Long-Term Follow-up of a Phase 2 Study of Single Agent Lenalidomide in Previously Untreated, Symptomatic Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)

Hematologic toxicities were common: grade 3–4 neutropenia (76%), thrombocytopenia (28%), anemia (20%). With longer term use, neutropenia tended to recur (12% of all cycles) and 10 pts required GCSF support (5 routinely during each cycle). Most common non-hematologic toxicities (all grades) were TF (88%), fatigue (76%), rash (60%), muscle cramping (40%), diarrhea (40%). All non-hematologic toxicities were mild (grade 1–2), except for 1 pt each with grade 3 rash and diarrhea. Although TF was most common during cycle 1, repeat flare symptoms upon resuming lenalidomide after the 7 day rest period of each cycle were noted in 16% of all 898 cycles administered, and as late as at cycle 28. Infections were mild (most respiratory, skin) with only 2 grade 3 events (disseminated zoster, S.pneumoniae bacteremia). Other malignancies: 2 pts developed transformed large cell lymphoma 7 and 18 mos after study discontinuation, 1 pt developed squamous cell carcinoma of skin at cycle 51, and 1 pt developed recurrence of remote non-small cell lung cancer at cycle 34.

The median highest dose achieved for all 25 pts was 15 mg (range 2.5–25 mgs); 8 pts were able to escalate to the maximal 25mg dose. Ten pts (40%) required dose reductions for grade 3 cytopenias [neutropenia (2), thrombocytopenia (2), both (2)], febrile neutropenia (2), and diarrhea (2). Of all 25 pts, the median duration on therapy was 31.1 mos (range 28 days – 60.6 mos). Twelve pts (52%) currently remain on study, receiving a median of 59 cycles of therapy (range 48–66). Causes of discontinuation for 13 pts included: treatment-related toxicity (8), lack of response/progressive disease (4), and recurrence of remote lung cancer (1). Toxicities leading to discontinuation included: prolonged cytopenias (3), recurrent infections (1), atrial fibrillation (1), disseminated herpes zoster (1), persistent grade 2 diarrhea (1), and grade 3 skin rash (1).

With extended median follow-up from 20.7 to 47 mos, the ORR improved from 56% (14 pts) to 72% (18 pts), with 3 pts in PR upgrading to CR, and 1 SD to PR. Although the median time to response was 7.7 mos, responses occurred as quickly as 1.8 mos to as late as 27.0 mos of therapy. For the 3 CR pts, prolonged therapy with an additional 14.9, 28.3 and 40.6 mos beyond the time of first response was required to achieve CR. To date, 7 pts have progressed with 3-year PFS 68.8% (95% CI:52–91%) and OS 85.3% (95% CI:71.1–100%).

Cereblon (CRBN), recently identified as a direct protein target of lenalidomide, was evaluated by gene expression profiling and Western blot and found to be uniformly expressed in all 19 evaluable day 1 pt samples regardless of lenalidomide response. Thus, baseline CRBN expression does not appear to be a useful predictive biomarker of response in this population. The mechanism by which CRBN is linked to response is reported by Trudel et al, ASH 2012.