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Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology

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09-07-2022 | Lymphoma

The emerging role of anti-PD-1 antibody-based regimens in the treatment of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis

Authors: Yanxia He, Yan Gao, Liqin Ping, Haixia He, Cheng Huang, Bing Bai, Xiaoxiao Wang, Zhiming Li, Qingqing Cai, Yuhua Huang, Xueyi Pan, Wenbin Zeng, Yanan Liu, Huiqiang Huang

Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology | Issue 5/2023

Abstract

Purpose

Anti-PD-1 antibody (anti-PD-1 mAb) showed favorable outcomes in some patients with relapsed/refractory (r/r) extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma (ENKTL). However, the role of anti-PD-1 antibody in NK/T-cell lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (NK/T-LAHS) remains unclear. Here, we evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of anti-PD-1 antibody-based treatment in NK/T-LAHS patients.

Methods

The clinical data of 98 patients diagnosed with NK/T-LAHS at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center and the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangdong Pharmaceutical University from May 2014 to November 2021 were retrospectively analyzed. All patients received anti-HLH [HLH-2004 (etoposide, dexamethasone, cyclosporine A) or DEP-based (liposomal doxorubicin, etoposide, methylprednisolone)] regimen and sequential anti-ENKTL chemotherapy (ChT) combined with anti-PD-1 antibody or not.

Results

The overall response rate (ORR) of the anti-PD-1 mAb plus ChT regimens was higher than that of the ChT regimens (73.3% vs. 45.5%, P = 0.041). The toxicity of the anti-PD-1 mAb plus ChT regimens was tolerable. Except for higher rate of neutropenia, no significant difference in adverse events (AEs) was observed between the two groups. When the optimal response to anti-ENKTL was achieved, the median EBV DNA levels in patients who received anti-PD-1 mAb plus ChT were significantly lower than patients who received ChT only (878 copies/mL vs. 18,600 copies/mL, P = 0.001). With a median follow-up of 26.6 months (range 0–65.9 months), the median overall survival (mOS) was 3.5 months (95% CI：2.3–4.7 months). Patients treated with anti-PD-1 mAb plus ChT experienced a longer mOS than those who received ChT only [5.2 months (95% CI: 2.5–7.8 months) vs. 1.5 months (95% CI: 0.5–2.6 months), P = 0.002]. Cox multivariate analysis found that anti-PD-1 mAb was an independent prognostic factor for all NK/T-LAHS patients.

Conclusion

In conclusion, anti-PD-1 mAb combined with ChT regimens seemed to be associated with prolonged survival in NK/T-LAHS patients and may represent a potentially promising treatment strategy for this population.

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Title: The emerging role of anti-PD-1 antibody-based regimens in the treatment of extranodal NK/T-cell lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis
Authors: Yanxia He
Yan Gao
Liqin Ping
Haixia He
Cheng Huang
Bing Bai
Xiaoxiao Wang
Zhiming Li
Qingqing Cai
Yuhua Huang
Xueyi Pan
Wenbin Zeng
Yanan Liu
Huiqiang Huang
Publication date: 09-07-2022
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Keywords: Lymphoma
Epstein-Barr Virus
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis
Hemophagocytic Lymphohistiocytosis
Cytostatic Therapy
Published in: Journal of Cancer Research and Clinical Oncology / Issue 5/2023
Print ISSN: 0171-5216
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1335
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00432-022-04147-2

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