ASH 2020 | IVAC +/- rituximab in R/R B-NHLs: a real-world data review

David Straus, MD, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, discusses a study aiming to evaluate IVAC (ifosfamide, etoposide, and cytarabine) treatment with or without rituximab (R) in relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL). The objective response rate (ORR) among evaluable patients was 48%, with 17% achieving a complete response. While ORR did not vary significantly between the IVAC+R and IVAC-R groups, it was associated with number of IVAC cycles. Patients who received R with every cycle and received 3 or more cycles all experienced significantly longer progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS), with those who underwent subsequent HCT or CAR-T therapy achieving particularly impressive OS rates. Most participants experienced serious adverse events and 19% of documented patient deaths were attributed to treatment-related complications. While these findings suggest that IVAC+R may be a useful bridging therapy for patients planning HCT or CAR-T cell therapy, its safety profile leaves room for improvement. This interview took place during the 62nd American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition, 2020.