Brentuximab Vedotin + Rituximab as Frontline Therapy for Pts w/ CD30+ and/or EBV+ Lymphomas

To identify the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D)/maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of brentuximab vedotin in combination with rituximab. The dose limiting toxicity monitoring period for brentuximab vedotin and rituximab is first 21 days (during induction).The RP2D/MTD will be defined as the highest dose of brentuximab vedotin that causes dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) in \<2 of 6 patients. The Phase I portion of the study follows a 3+3 design. Brentuximab has two dose levels: Level 1 (starting dose) 1.2 mg/kg IV, and Level -1 (de-escalation dose): 0.8 mg/kg IV. Toxicity will be assessed using the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE), version 4.03.

Time frame: The first 21 days of Induction

Dose limiting toxicities (DLT) will be monitored for Phase 1 patients for the first 21 days of Induction (the DLT monitoring period) to evaluate safety. In general, a non-hematologic DLT is defined as any Grade ≥ 3 toxicity, and a hematologic DLT is defined as any Grade ≥ 4 toxicity, both by CTCAE v4.03 criteria.

Time frame: The first 21 days of induction

Population: Six patients in Phase 1 received dose level 1 of brentuximab vedotin (1.2 mg/kg IV).

Overall response will be defined as the detection of Partial Response (PR) or Complete Response (CR) by CT or PET/CT, and/or resolution of marrow-only involvement. Response will be assessed according to the Revised Response Criteria for Malignant Lymphoma (Cheson, et al). CR is defined as a complete disappearance of all detectable clinical evidence of disease and disease-related symptoms, if present before therapy. A post-treatment residual mass of any size is permitted as long as it is PET negative. If a pretreatment PET scan was negative, all lymph nodes and nodal masses must have regressed on CT to normal size. A PR is defined as At least a 50% decrease in sum of the product of the diameters of up to six of the largest dominant nodes or nodal masses. No increase should be observed in the size of other nodes, liver, or spleen.

Time frame: Every 12 weeks for up to 1 year on treatment (Range of cycles attempted from induction, +/- consolidation, + maintenance = 1-17 cycles) Induction = 4 weeks, consolidation = 4 weeks, 1 maintenance cycle = 3 weeks

Toxicity, both frequency and severity, will continue to be measured by monitoring the occurrence of adverse events. Adverse events will be defined as those included in CTCAE v 4.03. AEs that were determined to be at least possibly related to study drug and graded 3, 4, 5 are included here. Grade 1 (mild): the event causes discomfort without disruption of normal daily activities. Grade 2 (moderate): the event causes discomfort that affects normal daily activities. Grade 3 (severe): the event makes the patient unable to perform normal daily activities or significantly affects his/her clinical status. Grade 4 (Life-threatening): the patient was at risk of death at the time of the event. Grade 5 (fatal): the event caused death.

Time frame: From time of treatment to 30 days post discontinuation (range of cycles attempted from induction +/- consolidation, & maintenance = 1-17 cycles) About 1 year Induction = 4 weeks, consolidation = 4 weeks, 1 maintenance cycle = 3 weeks

The best overall response (BOR) is the best response recorded from the start of the treatment until disease progression/recurrence. Best response assessed by CT or PET/CT according to the Revised Response Criteria for Malignant Lymphoma (Cheson et. al). Responses include Complete Response (CR), Partial Response (PR), and Stable Disease (SD). CR: Complete disappearance of all detectable clinical evidence of disease and disease-related symptoms, if present before therapy. If a pretreatment PET scan was negative, all lymph nodes and nodal masses must have regressed on CT to normal size. PR: At least a 50% decrease in sum of the product of the diameters of up to six of the largest dominant nodes or nodal masses. No increase should be observed in the size of other nodes, liver, or spleen. SD: neither CR or PR, or progressive disease (PD). PD: Appearance of new lesion \> 1.5 cm in any axis, or at least a 50% increase from nadir in the diameter of any previously involved nodes.

Time frame: Every 12 weeks for up to 1 year on treatment (Range of cycles attempted from induction, +/- consolidation, + maintenance = 1-17 cycles) Induction = 4 weeks, consolidation = 4 weeks, 1 maintenance cycle = 3 weeks

EBV activation will be evaluated in all patients who receive at least one dose of study treatment and have an evaluable tissue microarray (TMA) collected at baseline. EBV activation and proliferation will be measured by viral loads from blood collections as measured at time of enrollment and monthly thereafter in all enrolled patients, until completion of study therapy. Epstein Barr Virus (EBV) quantitative PCR is used to an aid in monitoring EBV-related disease. Lab thresholds vary at sites however, labs results are considered either negative or abnormal. Number of participants who experienced EBV activation, i.e an abnormal lab result (YES) and patients who did not experience EBV activation, i.e. a negative lab result (NO) will be reported.

Time frame: Time from start of study treatment to last dose of study drug (Range of cycles attempted from induction, +/- consolidation, + maintenance = 1-17 cycles, up to 1 year) Induction = 4 weeks, consolidation = 4 weeks, 1 maintenance cycle = 3 weeks

Population: 1 patient was not evaluable. They withdrew consent before data could be collected.

Graft rejection will be defined as any of the following: documentation of new or progressive rejection by tissue biopsy of the graft; re-transplantation due to graft rejection; clinical diagnosis of new or progressive graft rejection, since start of treatment on protocol, as given by the patient's transplant physician. Escalation of intensity of immunosuppression will not, by itself, be considered evidence of graft rejection. Note: patients with clinically active graft rejection will not be excluded from trial enrollment, but will not be considered to have treatment emergent graft rejection unless progression of rejection is documented. Rates of graft rejection will be evaluated in all patients who receive at least one dose of study treatment.

Time frame: From start of treatment to 3 years post treatment discontinuation

Population: 1 patient was not evaluable. They withdrew consent before data could be collected.

Overall survival (OS) will be measured from treatment initiation until death from any cause for up to 1 year post-treatment discontinuation. Overall survival is defined as the duration of time from start of treatment to time of death. All patients who have had at least one dose of study treatment will be evaluable for OS. OS will be reported as percentage of participants alive at 2 years post treatment discontinuation, with censoring of patients who are lost to follow-up.

Time frame: From start of treatment to 2 years post treatment discontinuation

Population: One patient was censored from overall survival because they were lost to follow-up.

Study treatment efficacy will be evaluated using PET or CT scan images to determine Progression Free Survival (PFS). PFS is defined as the duration of time from start of treatment to time of progression. Response criteria will be those specified by Cheson, et al as the Revised Response Criteria for Malignant Lymphoma. Progressive Disease (PD) is defined as the appearance of any new lesion more than 1.5 cm in any axis during or at the end of therapy, even if other lesions are decreasing in size, or at least a 50% increase from nadir in the diameter of any previously involved nodes, or in a single involved node, or the size of other lesions. All patients who have had at least one dose of study treatment will be evaluable for PFS with censoring of patients who are lost to follow-up. PFS will be reported as percentage of participants without progression.

Time frame: start of treatment to time of progression (up to 2 years after treatment discontinuation)

Population: One patient was excluded from the analysis because they were lost to follow-up.

Time to initiation of cytotoxic chemotherapy will be defined as the time elapsed between study treatment initiation, and time of first non-targeted cytotoxic chemotherapy (off study treatment). Time to cytotoxic chemotherapy will be evaluated in all patients who receive at least one dose of study treatment.

Time frame: Up to 3 years from treatment discontinuation

Population: Follow-up data for time to initiation of cytotoxic chemotherapy was collected for only 5 patients. That data is reported below.

Time to best response = the number of days from treatment initiation to best response (complete response/CR or partial response/PR). Best response assessed by CT or PET/CT according to the Revised Response Criteria for Malignant Lymphoma (Cheson et. al). Responses include Complete Response (CR), Partial Response (PR), and Stable Disease (SD). CR: Complete disappearance of all detectable clinical evidence of disease and disease-related symptoms, if present before therapy. If a pretreatment PET scan was negative, all lymph nodes and nodal masses must have regressed on CT to normal size. PR: At least a 50% decrease in sum of the product of the diameters of up to six of the largest dominant nodes or nodal masses. No increase should be observed in the size of other nodes, liver, or spleen. SD: neither CR or PR, or progressive disease (PD). PD: Appearance of new lesion \> 1.5 cm in any axis, or at least a 50% increase from nadir in the diameter of any previously involved nodes.

Time frame: From start of treatment, every 12 weeks for up to 1 year on treatment (Range of cycles attempted from induction, +/- consolidation, + maintenance = 1-17 cycles) Induction = 4 weeks, consolidation = 4 weeks, 1 maintenance cycle = 3 weeks