Tolerance of radiotherapy with concomitant glofitamab in diffuse large B cell lymphoma: a case report

Strahlenther Onkol. 2024 Nov;200(11):983-985. doi: 10.1007/s00066-024-02256-0. Epub 2024 Jul 2.

Abstract

Glofitamab, an anti-CD20 antibody, is approved as a third-line treatment for relapsed or refractory (r/r) diffuse large-cell B lymphoma (DLBCL), achieving a complete response in nearly 40% of patients. This humanized IgG1 bispecific monoclonal antibody binds to CD20 on malignant B lymphocytes and to CD3 on cytotoxic T cells. This dual binding forms an immunological synapse, activating T lymphocytes and leading to the lysis of tumor cells. Salvage radiotherapy is also effective for r/r DLBCL, but its combination with systemic treatments like glofitamab may increase radiation-induced toxicity. We report the first case of a patient with r/r DLBCL receiving concurrent salvage radiotherapy and glofitamab. A 68-year-old female diagnosed with stage IV DLBCL underwent initial treatment with R-CHOP, then Car-T cell therapy, followed by glofitamab for recurrence. Upon early metabolic progression detected by 18FDG-PET/CT, salvage radiotherapy was administered to the refractory site concurrently with glofitamab. The patient experienced mild para-spinal pain post-radiotherapy but no other significant toxicities. Three months post-treatment, she showed a complete metabolic response with no radiotherapy toxicity, as evidenced by PET-CT, and no signs of radiation pneumonitis. This case indicates that combining glofitamab with salvage radiotherapy is tolerable and suggests potential efficacy, warranting further investigation in prospective studies for r/r DLBCL.

Keywords: Bispecific antibody; Immunological synapse; Immunotherapy; T lymphocytes; VMAT.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Bispecific / therapeutic use
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / therapeutic use
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols* / therapeutic use
  • Chemoradiotherapy
  • Combined Modality Therapy
  • Cyclophosphamide / therapeutic use
  • Doxorubicin / therapeutic use
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunotherapy, Adoptive
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse* / pathology
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse* / radiotherapy
  • Positron Emission Tomography Computed Tomography
  • Prednisone / therapeutic use
  • Radiation Tolerance
  • Rituximab / therapeutic use
  • Salvage Therapy*
  • Vincristine / therapeutic use

Substances

  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Rituximab
  • Antibodies, Bispecific
  • Doxorubicin
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
  • R-CHOP protocol
  • Prednisone
  • Vincristine