Fixed-Duration Epcoritamab Shows Promise in Older Patients with Untreated LBCL
epcoritamab Shows Promise for Older Patients with Untreated Large B-Cell Lymphoma
New Data from ASH 2024 Highlights Potential of Chemotherapy-Free Treatment Option
[City, State] – A new study presented at the 2024 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting offers hope for older adults with newly diagnosed large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) who are ineligible for standard chemotherapy. Findings from the phase 2 EPCORE DLBCL-3 trial (NCT05660967) demonstrate that fixed-duration subcutaneous epcoritamab-bysp (Epkinly) generated extraordinary response rates and was generally well-tolerated in this vulnerable patient population.
“Epcoritamab monotherapy is a promising chemotherapy-free treatment option for older patients with comorbidities and newly diagnosed LBCL who are deemed ineligible for anthracycline-based regimens,” said Franck Morschhauser, MD, PhD, a professor of hematology at the University of Lille at CHU lille in Lille, France, who presented the data.The trial focused on patients aged 75 and older with LBCL who where ineligible for anthracycline-based chemotherapy due to age or comorbidities.
impressive Response Rates and Durable Remissions
Among the 40 patients evaluable for response, the objective response rate (ORR) was a remarkable 78%, with 70% achieving complete remission (CR). Notably, 93% of patients who responded and had evaluable minimal residual disease (MRD) status achieved MRD negativity, indicating a deep and possibly durable response.
Responses were observed quickly, with a median time to response of just 1.5 months.Safety Profile Supports Use in Frail Patients
While epcoritamab demonstrated efficacy, safety was also a key consideration in this elderly population. The most common side effects were cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), both of wich were generally manageable.
CRS occurred in 71% of patients, with the majority being mild to moderate in severity. ICANS affected 16% of patients, with all cases resolving.
Serious infections, including COVID-19, were observed in 18% of patients, highlighting the importance of careful monitoring and supportive care in this vulnerable group.
A New Hope for Older Adults with LBCL
The EPCORE DLBCL-3 trial provides encouraging evidence that epcoritamab may offer a much-needed treatment option for older adults with LBCL who are not candidates for standard chemotherapy. Further research is ongoing to confirm thes findings and explore the long-term outcomes of this promising therapy.
[Image of Dr. Franck morschhauser]
Reference:
Morschhauser F, Belada D, Duell J, et al. EPCORE DLBCL-3 first disclosure: fixed-duration epcoritamab monotherapy in older (≥75 y), anthracycline-ineligible patients with previously untreated large b-cell lymphoma. Blood. 2024;144(suppl 1):867. doi:10.1182/blood-2024-199271
Epcoritamab Offers New Hope for Older Patients with Untreated Large B-Cell Lymphoma
[City, State] – (NewsDirectory3.com) A groundbreaking study presented at the 2024 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting suggests that epcoritamab-bysp (Epkinly) could be a game-changer for older adults with newly diagnosed large B-cell lymphoma (LBCL) who are ineligible for standard chemotherapy.
The phase 2 EPCORE DLBCL-3 trial (NCT05660967),focused on patients aged 75 and older with LBCL who couldn’t tolerate anthracycline-based chemotherapy due to age or comorbidities.
Dr. franck Morschhauser, MD, PhD, professor of hematology at the University of Lille at CHU lille in Lille, France, presented the findings, stating, “Epcoritamab monotherapy is a promising chemotherapy-free treatment option for older patients with comorbidities and newly diagnosed LBCL who are deemed ineligible for anthracycline-based regimens.”
The results were remarkable. Among the 40 patients evaluable for response, the objective response rate (ORR) was an impressive 78%, with 70% achieving complete remission (CR).Notably, 93% of responding patients with evaluable minimal residual disease (MRD) status achieved MRD negativity, indicating a perhaps durable response.
Responses were observed quickly, with a median time to response of just 1.5 months.
Crucially, epcoritamab was generally well-tolerated in this vulnerable population. While cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and immune effector cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS) were observed, the majority of cases were mild to moderate in severity and manageable.
Serious infections, including COVID-19, were observed in 18% of patients, emphasizing the need for careful monitoring and supportive care.
Dr. Morschhauser highlighted the significance of these findings, stating, “The EPCORE DLBCL-3 trial provides encouraging evidence that epcoritamab may offer a much-needed treatment option for older adults with LBCL who are not candidates for standard chemotherapy.”
Further research is underway to confirm these findings and explore the long-term outcomes of this potentially transformative therapy.
[Image of Dr. Franck morschhauser]