An Expert’s Guide to EHA 2022: A Preview of the Top Abstracts

Important results from many clinical trials in hematologic malignancies were discussed at the 2022 European Hematology Association (EHA) annual meeting. Below, experts have highlighted a few key abstracts, which we will cover online as part of CCO’s Independent Conference Coverage of EHA 2022. Remember to check the CCO website often for a downloadable slideset summarizing the data from these studies and then again for a CME-certified online activity featuring expert analyses and perspectives on the clinical implications of the new data.

Top Picks: Lymphomas
Alessandra Tedeschi, MD, identified the following important and potentially practice-changing studies in lymphomas reported at EHA 2022.

• GAIA/CLL13: phase III trial of time-limited venetoclax + obinutuzumab ± ibrutinib vs chemoimmunotherapy as first-line therapy for chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) (abstract LB2365); coprimary endpoints of measurable residual disease negativity and progression-free survival (PFS) were met, with statistically significant improvement in PFS with venetoclax + obinutuzumab ± ibrutinib vs chemoimmunotherapy.
• ELEVATE-TN: phase III trial of acalabrutinib ± obinutuzumab vs obinutuzumab + chlorambucil as first-line therapy in CLL (abstract P666); at 5 years of follow-up, acalabrutinib ± obinutuzumab maintained both efficacy and safety benefit with prolonged survival compared with obinutuzumab + chlorambucil.
• Rosewood: phase II study of zanubrutinib + obinutuzumab (ZO) vs obinutuzumab in patients with R/R follicular lymphoma who previously received ≥2 lines of therapy (abstract S205); primary endpoint was met, with significant improvement of overall response rate with ZO vs obinutuzumab alone, as well as noted improvement in median PFS.
• ASPEN: phase III trial of zanubrutinib vs ibrutinib in patients with Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (abstract P1161); long-term follow-up continues to show clinically meaningful efficacy with zanubrutinib and consistently fewer adverse events leading to discontinuation with zanubrutinib vs ibrutinib.

Top Picks: Leukemias
Stéphane de Botton, MD, identified 3 key studies in acute myeloma leukemia (AML) reported at EHA 2022.

• QuANTUM-First: phase III trial of quizartinib + intensive induction and consolidation vs placebo + intensive induction and consolidation in newly diagnosed FLT3-ITD+ AML (abstract S100); overall survival (OS) was improved with addition of quizartinib for patients with FLT3-ITD+ AML, with a manageable safety profile.
• AML19: CPX-351 vs FLAG-Ida for younger patients with high-risk AML (abstract S128); exploratory analysis showed similar OS and event-free survival with CPX-351 vs FLAG-Ida but longer duration of remission with CPX-351 in this patient population.
• Phase III study from EORTC Leukemia Group, CELG, GIMEMA, and German MDS Study Group on comparison of decitabine vs 3+7 chemotherapy followed by allogeneic stem cell transplant for patients 60 years of age or older with AML (abstract S125); OS and rate of allogeneic stem cell transplant was similar with decitabine vs 3+7 chemotherapy, and a better adverse event profile was observed with decitabine.

Top Picks: Multiple Myeloma
Jesús F. San-Miguel, MD, PhD, identified the following key studies in multiple myeloma (MM) reported at EHA 2022.

• DETERMINATION: phase III trial of lenalidomide/bortezomib/dexamethasone (RVd) ± autologous stem cell transplant followed by lenalidomide maintenance for newly diagnosed MM (abstract LB2366); addition of autologous stem cell transplant to RVd triplet induction + sustained lenalidomide maintenance yielded prolonged median PFS but similar OS.
• TRIMM-2: phase Ib study of the B-cell maturation antigen (BCMA) bispecific antibody teclistamab in combination with daratumumab in R/R MM (abstract S188); teclistamab + daratumumab showed promising efficacy, and data suggest these agents can be combined safely for patients with R/R MM.
• CARTBCMA-HCB-01: study of the academic anti-BCMA CAR T-cell therapy ARI0002H using fractionated initial therapy and a booster dose for patients with R/R MM (abstract S103); promising efficacy and safety for this CAR T-cell therapy using fractionated dosing and a second infusion to boost response.