In a nutshell
This study aimed to investigate if inotuzumab ozogamicin (Besponsa) is a more effective treatment than the standard therapy for relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
This study concluded that inotuzumab ozogamicin is a more effective treatment than standard therapy for relapsed acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
Some background
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) occurs when white blood cells called lymphocytes are overproduced and become abnormal. Lymphocytes function in fighting infections. The abnormal cells called lymphoblasts can kill normal cells and spread through the body.
Chemotherapy is the standard treatment for ALL. Inotuzumab ozogamicin (IO) is an antibody drug conjugate that may be a suitable treatment for relapsed ALL (disease that returns). It works by delivering a toxic drug to the cancer cells to kill them.
It was not known if IO was a more effective treatment than the standard chemotherapy for relapsed ALL.
Methods & findings
This study involved 326 adult patients who had relapsed or refractory (unmanageable) ALL. Patients were treated with IO or standard intensive chemotherapy. The rates of complete remission (no sign of active disease) and overall survival were measured.
The rate of complete remission was 80.7% for the IO group compared to 29.4% for the chemotherapy group.
Of the patients who acheived complete remission: 78.4% of the IO group had very low levels of minimal residual disease compared to 28.1% of the chemotherapy group. Minimal residual disease is when a small amount of cancer cells are left behind after treatment.
Of the patients who had complete remission, the duration of remission was 4.6 months for the IO group compared to 3.1 months for the chemotherapy group.
The average progression free survival (time from treatment until disease progression) was 5 months for the IO group compared 1.8 months for the chemotherapy group.
The average overall survival (time from treatment until death from any cause) was 7.7 months for the IO group compared to 6.7 months for the chemotherapy group.
The bottom line
This study concluded that IO is more effective than standard chemotherapy for patients with relapsed or refractory ALL.
The fine print
IO has not yet been approved as a treatment for ALL.
What’s next?
Consult your physician about all treatment options for ALL.
Published By :
The New England Journal of Medicine
Date :
Aug 25, 2016
