Tilly H, Morschhauser F, Sehn LH, et al. - In previously untreated intermediate-risk or high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) population, a lower risk of disease progression, relapse, or death was observed in patients who received pola-R-CHP (a modified regimen of R-CHOP [rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone] in which vincristine was replaced with polatuzumab vedotin) compared with those who received R-CHOP.

• In this double-blind, placebo-controlled, international phase 3 trial, 879 patients with previously untreated intermediate-risk or high-risk DLBCL were randomized to either pola-R-CHP or to standard R-CHOP.

• In the pola-R-CHP group, the percentage of patients surviving without progression was found to be significantly higher, relative to the R-CHOP group (76.7% vs 70.2% at 2 years; stratified hazard ratio for progression, relapse, or death, 0.73 by Cox regression).

• No significant difference in overall survival at 2 years was found between the groups (88.7% in the pola-R-CHP group and 88.6% in the R-CHOP group; hazard ratio for death, 0.94).

• Similar safety was reported in both groups.