KEY TAKEAWAYS
- The R2-GDP-GOTEL phase 2 trial aimed to evaluate CD8+ NK cells as predictors of treatment response and survival in R/R DLBCL patients.
- The results showed CD8+ NKs as a promising biomarker for predicting and managing R/R DLBCL patients.
Diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL) stands as the predominant non-Hodgkin lymphoma globally, often treatable with standard chemoimmunotherapy. However, recurrence in 35-40% necessitates urgent discovery of predictive biomarkers. Natural killer (NK) cells, particularly CD8-expressing subsets, exhibit heightened cytotoxic potential crucial in antitumor immunity.
Lourdes Hontecillas Prieto and the team conducted a study that aimed to assess blood CD8+ NK cells as predictors of treatment response and survival in relapsed/refractory DLBCL patients within the R2-GDP-GOTEL trial.
About 78 patients underwent the R2-GDP regimen. Flow cytometry analyzed blood samples. Statistical analyses assessed CD8+ NK cells’ prognostic potential at baseline for R/R DLBCL patients.
The findings revealed that circulating CD8+ NK cell counts were lower in R/R DLBCL patients compared to healthy donors. This count remained stable during and post-treatment.
However, baseline CD8+ NK cell levels correlated with achieving complete responses in R/R DLBCL patients. Furthermore, CD8+ NK cell levels showed promise as prognostic indicators for overall survival in R/R DLBCL patients.
The study found CD8+ NK cells as a novel biomarker with predictive and prognostic potential for managing R/R DLBCL patients.
Funding was provided by the Spanish Lymphoma Oncology Group (GOTEL) with financial support from Celgene, Consejería de Salud y Familias, Junta de Andalucía, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, VII Plan Propio de Investigacioín y Transferencia of Universidad de Sevilla, and Margarita Salas fellowship granted by the University of Seville.
Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38469299/
Clinical Trial: https://www.clinicaltrialsregister.eu/ctr-search/search?query=2014-001620-29
Hontecillas-Prieto L, García-Domínguez DJ, Palazón-Carrión N, et al. (2024) “CD8+ NKs as a potential biomarker of complete response and survival with lenalidomide plus R-GDP in the R2-GDP-GOTEL trial in recurrent/refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma.” Front. Immunol. 15:1293931. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1293931.
