[A single-center retrospective analysis of Pola-BR versus R-DeVIC in transplant-ineligible relapsed/refractory...

Polatuzumab vedotin plus bendamustine and rituximab (Pola-BR) has shown promising efficacy in transplant-ineligible patients with relapsed/refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (R/R DLBCL). To the best of our knowledge, no retrospective studies have compared Pola-BR with rituximab, dexamethasone, etoposide, ifosfamide, and carboplatin (R-DeVIC). We retrospectively analyzed 31 consecutive transplant-ineligible patients with R/R DLBCL treated with either Pola-BR (N=16) or R-DeVIC (N=15) at our institution. No significant differences in overall survival (OS) or progression-free survival (PFS) were observed (OS: hazard ratio [HR] 2.04, 95%CI 0.68-6.17; PFS: HR 1.39, 95%CI 0.56-3.45), but adverse event profiles differed between regimens. Pola-BR was associated with lower rates of grade 3/4 neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and febrile neutropenia, whereas rates of other toxicities were comparable between regimens. Our findings suggest that Pola-BR and R-DeVIC are safe treatment regimens; however, differences in hematologic toxicity profiles should be considered when selecting a regimen.