Molecular Dx Landmark-class

Obinutuzumab Outperforms Rituximab in Mantle Cell Lymphoma with Better MRD Clearance

The LyMa-101 trial with propensity score matching compared obinutuzumab versus rituximab in transplant-eligible mantle cell lymphoma patients. Obinutuzumab achieved higher bone marrow MRD negativity (83% vs 63%) and improved 5-year PFS (83% vs 67%) and OS (86% vs 71%). The results highlight measurable residual disease as a key laboratory endpoint that correlates with long-term clinical outcomes in lymphoma.

The original study

Obinutuzumab vs rituximab for transplant-eligible patients with mantle cell lymphoma.

Authors
Sarkozy C, Callanan M, Thieblemont C, Obéric L, Burroni B, Bouabdallah K, et al.
Journal
Blood
Type
Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Comparative Study, Multicenter Study, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
PMID
38669626
Read the original study →

Original abstract

Obinutuzumab (O) and rituximab (R) are 2 CD antibodies that have never been compared in a prospective randomized trial of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Herein, we report the long-term outcome of the LyMa-101 trial, in which newly diagnosed patients with MCL were treated with chemotherapy plus O before transplantation, followed by O maintenance (O group). We then compared these patients with those treated with the same treatment design with R instead of O (R group). A propensity score matching (PSM) was used to compare the 2 populations (O vs R groups) in terms of measurable residual disease (MRD) at the end of induction (EOI), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS). In LyMa-101, the estimated 5-year PFS and OS after inclusion (n = 85) were 83.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 73.5-89.8) and 86.9% (95% CI, 77.6-92.5), respectively. At EOI, patients treated in the O group had more frequent bone marrow MRD negativity than those treated in the R group (83.1% vs 63.4%; χ2, P = .007). PSM resulted in 2 sets of 82 patients with comparable characteristics at inclusion. From treatment initiation, the O group had a longer estimated 5-year PFS (P = .029; 82.8% vs 66.6%; hazard ratio [HR], 1.99; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.05-3.76) and OS (P = .039; 86.4% vs 71.4%; HR, 2.08; 95% CI, 1.01-4.16) compared with the R group. Causes of death were comparable in the 2 groups, the most common cause being lymphoma. O before transplantation and in maintenance provides better disease control and enhances PFS and OS compared with R in transplant-eligible patients with MCL. These trials were registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00921414 and NCT02896582.