Key clinical point: Lenalidomide combined with rituximab + etoposide, cytarabine, cisplatinum, and methylprednisolone (LR-ESHAP) shows promising efficacy and manageable toxicity and is a feasible salvage regimen before autologous stem-cell transplantation in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
Major finding: The overall and complete response rates were 67% (95% CI 52%-81%) and 35% (95% CI 21%-50%), respectively. At a 41-month median follow-up, the median progression-free, overall, and event-free survival were 16 months (95% CI 4-28), 22 months (95% CI not estimable), and 7 months (95% CI 0-20), respectively. The most common grade ≥3 adverse events were thrombocytopenia (70%) and neutropenia (67%).
Study details: This phase 2 study included 46 adult patients with DLBCL who had relapsed after or were refractory to first-line therapy and received three cycles of LR-ESHAP.
Disclosures: This study was supported by the GELTAMO group (Spain) and Celgene Corporation. Some authors declared receiving consulting fees, research funding, travel support, or honoraria for lectures, presentations, or participation in speakers' bureaus or educational events from various sources, including Celgene. Fourteen authors declared no conflicts of interest.
Source: Martín García-Sancho A et al. Lenalidomide in combination with R-ESHAP in patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: A phase 2 study from GELTAMO. Br J Haematol. 2023 (Jul 23). doi: 10.1111/bjh.18989