GO39942 (POLARIX)
The safety of POLIVY in combination with R-CHP chemoimmunotherapy was evaluated in POLARIX, a randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter study of 873 patients with previously untreated large B-cell lymphoma, 435 of whom received POLIVY plus R-CHP [see Clinical Studies (14.1)].
Patients were randomized 1:1 to receive POLIVY plus R-CHP or to receive R-CHOP for six 21-day cycles followed by two additional cycles of rituximab alone in both arms. Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) primary prophylaxis was required and administered to 90% of patients in the POLIVY plus R-CHP arm and 93% of patients in the R-CHOP arm. Following premedication with an antihistamine and antipyretic, POLIVY was administered intravenously at 1.8 mg/kg on Day 1 of Cycles 1–6. R-CHP was administered starting on Day 1 of Cycles 1–6. Rituximab monotherapy was administered on Day 1 of Cycles 7–8 [see Clinical Studies (14.1)].
The trial required an absolute neutrophil count ≥1,000/µL, platelet count ≥75,000/µL, creatinine clearance (CLcr) ≥40 mL/min, hepatic transaminases ≤2.5 times the upper limit of normal (ULN), and bilirubin <1.5 times ULN, unless abnormalities were from the underlying disease. The trial excluded patients having age >80, ECOG performance status above 2, known central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma, and Grade 2 or higher peripheral neuropathy.
The median age was 65 years overall (range: 19 to 80 years); 54% of patients were male; 53% were White, 19% were Asian, 2%, Black or African American, and 5% were Hispanic or Latino.
In the POLIVY plus R-CHP group, 92% of patients received 6 cycles of POLIVY, and 94% completed 6 cycles of combination therapy.
Serious adverse reactions occurred in 34% of patients who received POLIVY plus R-CHP, including febrile neutropenia and pneumonia in ≥5% of recipients. Fatal adverse reactions occurred in 3% of recipients of POLIVY plus R-CHP within 90 days of last treatment, primarily from infection including pneumonia (0.9%) and sepsis (0.2%).
Adverse reactions led to dose reduction of POLIVY in 6% of patients, mainly from peripheral neuropathy. Adverse reactions lead to dose interruption of POLIVY in 18% of patients, most commonly from pneumonia and neutropenia, and permanent discontinuation of POLIVY in 4.4% of patients.
Table 7 summarizes adverse reactions in POLARIX. In recipients of POLIVY plus R-CHP, adverse reactions in ≥20% of patients, excluding laboratory abnormalities, were peripheral neuropathy, nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, alopecia, and mucositis. New or worsening Grade 3 to 4 laboratory abnormalities in ≥10% of patients were lymphopenia, neutropenia, hyperuricemia, and anemia.
Table 7 Select Adverse Reactions Occurring in ≥10% of Patients Treated with POLIVY Plus R-CHP in POLARIX| Adverse Reactions by Body System | POLIVY + R-CHP n = 435 | R-CHOP n = 438 |
|---|
All Grades, % | Grade 3–4, % | All Grades, % | Grade 3–4, % |
|---|
| The table includes a combination of grouped and ungrouped terms. Events were graded using NCI CTCAE version 4.0. |
| Blood and Lymphatic System Disorders |
| Lymphopenia | 80 | 44 | 77 | 44 |
| Anemia | 68 | 14 | 67 | 11 |
| Neutropenia | 60 | 39 | 60 | 42 |
| Thrombocytopenia | 32 | 8 | 33 | 6 |
| Febrile neutropenia
| 15 | 15 | 9 | 9 |
| Investigations |
| Creatinine increased | 66 | 0.7 | 64 | 0.9 |
| Aspartate aminotransferase increased | 26 | 0.7 | 23 | 1.1 |
| Alanine aminotransferase increased | 25 | 1.4 | 27 | 0.5 |
| Alkaline phosphatase increased | 23 | 0 | 22 | 0.5 |
| Uric acid increased | 19 | 18 | 17 | 16 |
| Weight decreased | 13 | 0.9 | 12 | 0.2 |
| Nervous System Disorders |
| Peripheral neuropathy
,
| 53 | 1.6 | 54 | 1.1 |
| Altered taste | 14 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| Headache | 13 | 0.2 | 14 | 0.9 |
| Gastrointestinal Disorders |
| Nausea | 42 | 1.1 | 37 | 0.5 |
| Diarrhea | 31 | 3.9 | 20 | 1.8 |
| Constipation | 29 | 1.1 | 29 | 0.2 |
| Mucositis
| 22 | 1.4 | 19 | 0.5 |
| Abdominal pain
| 16 | 1.1 | 14 | 1.6 |
| Vomiting | 15 | 1.1 | 14 | 0.7 |
| General Disorders |
| Fatigue | 37 | 2.5 | 38 | 3.0 |
| Pyrexia | 16 | 1.4 | 13 | 0 |
| Edema
| 14 | 0.5 | 11 | 0.2 |
| Infusion-related reaction
| 13 | 1.1 | 16 | 1.6 |
| Skin and Subcutaneous Tissue Disorders |
| Alopecia | 24 | 0 | 24 | 0.2 |
| Rash
| 13 | 0.7 | 11 | 0 |
| Musculoskeletal Disorders |
| Musculoskeletal pain
| 19 | 0.5 | 21 | 1.8 |
| Infections |
| Upper respiratory tract infection
| 17 | 0.5 | 16 | 0.5 |
| Metabolism and Nutrition Disorders |
| Decreased appetite | 17 | 1.1 | 14 | 0.7 |
| Respiratory Disorders |
| Cough | 15 | 0 | 14 | 0 |
| Dyspnea | 13 | 0.9 | 10 | 0.9 |