Ipilimumab plus Lenalidomide after Allogeneic and Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Patients with Lymphoid Malignancies

Purpose: Prevention or treatment of relapsed lymphoid malignancies after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) requires novel strategies. We hypothesized that anti-tumor-cell responses could be enhanced by the addition of lenalidomide to the cytotoxic T-lymphocyte-associated protein 4 inhibitor ipilimumab. Experimental Design: We conducted a phase 2 investigator-initiated trial to assess the safety and activity of ipilimumab and lenalidomide in patients with lymphoid malignancies that relapsed after allogeneic HSCT and in high-risk patients after autologous HSCT. Patients received 10 mg of oral lenalidomide daily for 21 days followed by intravenous ipilimumab at 3 mg/kg body weight. The regimen was repeated 4 weeks later for a total of 4 treatments. Results: We enrolled 17 patients (10 allogeneic and 7 autologous transplant recipients). Immune-mediated toxicity was limited to 1 patient with asymptomatic hypothyroidism and 1 with dermatitis in the allogeneic and autologous groups, respectively. One allogeneic transplant recipient had a flare of prior graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) while taking lenalidomide that precluded further treatment. All others finished treatment without GVHD. Four of 10 patients in the allogeneic group had complete responses (three of which were durable at 19+, 21+ and 32+ months), and 3 had partial responses. The disease in 6 of 7 patients in the autologous group remains in remission. The groups had similar immune responses; including a 2- to 3 -fold increases in inducible ICOS+CD4+FoxP3- T cells number. Conclusions:Our early-phase data suggested that ipilimumab plus lenalidomide is well tolerated after HSCT. Adverse events did not differ significantly between the allogeneic and autologous groups.

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