Dr Phillips on Ongoing Research to Address Unmet Needs in Patients With High-Risk MCL

Tycel Phillips, MD, associate professor, Division of Lymphoma, Department of Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, City of Hope, discusses unmet needs that remain to be addressed in patients with relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), and highlights the potential advantages of treating patients on the phase 3 GLOBRYTE trial (GO43878; EU CT: 2023-503206-37-00).

Phillips begins by stating that treating patients with high-risk MCL poses significant challenges. Although there are variations in the characterization of high-risk patients, the consensus is that those with TP53 mutations or aberrations fall into this category, he states. Addressing the need for more effective treatments in the frontline setting for remains an unmet need, Phillips emphasizes. It would be ideal not to exhaust second– and third-line options as rapidly as oncologists may be doing in this patient population, he emphasizes.

Phillips goes on to say that numerous trials are currently exploring innovative approaches to treating high-risk patients in the frontline setting. An anticipated update on the phase 2 BOven study (NCT03824483) were presented at the 2023 ASH Annual Meeting. The trial is evaluating the combination of zanubrutinib (Brukinsa), obinutuzumab (Gazyva), and venetoclax (Venclexta) in patients with TP53-mutated disease, he explains. At City of Hope, investigators have recently initiated a study specifically designed for high-risk patients, and there's also an ongoing study at The University of Texas MD Anderson exploring CAR T-cell therapy in the frontline setting for high-risk patients.

The GLOBRYTE study evaluating glofitamab-gxbm (Columvi) monotherapy in patients with relapsed/refractory MCL has also demonstrated encouraging initial results. Mature data have shown a high percentage of patients achieving sustained remission, Phillips continues. This therapeutic approach also offers the potential for retreatment, with a toxicity profile that seems favorable compared to currently approved CAR T agents, he emphasizes. Additionally, its durability appears superior compared with ibrutinib (Imbruvica). The study also allows for crossover, which provides patients access to glofitamab in the relapsed/refractory setting, Phillips adds. Enrolling eligible patients early is crucial, as the study shows promise in providing a valuable option for those in this challenging setting, he concludes.