Activity of pembrolizumab in relapsed/refractory NK/T-cell lymphoma

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Immunotherapy
• Hematology

Background:

• Natural killer/T-cell lymphoma (NKTCL) is a rare non-Hodgkin lymphoma with a poor prognosis.
• Current treatment options for NKTCL are limited, and unmet needs persist.
• Chemotherapy often fails in patients with advanced or refractory NKTCL.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab, an anti-PD-1 antibody, in patients with refractory/relapsed NKTCL.
• To assess the overall response rate (ORR) and adverse events associated with pembrolizumab treatment.
• To explore the potential of PD-1 blockade as a therapeutic strategy for NKTCL.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of seven NKTCL patients, who had previously failed chemotherapy, received pembrolizumab (100 mg every 3 weeks).
• Treatment response was assessed after a median of four cycles.
• Adverse events were monitored and graded.

Main Results:

• Four out of seven patients (57% ORR) responded to pembrolizumab, including two complete responses and two partial responses.
• PD-1 ligand expression varied among patients (50%, 20%, 30%, 70%, 30% in five evaluable patients).
• Adverse events were generally manageable, with immune-related pneumonitis being a notable concern.

Conclusions:

• PD-1 blockade with pembrolizumab demonstrates a favorable strategy for treating refractory or relapsed NKTCL.
• Pembrolizumab offers a potential new therapeutic option for NKTCL patients with unmet treatment needs.
• Further investigation into PD-1 blockade in NKTCL is warranted.