abt-199 and Infections

Over the last decade, there have been important developments in the treatment of lymphoproliferative disorders. Apart from conventional chemotherapy, a wide array of therapies has been developed, with different indications. The aim of this review is to evaluate the risk of infection associated with these therapies, as well as establishing prevention recommendations. In all cases, the patient's underlying disease as well as concomitant or previous therapies have an impact on the risk of infection. Anti-CD20 antibodies (rituximab, ofatumumab and obinutuzumab) have been associated with a higher risk of bacterial and viral infection, as well as reactivation of latent infections and opportunistic infections. Alemtuzumab is associated with severe, protracted immunosuppression. Ibrutinib and acalabrutinib have been linked to bacterial infections (especially respiratory infections), invasive fungal infections and opportunistic infections. Idelalisib carries a higher risk of Pneumocystis jirovecii and infection and cytomegalovirus reactivation. Venetoclax is associated with respiratory infections and neutropenia. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are not directly associated with a higher risk of infection; nevertheless, the use of corticosteroids and immunosuppressants to control immune-related adverse events results in an increase of the risk of infection. Brentuximab, lenalidomide and histone deacetylase inhibitors do not seem to be associated with a higher risk of infections. Although data are scarce, a higher number of infections have been observed with cellular therapies, mostly in patients with more than 3 previous antineoplastic treatments or those receiving tocilizumab or corticosteroids for managing the cytokine release syndrome. In all patients, we recommend appropriate vaccination, screening for latent infections, and individualized prophylaxis recommendations.

Topics: Adenine; Alemtuzumab; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Agents; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Benzamides; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Communicable Disease Control; Humans; Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors; Infections; Lymphoproliferative Disorders; Piperidines; Purines; Pyrazines; Quinazolinones; Risk; Rituximab; Sulfonamides; Syndrome

Topics: Aged; Antibodies, Monoclonal; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; bcl-X Protein; Bone Marrow; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 11; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14; Combined Modality Therapy; Dexamethasone; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Genes, bcl-2; Hematologic Diseases; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Infections; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Male; Middle Aged; Multiple Myeloma; Neoplasm Proteins; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Recurrence; Salvage Therapy; Signal Transduction; Sulfonamides; Translocation, Genetic

The phase 2 CAVALLI (NCT02055820) study assessed efficacy and safety of venetoclax, a selective B-cell lymphoma-2 (Bcl-2) inhibitor, with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) in first-line (1L) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), including patients demonstrating Bcl-2 protein overexpression by immunohistochemistry (Bcl-2 IHC+). Eligible patients were ≥18 years of age and had previously untreated DLBCL, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status ≤2, and International Prognostic Index 2 to 5. Venetoclax 800 mg (days 4-10, cycle 1; days 1-10, cycles 2-8) was administered with rituximab (8 cycles) and cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (6-8 cycles) in 21-day cycles. Primary end points were safety, tolerability, and research_plete response (CR) at end of treatment (EOT). Secondary end points were progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival. Comparative analyses used covariate-adjusted R-CHOP controls from the GOYA/BO21005 study, an appropriate contemporary benchmark for safety and efficacy. Safety and efficacy analyses included 206 patients. CR rate at EOT was 69% in the overall population and was maintained across Bcl-2 IHC+ subgroups. With a median follow-up of 32.2 months, trends were observed for improved investigator-assessed PFS for venetoclax plus R-CHOP in the overall population (hazard ratio [HR], 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43-0.87) and Bcl-2 IHC+ subgroups (HR, 0.55; 95% CI, 0.34-0.89) vs R-CHOP. Despite a higher incidence of grade 3/4 hematologic adverse events (86%), related mortality was not increased (2%). Chemotherapy dose intensity was similar in CAVALLI vs GOYA. The addition of venetoclax to R-CHOP in 1L DLBCL demonstrates increased, but manageable, myelosuppression and the potential of improved efficacy, particularly in high-risk Bcl-2 IHC+ patient subgroups.

Topics: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Cyclophosphamide; Doxorubicin; Fatigue; Female; Gastrointestinal Diseases; Genes, bcl-2; Granulocyte Colony-Stimulating Factor; Hematologic Diseases; Humans; Infections; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse; Male; Middle Aged; Neoplasm Proteins; Prednisone; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Rituximab; Sulfonamides; Vincristine; Young Adult

Lymphoid neoplasms treatment has recently been renewed to increase antitumor efficacy and conventional chemotherapies toxicities. Limited data have been published about the infection risk associated with these new drugs, therefore this study analyzes the infectious complications in patients with lymphoproliferative diseases (LPD) treated with monoclonal antibodies (obinutuzumab, ofatumumab, brentuximab, nivolumab, or pembrolizumab), BTK inhibitors (ibrutinib and acalabrutinib), PI3K inhibitors (idelalisib) and BCL2 inhibitors (venetoclax).. Multicenter retrospective study of 458 LPD patients treated with targeted therapies in real-life setting, in 18 Spanish institutions, from the time of their commercial availability to August 2020.. Severe infections incidence was 23% during 17-month median follow-up; cumulative incidence was higher in the first 3-6 months of targeted drug treatment and then decreased. The most frequent etiology was bacterial (54%). Nine (6%) Invasive fungal infections (IFI) were observed, in its majority in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) patients treated predominantly with ibrutinib. Significant risk factors for severe infection were: severe lymphopenia (p = 0.009, OR 4.7, range 1.3-1.7), combined targeted treatment vs single agent treatment (p = 0.014 OR 2.2 range 1.1-4.2) and previous rituximab (p = 0.03 OR 1.8, range 1.05-3.3). Infection-related mortality was 6%. In 22% of patients with severe infections, definitive discontinuation of the targeted drug was observed.. A high proportion of patients presented severe infections during follow-up, with non-negligible attributable mortality, but infection incidence is not superior to the one observed during the chemotherapy era. In selected cases with specific risk factors for infection, antimicrobial prophylaxis should be considered.

Topics: Adenine; Adolescent; Adult; Agammaglobulinaemia Tyrosine Kinase; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological; Benzamides; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Female; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Infections; Lymphopenia; Lymphoproliferative Disorders; Male; Middle Aged; Piperidines; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-bcl-2; Purines; Pyrazines; Quinazolinones; Retrospective Studies; Risk Factors; Sulfonamides; Young Adult

The BCL2 inhibitor venetoclax is transforming the management of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), given its high efficacy in relapsed/refractory CLL as observed in both early-phase and randomized clinical trials. The present study aimed to determine whether venetoclax is effective and well tolerated in patients with CLL or Richter's syndrome (RS) in a real-world setting and to highlight factors impacting survival. Data from a venetoclax French compassionate use program were collected for 67 patients (60 with CLL and 7 with RS). Most patients presented adverse genetic features, such as TP53 disruption (74%) or complex karyotype (58%). Tumor lysis syndrome was observed in 14 (22%) patients, and 16 (24%) patients were hospitalized for grade III/IV infection. In the CLL cohort, ORR was 75 %, 1-year PFS was 61% (95% CI = 47-72%) and 1-year OS 70% (95% CI = 56-80%). No impact of TP53 disruption was noted while complex karyotype was identified as a predictor of both inferior PFS (HR = 3.46; 95% CI = 1-12; log-rank p = 0.03) and OS (HR = 3.2; 95% CI = 0.9-11.4, log-rank p = 0.047). Among the seven patients with RS, two achieved an objective response to venetoclax; however, the median OS was only 1.1 month. The well-balanced safety/efficacy profile of venetoclax is confirmed in this real-world setting. Complex karyotype should be evaluated as a predictive factor of survival for patients treated by venetoclax.

Topics: Abnormal Karyotype; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Antineoplastic Agents; Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; Compassionate Use Trials; Drug Evaluation; Female; France; Genes, p53; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; Humans; Infections; Kaplan-Meier Estimate; Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell; Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse; Male; Middle Aged; Progression-Free Survival; Retrospective Studies; Sulfonamides; Treatment Outcome; Tumor Lysis Syndrome