Blinatumomab significantly improves survival among patients with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, researchers have reported.
Reporting in the New England Journal of Medicine, the E1910 trial added the immunotherapy blinatumomab to consolidation chemotherapy, for patients aged between 30 and 70 who had achieved MRD-negative remission after initial chemotherapy.
In the study led by US researchers, 224 such patients were randomised to receive treatment with blinatumomab or without.
Those who received blinatumomab received it in four cycles interspersed with cycles of chemotherapy. The immunotherapy cycle involved continuous intravenous infusion for four weeks - followed by a two-week break.
After three years, 85% of those who received blinatumomab were alive, compared with 68% of those who did not receive it. Most patients were free of relapse – 80% of the blinatumomab group and 66% of those who received only chemotherapy. Researchers said those aged between 30 and 55 received the most benefit.
Researcher Professor Selina Luger, of the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and the Abramson Cancer Center, Philadelphia, said: “E1910 is the first randomised trial to demonstrate that we are able to improve the survival of adults with B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia who are in complete remission, including by sensitive MRD testing, and establishes the addition of blinatumomab immunotherapy to standard consolidation chemotherapy as a treatment that will change clinical practice.”
Fellow researcher Professor Mark Litzow, of the Mayor Clinic, said: “Our study shows that adding blinatumomab to consolidation chemotherapy keeps patients in remission and improves their survival. Based on what we found, this approach is the new standard of care for B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukaemia patients who achieve an MRD-negative remission after initial chemotherapy.”
Source:
Litzow MR, Sun Z, Mattison RJ, Paietta EM, Roberts KG, Zhang Y, Racevskis J, Lazarus HM, Rowe JM, Arber DA, Wieduwilt MJ, Liedtke M, Bergeron J, Wood BL, Zhao Y, Wu G, Chang TC, Zhang W, Pratz KW, Dinner SN, Frey N, Gore SD, Bhatnagar B, Atallah EL, Uy GL, Jeyakumar D, Lin TL, Willman CL, DeAngelo DJ, Patel SB, Elliott MA, Advani AS, Tzachanis D, Vachhani P, Bhave RR, Sharon E, Little RF, Erba HP, Stone RM, Luger SM, Mullighan CG, and Tallman MS. (2024) “Blinatumomab for MRD-Negative Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia in Adults.” New England Journal of Medicine, 24 July 2024, doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2312948
Link: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2312948
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