Evaluating the safety and effectiveness of geptanolimab unresponsive peripheral T cell lymphoma

This study assessed the effectiveness and safety of geptanolimab (GB226) in relapsed/refractory (r/r) peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL). The authors concluded that geptanolimab showed promising activity and manageable safety in these patients.

Peripheral T cell lymphoma (PTCL) is a rare subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). It is commonly aggressive and current therapies are of limited effectiveness. If a PTCL has reappeared after being absent or reduced with previous treatment, it is said to be “relapsed”. A PTCL is “refractory” when it does not respond to treatment or if the response is short-lasting. Relapsed or refractory (r/r) PTCL is difficult to treat. 

Geptanolimab is an immunotherapy that blocks a protein on T cells (immune cells) known as PD-1. This protein switches off the immune system so cancer cells can grow undetected. Geptalolimab helps switch on the immune system to detect and kill cancer cells. However, the safety and effectiveness of geptanolimab in patients with r/r PTCL has not been investigated.

The study included 102 patients with r/r PTCL. All patients had previously received 2 or more therapies for PTCL. All patients received at least one dose of geptanolimab. Patients were followed up for an average of 4.06 months.

40.4% of patients responded to treatment. 14.6% of patients did not have any signs of cancer (complete response) and 25.8% had a partial response (tumors shrank). Disease control (tumor did not grow or spread) was seen in 59.6% of patients. Response to treatment lasted for an average of 11.4 months. 

Serious side effects related to the treatment occurred in 25.5% of patients. The most common were low blood cell counts. 

The study showed that geptanolimab has promising effectiveness and manageable side effects for r/r PTCL.

This was a small study with a short follow-up period. Further studies are required such as randomized, control trials with longer follow-ups to confirm the safety and effectiveness of this treatment in patients with r/r PTCL.