Wyndham H. Wilson, Jung sin-Ho, Brandelyn Nicole Pitcher, Eric D Hsi, et al.

Conclusions: There was no difference in EFS or OS between R-CHOP and DA-EPOCH-R when considering all patients. DA-EPOCH-R showed increased toxicity consistent with higher dose-intensity but not increased grade 5 toxicity. Compared to R-CHOP, more patients on DA-EPOCH-R did not complete treatment, which may reflect patterns of care or toxicity. Due to the clinical and genetic diversity of DLBCL, subset analyses are necessary to determine the effect of CNS relapse, GCB and ABC subtypes, age and IPI on outcomes of the two arms. These data do not address the efficacy of these regimens in PMBL or MYC+ DLBCL due to their low frequency, and where more dose-intense regimens appear to be important. Full molecular analyses are ongoing.

Umberto Vitolo, Marek Trněný, David Belada, Angelo M Carella, et al. 

Conclusions: The primary endpoint of this study was not met: G-CHOP did not significantly improve INV-assessed PFS compared with R-CHOP in previously untreated pts with DLBCL. No unexpected safety signals were identified. Further investigation of outcomes in subgroups is planned.

Catherine Thieblemont, Hervé Tilly, Maria Gomez da Silva, Rene-Olivier Casasnovas, et al. 

Conclusion: This analysis of the REMARC study shows that 2 years of LEN maintenance in patients responding to R-CHOP significantly improved PFS (primary endpoint) without an early significant impact on OS. The COO analysis is currently ongoing. This is the first report finding that using an immunomodulatory agent as maintenance therapy prolongs PFS for patients with DLBCL after first line treatment with R-CHOP. 

Carlo Visco, Annalisa Chiappella, Luca Nassi, Caterina Patti, et al.

Conclusions: The R-BAC500 regimen can be safely administered as first line therapy to elderly patients with MCL. Hematologic toxicity is substantially reduced compared to our previous experience. With 93% of FDG-PET negative CR, and a 2-years PFS of 81% without maintenance therapy, the R-BAC500 regimen is a highly effective treatment for patients with MCL, and compares favourably with previously reported regimens in this patient population, including R-bendamustine.

Andre Goy, Radhakrishnan Ramchandren, Nilanjan Ghosh, Javier Munoz, et al.

Conclusions: Based on safety data from the phase 1b portion of the study and the DLRC recommendation, the phase 2 portion of the study is being initiated at the 20 mg LEN dose level in combination with RTX and ibr. Preliminary efficacy results demonstrate responses at 15 mg LEN and suggest that a dose level above 10 mg LEN might be needed to induce a response in R/R DLBCL. In summary, despite small pt numbers, the results seen in this high-risk refractory DLBCL population are encouraging.

Andrés J.M. Ferreri,  Marianna Sassone,  Francesco Zaja, Alessandro Re, et al.

Conclusions: With the limitations of a non-randomized design, this trial soundly promotes the use of LEN maintenance in pts with chemosensitive relapse of DLBCL not eligible for ASCT or experiencing relapse after ASCT. LEN was well tolerated in this elderly population, with survival benefit both in pts with de novo or transformed DLBCL, and both in pts with GCB- or nonGCB-DLBCL. These results warrant further investigation of immunomodulatory drugs as maintenance in these high-risk pts.