Dr. Locke Discusses the Impact of the ZUMA-1 Trial in NHL

Frederick Locke, MD, a medical oncologist in the Department of Blood and Marrow Transplant at Moffitt Cancer Center, and an assistant professor of oncology at the University of South Florida, discusses the impact of the ZUMA-1 trial for patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

In the single-arm ZUMA-1 study, axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel; Yescarta) demonstrated an objective response rate (ORR) of 82% and a complete response (CR) rate of 54%. After 8.7 months of follow-up, 39% of patients remained in CR. The median duration of response in those with a CR was not reached at the time of assessment (95% CI, 8.1-not estimable). The label for the medication lists the objective response rate as 72% and the CR rate as 51% (95% CI, 41%-62%).

Although the pivotal portion of the trial has completed enrollment, Locke says that they will continue to follow patients. These responses are in patients who have no other treatment options. Based on historical data, these patients have a 7% chance of responding to chemotherapy, whereas they are now experiencing a CR of 51%.