The efficacy and safety of a Histone deacetylase inhibitor: chidamide as a maintenance therapy for peripheral T-cell lymphoma

Abstract Purpose This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of chidamide as a maintenance therapy in peripheral T-cell lymphoma. Methods Chidamide was given orally as a maintenance therapy after first-line or salvage treatment. Progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety were analyzed. Results Fifty-eight patients were enrolled between January 2015 and July 2022. Among 39 patients underwent first-line maintenance, 11 (28.2%) patients experienced disease progression. A total of 19 patients received maintenance treatment after salvage therapy, 9(47.4%) had disease progression and median duration of remission was 16 (2‒25) months. For all patients, the median maintenance time was 16 (1–72) months, the median PFS was 33 months, and the median OS had not been reached. The median PFS and OS of the patients received first-line maintenance were not reached, significantly better than patients received salvage maintenance (median PFS and OS were 7 and 67 months, P < 0.001, P = 0.009, respectively). The most common toxicities were hematologic toxicities. Twelve (20.7%) patients underwent a dose reduction and three patients discontinued treatment. Conclusion The study showed that patients with chidamide maintenance therapy had a better PFS and OS with a manageable safety profile, especially as the first-line maintenance therapy. Registration number: ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05967949), retrospectively registered on July 23, 2023.