MYC alterations influence the survival of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Most studies have focused on MYC translocations but there is little information regarding the impact of numerical alterations and protein expression. We analyzed the genetic alterations and protein expression of MYC, BCL2, BCL6, and MALT1 in 219 cases of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. MYC rearrangement occurred as the sole abnormality (MYC single-hit) in 3% of cases, MYC and concurrent BCL2 and/or BCL6 rearrangements (MYC double/triple-hit) in 4%, MYC amplifications in 2% and MYC gains in 19%. MYC single-hit, MYC double/triple-hit and MYC amplifications, but not MYC gains or other gene rearrangements, were associated with unfavorable progression-free survival and overall survival. MYC protein expression, evaluated using computerized image analysis, captured the unfavorable prognosis of MYC translocations/amplifications and identified an additional subset of patients without gene alterations but with similar poor prognosis. Patients with tumors expressing both MYC/BCL2 had the worst prognosis, whereas those with double-negative tumors had the best outcome. High MYC expression was associated with shorter overall survival irrespectively of the International Prognostic Index and BCL2 expression. In conclusion, MYC protein expression identifies a subset of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma with very poor prognosis independently of gene alterations and other prognostic parameters.

Odronextamab, a CD20×CD3 bispecific antibody that engages cytotoxic T cells to destroy malignant B cells, has demonstrated encouraging activity across multiple subtypes of relapsed/refractory (R/R) B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This phase II study (ELM-2; NCT03888105) evaluated odronextamab in patients with R/R follicular lymphoma after two or more lines of systemic therapy. Patients received intravenous odronextamab in 21-day cycles, with step-up dosing in cycle 1 to help mitigate the risk of cytokine release syndrome, until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was objective response rate by independent central review. Among 128 patients evaluated, 95% completed cycle 1, and 85% completed four or more cycles. At 20.1 months' efficacy follow-up, objective response rate was 80.0% and complete response rate was 73.4%. Median duration of complete response was 25.1 months. Median progression-free survival was 20.7 months, and median overall survival was not reached. Discontinuation of odronextamab due to adverse events occurred in 16% of patients. The most common treatment-emergent adverse events were cytokine release syndrome [56%; grade ≥3 1.7% (1/60) with 0.7/4/20 mg step-up], neutropenia (39%), and pyrexia (38%). Odronextamab achieved high complete response rates with generally manageable safety in patients with heavily pretreated R/R follicular lymphoma.