 [95% CI: 0.1-1.3]), and median PFS was NR vs 6.4 months (95% CI: 4.7-NR; HR 0.48 [95% CI: 0.2-1.0]). OS was NR in the M-Pola and R-Pola arms (median follow-up 18 months). Adverse events (AEs) occurring in ≥30% of pts with M-Pola were injection-site reaction (55%), diarrhea (48%), fatigue (35%), and constipation (30%). AEs in ≥30% of pts with R-Pola were nausea (36%), diarrhea (33%), and fatigue (33%). Serious AE rates were similar between arms (M-Pola, 33%; R-Pola, 26%). The most common Gr 3/4 AE in both arms was neutropenia (M-Pola, 30%; R-Pola, 21%). One Gr 3 febrile neutropenia event occurred with M-Pola. Gr 5 AEs occurred in 2 (5%) pts on M-Pola (both COVID-19 related) vs 1 (3%) pt on R-Pola (hepatic failure). CRS events occurred in 4 (10%) pts on M-Pola (all Gr 1/2, all during C1, all resolved). Median CRS duration was 3 days (range 2-5), and 1 pt was treated with tocilizumab. In pts experiencing CRS, mean IL-6 and IFN-γ levels were elevated ~2-fold 24 hours after Mosun SC treatment. Peripheral neuropathy (PN) occurred in 4 (10%) pts on M-Pola (Gr 1, n=3; Gr 2, n=1) and 2 (5%) pts on R-Pola (all Gr 1). One neurologic event potentially consistent with ICANS was observed with M-Pola (Gr 2 seizure). Serious infections occurred in 9 (23%) pts on M-Pola and 7 (18%) pts on R-Pola (mainly COVID-19/COVID-19 pneumonia). Treatment was discontinued due to AEs in 3 pts on M-Pola (PN, n=2 [1 Pola related]; COVID-19 pneumonia, n=1]); and 2 pts on R-Pola (PN, n=1; pain in extremity, n=1 [neither treatment related]). Conclusions: Fixed-duration outpatient M (SC)-Pola improved efficacy, with higher ORR and CR rate, promising durability, low rates of CRS events, and no excess toxicities vs R-Pola in pts with R/R LBCL. These results strongly support the continued evaluation of the M (SC)-Pola regimen being investigated in the Phase III SUNMO study (NCT05171647).