Blinatumomab as first salvage versus second or later salvage in adults with relapsed/refractory B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia: Results of a pooled analysis

Max S. Topp, Anthony S. Stein, Nicola Gökbuget, Heinz August Horst, Nicolas Boissel, Giovanni Martinelli, Hagop Kantarjian, Monika Brüggemann, Yuqi Chen, Gerhard Zugmaier

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Background: Blinatumomab is a BiTE® immuno-oncology therapy indicated for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) B-cell precursor (BCP) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Aims To assess the efficacy and safety of blinatumomab as first salvage versus second or later salvage in patients with r/r BCP ALL. Materials & Methods Patient-level pooled data were used for this analysis. In total, 532 adults with r/r BCP ALL treated with blinatumomab were included (first salvage, n = 165; second or later salvage, n = 367). Results Compared with patients who received blinatumomab as second or later salvage, those who received blinatumomab as first salvage had a longer median overall survival (OS; 10.4 vs. 5.7 months; HR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.26–1.97; P <.001) and relapse-free survival (10.1 vs. 7.3 months; HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 0.98–1.93; P =.061), and higher rates of remission (n = 89 [54%] vs. n = 150 [41%]; odds ratio, 0.59; 95% CI, 0.41–0.85; P =.005), minimal residual disease response (n = 68 [41%] vs. n = 118 [32%]), and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplant (alloHSCT) realization (n = 60 [36%] vs. n = 88 [24%]), and alloHSCT in continuous remission (n = 33 [20%] vs. n = 52 (14%]). In a subgroup analysis, there was no apparent effect of prior alloHSCT on median OS in either salvage group. The safety profile of blinatumomab was generally similar between the groups; however, cytokine release syndrome, febrile neutropenia, and infection were more frequent with second or later salvage than with first salvage. Discussion In this pooled analysis, the logistic regression analyses indicated greater benefit with blinatumomab as first salvage than as second or later salvage, as evident by the longer median OS, longer median RFS, and higher rates of remission. Conclusion Overall, blinatumomab was beneficial as first salvage and as second or later salvage, but the effects were favorable as first salvage.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)2601-2610
Number of pages10
JournalCancer medicine
Volume10
Issue number8
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2021

Keywords

  • BiTE
  • acute lymphoblastic leukemia
  • blinatumomab
  • salvage
  • stem cell transplant

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Oncology
  • Radiology Nuclear Medicine and imaging
  • Cancer Research

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