Dr. Orellana-Noia on the Patient Population of the POLARIX Trial in DLBCL

Victor M. Orellana-Noia, MD, assistant professor, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine, discusses the patient population of the phase 3 POLARIX trial (NCT03274492) in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

The POLARIX trial randomly assigned patients to receive polatuzumab vedotin-piiq (Polivy) plus rituximab (Rituxan), cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, and prednisone (R-CHP), or rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) in patients with previously untreated DLBCL.

Many phase 3 trials evaluating patients with DLBCL have a selection bias, including the POLARIX trial, Orellana-Noia says. The trial did not permit patients with transformed disease from indolent lymphoma or chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Orellana-Noia notes, adding that patients who had a prior solid organ transplant, had an HIV infection, or had central nervous system disease were not included.

Patients who experienced a statistical benefit from polatuzumab vedotin plus R-CHP included older patients who received full-dose, anthracycline-based therapy, plus those with stage III/IV non-bulky disease, Orellana-Noia continues.