Pembro: ASH 2022 Craig Sauter After auto-SCT in T-Cell NHL
By Craig Sauter, MD
Pembrolizumab (MK-3475), better known as Pembro, may help T-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients after autologous stem cell transplantation.
This phase 2 experiment had one arm and many sides.
Pembrolizumab (Pembro) maintenance medication was examined in lymphoma consolidation after high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem cell transplantation. The study originally had many cohorts.
Researchers liked a 60% progression-free survival rate after 18 months.
Thirteen of the seventeen patients exhibited no progression, meeting the phase 2 goal for this cohort.
Even among peripheral T-cell or T-cell non-lymphomas, Hodgkin's, there can be multiple histologies with diverse natural histories, so I think the most significant question is whether we actually believe this is a promising approach. As researchers, we want to emphasize that histologies vary.
The study reflected such histologies, but it can be difficult to identify subhistologies that may benefit from this strategy, especially in a small cohort of 21 persons like this one. Thus, the key question is whether we think this will shift the needle. Maybe, but it would need to be shown in a bigger latter phase random assignment study compared to placebo or other maintenance strategies. Those are requirements.
Peripheral T-cell lymphomas are rare, making study difficult. Researchers worried about checkpoint inhibitor safety after autologous transplantation. The study found that seventeen of the twenty-one subjects had grade two treatment-related adverse events.
Three subjects covered grade three events. The study never included grade 4 or 5 activities. Pembrolizumab's gastrointestinal side effects were typical of checkpoint inhibition (Pembro).
Watch and Share the Video Here: https://oncologytube.com/v/41726
Read and Share the Article Here: https://oncologytube.com/v/41727
Listen and Share the Audio Podcast Here: https://oncologytube.com/v/41728
