Efficacy
The median overall survival was 7.7 months in the blinatumomab arm and 4.0 months in the chemotherapy arm (hazard ratio (HR) for death 0.71; 95%CI 0.55-0.93, p=0.01). The median duration of follow-up was 11.7 months in the blinatumomab arm and 11.8 months in the chemotherapy arm, and median number of treatment cycles was 2 (range, 1 to 9) and 1 (range, 1 to 4) respectively.
In terms of secondary endpoints the remission rates were higher in the blinatumomab arm, with CR of 34% vs 16% (p<0.001), and CR+CRi 44% vs 25% (P<0.001). EFS rates were superior (HR 0.55, p<0.001), and 24% of patients in both groups proceeded to allogeneic transplants.r
Outcome |
Blinatumomab
(n=271) |
Chemotherapy
(n=134) |
P value |
Comments |
Overall survival |
7.7 months |
4.0 months |
P=0.01 |
Trial stopped early |
CR + CRi rates |
44% |
25% |
P<0.001 |
|
Duration of CR |
7.3 months |
4.4 months |
Not stated |
|
EFS |
31% at 6 months |
12% at 6 months |
P<0.001 |
Defined as events after CR |
Kaplan-Meier survival curve for OS by intention-to treat analysis

© New England Journal of Medicine 2017
Subgroup analysis forest plot

© New England Journal of Medicine 2017
Health-related quality of life (HRQL) was assessed in the TOWER study by means of the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire, and reported separately.r Of the 405 patients randomised, 342 had baseline and ≥ 1 post-treatment assessments available, and were included in the HRQL analysis. Blinatumomab treatment was associated with improved HRQL over chemotherapy in almost all domains:
Time to clinically meaningful deterioration in HRQL analyses

© Blood 2018
Efficacy summary: improved overall survival and health-related quality of life in patients receiving blinatumomab compared to standard-of-care chemotherapy.