Predictors of Response to Very Low Dose Radiotherapy (4Gy) for Indolent B-Cell Lymphomas: Is 4Gy Also Suitable for Potentially Curable Patients?

Abstract

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVE(S)\nIndolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas (iNHL), such as follicular lymphoma (FL) and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) are highly radiosensitive. Previously untreated patients with localized disease are potentially curable (PC) with RT. While standard of care remains 24Gy, de-escalation to very low dose radiotherapy (VLDRT) of 4Gy reduces toxicities and treatment duration. Use of VLDRT outside of palliation remains controversial, however, we hypothesize it may be sufficient for most lesions.\n\n\nMATERIALS/METHODS\nWe present the largest single institution VLDRT experience of adults with FL/MZL treated between 2005-2018 with modern principles including PET staging and involved site radiotherapy (ISRT). Outcomes include best clinical/radiographic response using Lugano criteria between 1.5-6 months post-VLDRT, and cumulative incidence of local progression (LP), distant progression and overall progression, all using death as competing risk. Outcomes were stratified by VLDRT intent; lesions considered PC were localized sites without prior treatment. All other sites were considered non-curable. Competing risk regression was used to identify potential histologic/clinical predictors of LP.\n\n\nRESULTS\nIn total, 250 patients were treated to 299 lesions including 52 potentially curative (PC) sites (Table 1). Post-VLDRT, overall response rate was 90% for all treated sites with 68% achieving complete response (CR). With median follow-up of 2.4y, the 2y cumulative incidence of LP was 25% for the entire cohort. PC patients had considerably lower 2y-LP of 9% (95% CI 3-19%) compared to 29% (95% CI 23-34%) for the non-curable. Lesion size > 6cm was associated with lower odds of CR and greater risk of LP relative to lesions 0-2cm. There was no suggestion of inferior outcomes for PC patients relative to non-curable. The probability of receiving additional RT to the same site 2y post VLDRT is 15% (95% CI 11-19%), and subsequent response after additional RT was 68% CR (n\u202f=\u202f30/45), 18% partial response (n\u202f=\u202f8), and 14% non-response (n\u202f=\u202f6).\n\n\nCONCLUSION\nWe demonstrate that modern VLDRT approaches utilizing PET staging and ISRT result in excellent ORR with nearly 70% CR. Importantly, the cumulative incidence of LP at 2 years post VLDRT is low at 25%, highlighting the possibility of durable remissions. Given clinical versatility and apparent efficacy for PC patients, we support an adaptive ISRT stepwise strategy where patients will be treated initially with VLDRT, reserving full dose treatment for those with suboptimal response. A prospective, multicenter study by ILROG has been developed to compare PC patients randomized to standard 24 Gy versus this proposed response-adapted approach.