The combination of milatuzumab, a humanized anti-CD74 antibody, and veltuzumab, a humanized anti-CD20 antibody, demonstrates activity in patients with relapsed and refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Abstract

As a result of the anti-tumour activity observed in vitro and in vivo with combined anti-CD20 and anti-CD74 antibodies, we initiated a phase I/II trial of veltuzumab and milatuzumab in patients with relapsed or refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Patients received an induction of veltuzumab 200 mg/m(2) weekly combined with escalating doses of milatuzumab at 8, 16 and 20 mg/kg weekly for 4 weeks. Patients without disease progression could receive an extended induction with treatment on weeks 12, 20, 28 and 36. A total of 35 patients enrolled on the study. Median age was 63 years, median number of prior therapies was 3, and 63% of patients were rituximab refractory. No dose-limiting toxicities were observed in the phase I study. Related grade 3-4 toxicities included lymphopenia, leucopenia, neutropenia, anaemia, infusion reactions, hyperglycaemia, fatigue and atrial tachycardia. Median weeks of therapy was 12 and 29% of patients completed all 36 weeks of therapy. The overall response rate was 24%, median duration of response was 12 months, and responses were observed at all dose levels and in 50% of patients refractory to rituximab. Combination therapy with veltuzumab and milatuzumab demonstrated activity in a population of heavily pre-treated patients with relapsed or refractory indolent NHL.

• Authors: Beth A Christian, Ming Poi, Jeffrey A Jones, Pierluigi Porcu, Kami Maddocks, Joseph M Flynn, Don M Benson Jr, Mitch A Phelps, Lai Wei, John C Byrd, William A Wegener, David M Goldenberg, Robert A Baiocchi, Kristie A Blum
• Journal: British journal of haematology (Br J Haematol) Vol. 169 Issue 5 Pg. 701-10 (Jun 2015) ISSN: 1365-2141 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 25847298 (Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Phase I, Clinical Trial, Phase II, Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)
• Copyright: © 2015 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• milatuzumab
• veltuzumab

Topics

• Adult
• Aged
• Aged, 80 and over
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized (administration & dosage, pharmacokinetics)
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (adverse effects, therapeutic use)
• B-Lymphocytes (pathology)
• Female
• Humans
• Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin (diagnosis, drug therapy, mortality, pathology)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Neoplasm Grading
• Treatment Outcome