Real-world data of polatuzumab vedotin with bendamustine and rituximab for Japanese relapsed and refractory DLBCL: a multicenter retrospective study

Abstract

This study retrospectively aimed to assess the real-world efficacy and safety of polatuzumab vedotin with bendamustine and rituximab for relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, analyzing 72 patients within the Kyoto Hematology Clinical Study Group. The median age was 77, with one-third of the participants over 80 and half having previously received three or more lines of treatment. The overall response rate was 73.6%, including 45.8% complete response. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 7.6 months. Poor performance status, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, and disease progression within six months of the last treatment were associated with PFS and overall survival, but age over 80 and non-germinal center B-cell-like features were not. Lymphocytopenia (Grade 3-4, 82%) is prominent toxicity, and only 36% of patients completed six cycles, even though 60% required a dose reduction. While practical, our study emphasizes that Pola-BR necessitates careful toxicity management, particularly for elderly patients.

Keywords: Diffuse large B cell lymphoma; bendamustine; polatuzumab vedotin; refractory; relapse.