Expert Discusses Data for FLYER Trial in Patients With DLBCL

Viola Poeschel, MD, a medical doctor at the Saarland University Medical School, discusses the results for the phase III FLYER trial in which the standard 6 cycles of R-CHOP were compared to a reduced 4 cycles of R-CHOP in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

At 3-year follow-up, the standard regimen has a 94% progression-free survival rate compared to 96% with the reduced treatment with 4 cycles, Poeschel says. These data show the newer regimen is noninferior to the standard of care.

In regard to efficacy, both arms had similar event-free survival and no difference in overall survival, Poeschel adds. The 4 cycles of R-CHOP also reduced toxicity, where the 6-cycle regimen led to a higher hematologic toxicity profile. Poeschel notes that the total number of non-hematologic toxicities could be reduced by using only 4 cycles compared to the standard 6 cycles of R-CHOP.