Research Spotlight: Study Demonstrates Drug Combination is Well-Tolerated, Safe and Effective for Patients with Aggressive Blood Cancer
Research Spotlight: Study Demonstrates Drug Combination is Well-Tolerated, Safe and Effective for Patients with Aggressive Blood Cancer
By Erica Lee
By Erica Lee
Josie Ford, BS
Josie Ford, BS
In this Q&A, lead author Josie Ford, BS, a current medical student at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and previous Clinical Research Coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Jon and Jo Ann Hagler Center for Lymphoma, discusses in her paper, “Real-world Evidence of Duvelisib and Romidepsin in Relapsed/Refractory Peripheral and Cutaneous T-cell Lymphomas” published in Blood Advances.
In this Q&A, lead author Josie Ford, BS, a current medical student at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and previous Clinical Research Coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Jon and Jo Ann Hagler Center for Lymphoma, discusses in her paper, “Real-world Evidence of Duvelisib and Romidepsin in Relapsed/Refractory Peripheral and Cutaneous T-cell Lymphomas” published in Blood Advances.
In this Q&A, lead author Josie Ford, BS, a current medical student at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine and previous Clinical Research Coordinator at Massachusetts General Hospital’s Jon and Jo Ann Hagler Center for Lymphoma, discusses in her paper, “Real-world Evidence of Duvelisib and Romidepsin in Relapsed/Refractory Peripheral and Cutaneous T-cell Lymphomas” published in Blood Advances.
How would you summarize your study?
How would you summarize your study?
We studied how well a drug combination—duvelisib and romidepsin (duv/romi)—worked in real-world patients with aggressive blood cancers called peripheral and cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (PTCL and CTCL). These cancers affect immune cells called T cells, and all patients evaluated in our study either had not responded to previous treatment (refractory) or their disease came back after previous treatment (relapsed). The drug combination helped shrink or eliminate cancer in 61% of patients. Overall, our findings suggest that duv/romi is both effective and safe in real-world settings.
We studied how well a drug combination—duvelisib and romidepsin (duv/romi)—worked in real-world patients with aggressive blood cancers called peripheral and cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (PTCL and CTCL). These cancers affect immune cells called T cells, and all patients evaluated in our study either had not responded to previous treatment (refractory) or their disease came back after previous treatment (relapsed). The drug combination helped shrink or eliminate cancer in 61% of patients. Overall, our findings suggest that duv/romi is both effective and safe in real-world settings.
What did your study investigate?
What did your study investigate?
We asked whether duv/romi can provide meaningful benefit and be safely used in real-world patients with relapsed/refractory PTCL and CTCL—outside of clinical trials.
We asked whether duv/romi can provide meaningful benefit and be safely used in real-world patients with relapsed/refractory PTCL and CTCL—outside of clinical trials.
What methods or approach did you use?
What methods or approach did you use?
We reviewed data from 38 patients treated with this drug combination. We tracked the dosing and timing of the drugs they received, how their lymphoma responded, what side effects they experienced and how those were managed, and whether they were able to go on to additional treatments like stem cell transplant. We also followed what treatments they received if their cancer returned again.
We reviewed data from 38 patients treated with this drug combination. We tracked the dosing and timing of the drugs they received, how their lymphoma responded, what side effects they experienced and how those were managed, and whether they were able to go on to additional treatments like stem cell transplant. We also followed what treatments they received if their cancer returned again.
What did you find?
What did you find?
The drug combination helped shrink or eliminate cancer in 61% of patients, with 47% having no detectable cancer. Eleven patients successfully went on to stem cell transplant, which can potentially cure the disease and prolong survival. Moreover, in patients with the nodal T-follicular helper (nTFH) subtype of lymphoma, 82% of patients responded well. Side effects were seldom and manageable. These results confirm the drug combination’s strong potential as a real-world treatment option for patients with relapsed/refractory PTCL and CTCL.
The drug combination helped shrink or eliminate cancer in 61% of patients, with 47% having no detectable cancer. Eleven patients successfully went on to stem cell transplant, which can potentially cure the disease and prolong survival. Moreover, in patients with the nodal T-follicular helper (nTFH) subtype of lymphoma, 82% of patients responded well. Side effects were seldom and manageable. These results confirm the drug combination’s strong potential as a real-world treatment option for patients with relapsed/refractory PTCL and CTCL.
What are the implications?
What are the implications?
Duv/romi demonstrated strong efficacy and tolerability in real-world use, especially in nTFH subtypes and even in patients who did not respond to previous treatments with drugs of the same class. The regimen served as an effective bridge to stem cell transplant in several cases.
Duv/romi demonstrated strong efficacy and tolerability in real-world use, especially in nTFH subtypes and even in patients who did not respond to previous treatments with drugs of the same class. The regimen served as an effective bridge to stem cell transplant in several cases.
What are the next steps?
What are the next steps?
Next steps include a randomized trial comparing duv/romi to other treatments. Additionally, studies that identify how genetic differences affect treatment response are needed. We hope our findings support accessibility to duv/romi and its wider use in treatment plans.
Next steps include a randomized trial comparing duv/romi to other treatments. Additionally, studies that identify how genetic differences affect treatment response are needed. We hope our findings support accessibility to duv/romi and its wider use in treatment plans.
Disclosures:
Disclosures:
Sorial discloses research funding from Secura Bio and Daiichi Sankyo. Jacobsen discloses research funding from Celgene, Merck, Pharmacyclics and Hoffman-LaRoche. Jain discloses research funding from SIRPant Immunotherapeutics, Abcuro, Daiichi Sankyo and Acrotech LLC.
Funding:
Funding:
This work was supported by Center for Lymphoma Research Funds. Jain is supported by the National Cancer Institute K08 Career Development Award (K08CA230498). Jacobsen is supported by the Reid Family Fund for Lymphoma Research.
This work was supported by Center for Lymphoma Research Funds. Jain is supported by the National Cancer Institute K08 Career Development Award (K08CA230498). Jacobsen is supported by the Reid Family Fund for Lymphoma Research.
Paper cited:
Paper cited:
Ford, J et al. “Real-world Evidence of Duvelisib and Romidepsin in Relapsed/Refractory Peripheral and Cutaneous T-cell Lymphomas” Blood Advances DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2025016347
Ford, J et al. “Real-world Evidence of Duvelisib and Romidepsin in Relapsed/Refractory Peripheral and Cutaneous T-cell Lymphomas” Blood Advances DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2025016347
@2024 PETAL Consortium • All rights reserved
@2024 PETAL Consortium • All rights reserved
@2024 PETAL Consortium • All rights reserved