Dr. Hill on the Impact of Recent Approvals in Relapsed/Refractory DLBCL

Brian T. Hill, MD, PhD, director of the Lymphoid Malignancies Program and staff physician, Taussig Cancer Institute, and assistant professor, Hematology and Oncology, Cleveland Clinic, discusses the impact of recent regulatory approvals in relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

In June 2019, the FDA granted an accelerated approval to the novel antibody-drug conjugate polatuzumab vedotin (Polivy) in combination with bendamustine and rituximab (Rituxan; BR) for the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL who have received at least 2 prior therapies.

Then, in June 2020, the XPO1 inhibitor selinexor (Xpovio) was approved with the same indication for patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL, not otherwise specified, including DLBCL arising from follicular lymphoma.

Finally, in July 2020, the CD19-directed monoclonal antibody tafasitamab-cxix (Monjuvi) was approved in combination with lenalidomide (Revlimid) for patients with relapsed/refractory DLBCL, not otherwise specified, including DLBCL arising from low-grade lymphoma, and who are ineligible for autologous stem cell transplant.

These therapies are a welcome addition to the armamentarium, expanding the number of available options in this setting, says Hill.

Although these treatments are unlikely to be curative, they may extend survival for patients who progress on curative-intent therapy, concludes Hill.