Follicular Lymphoma: a Focus on Current and Emerging Therapies

Abstract

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common indolent lymphoma and is characterized by a relapsing and remitting course. In addition to significant biologic heterogeneity, the clinical trajectory for patients is variable, with some being observed for many years, and others having aggressive disease requiring multiple treatment courses. Unfortunately, FL remains incurable, and continues to cause early mortality. Improved understanding of the genetic and immune biology of FL has led to several FDA-approved therapies in the relapsed and refractory setting, including PI3K inhibitors; immunomodulatory agents; the EZH2 inhibitor, tazemetostat; and anti-CD19 chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, axicabtagene ciloleucel. This review outlines the current approach to the diagnosis and treatment of FL with a focus on emerging investigational therapies, including targeted protein inhibitors, antibody-drug conjugates, monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, and novel combination strategies.

Key Words: follicular lymphoma; treatment; novel therapies

Oncology (Williston Park). 2022;36(2):97-106.
DOI: 10.46883/2022.25920946

Introduction

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an incurable B-cell lymphoid neoplasm with significant biological and clinical heterogeneity. As the most common indolent lymphoma and second most common non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), it has a relapsing and remitting course with risk of transformation to aggressive disease.^1,2 Most patients present with advanced disease and will eventually
require treatment for symptomatic disease. Given the range of clinical behaviors, the decision of when to treat is equally important as how to treat, noting that therapeutic goals include meaningful remission, symptom palliation, and prolongation of life.

While the majority of patients have survival approximating 2 decades, a subset of patients have aggressive disease with poor outcomes.³ Unfortunately, baseline identification of these patients remains challenging. Approximately 20% of patients with FL have progressive disease within 2 years of initial chemoimmunotherapy and a 5-year overall survival (OS) of 50%.⁴ Cumulative toxicity from repeated exposure to palliative cytotoxic chemotherapy also contributes to morbidity and mortality. While anti–CD20-based chemoimmunotherapy remains an important standard of care, more rational and biologically driven agents are either approved or in development. In this review, we examine the current approach to the diagnosis and treatment of FL with a focus on targeted therapy and other novel agents.

Current Standards for Diagnosis

A diagnosis of FL requires histologic examination of a lymph node biopsy for assessment of nodal architecture and grading.⁵ FL is characterized by neoplastic germinal center B-cells growing in densely packed follicles with distortion of the normal nodal architecture. Grading depends on the number of centroblasts/high-power field. Grade 1-3a are considered indolent, whereas 3b is more aggressive and clinically approached as diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).⁶ The classic immunophenotype includes the B-cell antigens CD19, CD20, and CD79a; lymphoid progenitor marker, CD10; and nuclear proteins, BCL-2 and BCL-6. Unlike mantle cell lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma, it is negative for CD5.

Molecular Testing

Cytogenetically, FL is characterized by the translocation t(14;18), which occurs in up to 90% of cases, as a result of aberrant V(D)J recombination. This results in BCL-2 protein overexpression and increased cell survival (Figure 1).⁷ As a hallmark of FL, it is necessary, but alone insufficient, for lymphomagenesis.^8-10 An important recent finding is early mutations in genes coding for chromatin modifying proteins.^11-13 These ‘epimutations’ are a second hallmark of FL and include: KMT2D (~70-80%), CREBBP (~65-70%), EZH2 (~25%), and EP300 (~14%).^12,14 These transcriptionally repressive mutations result in increased germinal center proliferation, differentiation block, and immune evasion.^15-17 Along with the BCL2 translocation, these mutations are early events occurring in a common progenitor cell.

FIGURE 1. Genomic Hallmarks of FL

Through divergent clonal evolution, other mutations are subsequently acquired including mutations in genes involved in immune modulation (TNFRSF14); JAK-STAT signaling (STAT6, SOCS1); and B-cell receptor–NF-kB signaling (CARD11, TNFAIP3, MYD88).¹² While conventional karyotyping and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) for t(14;18) are part of the standard evaluation for FL, genomic sequencing is limited to testing for the EZH2 mutation when tazemetostat is being considered.¹⁸ Nonetheless, next-generation sequencing has revealed the diverse mutational landscape of FL and provides insight into disease pathogenesis, as well as opportunities for more precise therapeutic strategies.

Stratification for Treatment Selection

The treatment of FL must consider individual parameters and balance the risk of cumulative toxicity versus remission and palliation of symptoms. The conventional approach to FL is clinical observation until there is an indication to treat, typically based on criteria of the Groupe d’Etude des Lymphomes Folliculaires (GELF) or National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN).^19,20 There are several prognostic indices in FL including the Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index (FLIPI), FLIPI-2, and m7-FLIPI, but none dictate the timing or type of treatment at an individual patient level.^14,21,22

The m7-FLIPI and gene expression profiling panels include genomic features, but have varied performance and are not validated for clinical practice.23 Staging with positron emission tomography (PET) imaging helps to identify the extent of disease and preferred sites for biopsy when histologic transformation to DLBCL is suspected, as this occurs in up to 15% of patients.³ The assumption here is that higher uptake values correspond with more rapid cell turnover and aggressive histology. This is somewhat controversial, and PET alone does not appear to predict histologic transformation.²⁴ Nonetheless, PET imaging does result in disease upstaging in approximately 10% to 60% of cases, which often has treatment implications.^25,26

Therapy Selection

First-line Treatment

For patients with stage I-II disease, there are several options including observation, rituximab (Rituxan), chemoimmunotherapy, or radiation, with the majority of patients having similar excellent long-term survival regardless of initial approach.²⁷ Approximately 70% of patients have advanced disease (stage III or IV) at diagnosis.^3,28 Asymptomatic patients with low disease burden may be actively monitored. When treatment is indicated for patients with low tumor-burden advanced disease, rituximab monotherapy is often used, given the high overall response rate (ORR; complete remission [CR] plus partial remission [PR]) of 71%, low toxicity, and long median time to treatment failure of approximately 4 years, which delays the need for cytotoxic therapy.²⁹

When selecting initial treatment for patients with high tumor burden and symptomatic advanced FL, there are several considerations regarding the chemotherapy backbone, the anti-CD20 antibody, the use of maintenance strategies, and whether to opt for a nonchemotherapy regimen (Figure 2). Based on the StiL (NCT00991211) and BRIGHT (NCT00877006) trials, bendamustine and rituximab (BR) or rituximab with cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP), are both options with ORR >90%.^30,31

FIGURE 2. A Proposed Treatment Approach for Advanced-Stage FL

BR has become a preferred option based on superior progression-free survival (PFS) over R-CHOP (70 vs 31 months, respectively) and it is also not associated with alopecia, anthracycline-associated cardiotoxicity, vinca alkaloid-associated neuropathy, or steroid-associated risks. R-CHOP may be preferred in cases where occult transformation is suspected, or immune suppression associated with bendamustine is to be avoided. In patients treated with R-CHOP or rituximab with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CVP), maintenance therapy with rituximab every
8 weeks for 2 years compared with placebo improves PFS, but not OS, based on the PRIMA study (NCT00140582).³²

It is unclear whether this extends to patients treated with BR. In the GALLIUM study (NCT01332968), chemoimmunotherapy with obinutuzumab (Gazyva) versus rituximab improved PFS, with no difference in OS, but did result in high grade 3-5 adverse events, including infusion-related events and infections.^33,34 The use of maintenance therapy is controversial, and even more so during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among surveyed physicians who treat indolent lymphomas with a maintenance therapy strategy, 53% hold rituximab maintenance to allow for vaccination.³⁵ Lenalidomide (Revlimid)with rituximab is an alternative to chemoimmunotherapy with similar response rates, PFS, and OS to chemoimmunotherapy (R-CHOP, BR, or R-CVP).³⁶ Similar to chemoimmunotherapy, it is a fixed-duration treatment, but with a much longer time frame at 18 months. It remains an option for patients wishing to avoid cytotoxic chemotherapy.

Relapsed/Refractory Treatment

There is no standard treatment or sequence of treatments for relapsed/refractory FL (RR-FL), but the number of options is increasing. Approximately 20% of patients have early relapse and progression of disease within 24 months (POD24), and these patients have poor outcomes.⁴ Unfortunately, upfront identification of these patients is not possible, and more effective treatments for these patients are needed. For all patients with RR-FL, a chemoimmunotherapy regimen (BR, R-CHOP, or R-CVP) different from the first-line therapy is an option.

There is limited data on R-CHOP after BR, but second-line BR in patients with indolent NHL with previous rituximab (39%) or CHOP (54%) had an ORR of 82% and PFS of 34 months.³⁷ Rituximab monotherapy is also effective for some patients with low tumor burden and previous rituximab-based regimens with an ORR 55% to 64% and PFS of 14 months.^38,39 Obinutuzumab with either bendamustine or CHOP may improve outcomes by overcoming rituximab refractoriness, especially for relapses within 6 to 12 months.^40,41 In transplant-eligible patients with chemosensitive disease to first salvage, consolidative autologous stem cell transplantation (auto-SCT) appears to improve long-term survival based on several retrospective analyses.

Among patients with POD24, auto-SCT has an improved 5-year OS of approximately 77% vs 59% among those without auto-SCT.⁴² Similar results were observed for patients undergoing auto-SCT within 1 year of treatment failure, with a 5-year OS of 73% compared with 60% without auto-SCT.⁴³ It should be noted, however, that the benefit of auto-SCT may simply be due to a favorable response to second-line therapy and randomized studies are needed.

In the era of increased alternative treatments, the use of auto-SCT has been substantially reduced. The use of allogeneic-SCT, a historical option with curative potential in FL, has also declined. While the preferred therapy for high-risk patients with early relapse has yet to be defined, targeted therapy beyond anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies has been reshaping the treatment landscape of FL since 2014 (Table 1), with several new trials focusing on this population, including a US Intergroup Study S1608 (NCT03269669).

TABLE 1. Recent FDA-Approved Therapies for FL

Lenalidomide

Lenalidomide is an immunomodulatory drug with direct cytotoxicity to lymphoma cells via inhibition of the E3 ubiquitin ligase, cereblon, as well as indirect antitumor effects mediated through changes in the tumor microenvironment.⁴⁴ Lenalidomide with rituximab is an active regimen in rituximab-sensitive relapsed FL, as demonstrated in the AUGMENT trial (NCT01938001) with an ORR of 80% (CR 35%) compared with an ORR of 55% (CR 20%) for rituximab alone.³⁹ The combination had a 2-year OS and median PFS of 95% and 39.4 months compared with 86% and 13.9 months, respectively, for rituximab alone. The combination had a higher incidence of all grades of infections (63% vs 49%, respectively), neutropenia (58% vs 23%), and cutaneous reactions (32% vs 12%). Of the grade 3 or 4 adverse events, a higher incidence of neutropenia (50% vs 13%) was also observed with the combination. This study led to the regulatory approval of lenalidomide with rituximab in patients with RR-FL.

PI3K Inhibitors

Inhibition of PI3K signaling has been a largely successful approach, with 4 FDA-approved agents in RR-FL.⁴⁵ PI3K mediates proximal intracellular B-cell receptor signaling, as well as cell survival signals received from the tumor microenvironment. Idelalisib (δ isoform inhibitor; Zydelig) was the first of these agents to be approved and a major breakthrough in the RR-FL space. The ORR was 57% (CR 6%) with a median duration of response (DOR) of 12.5 months and median PFS of 11 months in very heavily pretreated patients.⁴⁶ Unfortunately, significant toxicities, including neutropenia, diarrhea, transaminitis, and pneumonia, limited its development. Copanlisib (pan-isoform inhibitor; Aliqopa); duvelisib (δ and γ isoform inhibitor; Copiktra); and umbralisib (δ isoform and CK1 ε inhibitor; Ukoniq) are also approved for RR-FL with comparable efficacy and improved toxicity profiles.47-49 They all have an ORR ranging from 42% to 59%, median DOR of 10 to 12 months, and median PFS of 9.5 to 11 months. They have regulatory approval for patients with multiply relapsed FL, based on activity in the heavily pretreated setting.

Tazemetostat

Approximately 25% of patients with FL have a gain of function mutation in the histone methyltransferase protein, EZH2, with consequent increased expression of genes involved in cell proliferation.^12,14,50 Although it contributes to lymphomagenesis, EZH2 gene mutations are associated with improved PFS.⁵⁰ Tazemetostat (Tazverik) is an EZH2 inhibitor that targets this epimutation. It is the first biomarker-directed therapy in FL and has been approved as a third-line option in RR-FL, with an ORR of 69% and CR rate of 13%.⁵¹ With a median follow-up of 22 months, the median PFS was 13.8 months, and median OS was not reached. It also appears to have activity in patients without an EZH2 gene mutation, with ORR of 35% and similar median PFS and OS. There were few significant treatment-related adverse events, with 3% of patients having grade 3 or 4 myelosuppression and a low discontinuation rate of 8%. Its favorable toxicity profile makes it an attractive oral option.

Radioimmunotherapy

For patients with RR-FL, radioimmunotherapy (RIT) is an effective yet often underutilized treatment, especially in those unable to tolerate intensive therapy. RIT uses monoclonal antibodies bound to a radionuclide to deliver targeted cytotoxic radiation to lymphoma cells and the tumor microenvironment. 90Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan (90Y-IT, Zevalin) and 131I-tositumomab (131I-T, Bexxar) are anti-CD20 radioimmunoconjugates that were FDA approved in 2002 and 2003 for RR-FL, respectively.^52,53 Unfortunately, the logistics of administration limited their initial uptake in clinical practice, and 131I-T was voluntarily withdrawn in 2013.⁵⁴ 90Y-IT remains commercially available. In a randomized study of patients with rituximab-naïve RR-FL, 90Y-IT vs rituximab had an ORR of 86% vs 55%, CR rate of 40% vs 17%, and a median DOR of 26.4 months vs 8.5 months in complete responders.⁵⁵ In rituximab-refractory patients with RR-FL, the ORR was 74% (CR 15%) with a median DOR of 6.4 months.⁵⁶ Approximately 60% of patients experienced grade 3/4 neutropenia or thrombocytopenia with duration of 1 to 4 weeks.^52-55 Grade 3/4 infections occurred in approximately 7% of patients. 177Lu-lilotomab satetraxetan (177Lu-LS, Betalutin) is a novel anti-CD37 RIT with an ORR of 65% (CR 30%) and a median DOR of 13.6 months (32.0 months for complete responders) in early studies of patients with RR-FL.⁵⁷ This is comparable to other targeted agents in this setting. The phase 2 LYMRIT-37-01 trial (NCT01796171) for patients with RR-FL with ≥2 lines of therapy including anti-CD20 based chemoimmunotherapy and the phase 1 LYMRIT-37-07 trial (NCT03806179) in those with ≥1 previous anti-CD20–based therapies will both provide more insight into the role of 177Lu-LS in the treatment of FL.

CAR T-Cell Therapy

While targeted agents have clinical activity in RR-FL, long-term remission is still lacking and most require prolonged treatment courses. CAR T-cell therapy has revolutionized the treatment of aggressive lymphomas like DLBCL, and is also now an option for RR-FL, although follow-up remains short. Axicabtagene ciloleucel (axi-cel; Yescarta) is an anti-CD19 CAR T-cell therapy that received accelerated approval in March 2021 for adult patients with RR-FL (≥ 2 lines of prior therapy) based on the results of the phase 2 study ZUMA-5.⁵⁸ In a preliminary report of updated results (median follow-up of 31 months), 86 patients with RR-FL had an ORR of 94% (CR 79%), median DOR and PFS of 38.6 months and 39.6 months, respectively, while OS was not reached.⁵⁹ The incidence of cytokine release syndrome (CRS) and neurotoxicity grade ≥ 3 were 6% and 15%, respectively.

The phase 2 ELARA trial (NCT03568461) evaluating tisagenlecleucel (tisa-cel) in patients with RR-FL (≥ 2 lines of prior therapy) had an ORR 86% (CR 69%) without any grade ≥ 3 CRS, and only 3% with grade ≥ 3 neurotoxicity.⁶⁰ At a median follow-up of 16.9 months, the median DOR, PFS, and OS were not reached, but 1-year PFS was 67%. The phase 2 TRANSCEND FL trial (NCT04245839) using lisocabtagene maraleucel is ongoing. One of the most crucial challenges is patient selection for CAR T, which remains a costly and aggressive approach. Long-term follow-up and real-world data for CAR T-cell therapy from the commercial setting will be important guides influencing patient selection.

Emerging and Novel Therapies

Beyond the commercially approved targeted therapies in FL, there are multiple emerging agents that target the biology of FL (Figure 3). These are reviewed briefly in the following section, which also highlights novel investigational use of these treatments in FL (Table 2).

FIGURE 3. Approved and Investigational Targeted Agents in FL

TABLE 2. Select Ongoing Clinical Trials Using Novel Agents or Investigational Combinations of Approved Therapies in FL

Antibody-Drug Conjugates

Antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) offer an appealing means of antigen-based drug delivery, with several in development. In a phase 2 study in patients with RR-FL, the anti-CD79b ADC, polatuzumab vedotin, (pola; Polivy) was combined with rituximab and resulted in an ORR of 70% (CR 45%) with a 9.4-month DOR.⁶¹ The PFS was 15.3 months with a 2-year OS of 88%. The most common grade 3-4 adverse events were neutropenia (15%) and diarrhea (10%); however, although no grade 3-4 neuropathy was observed, 40% had grade 1-2 neuropathy.

In preliminary reports of early-phase studies evaluating pola combinations in RR-FL, pola with BR did not improve treatment response.⁶² Pola with obinutuzumab/lenalidomide had an ORR of 76% (CR of 65%), while pola with obinutuzumab/venetoclax had an ORR of 71% (CR of 57%), and long-term results with updated survival are anticipated.^63.64 In a phase 1 study including 14 patients with RR-FL, the anti-CD19 ADC, loncastuximab tesirine (Zynlonta), had an ORR of 79% (CR of 65%), and cytopenias were the most common adverse effect.⁶⁵

Checkpoint Inhibitors

Although checkpoint blockade monotherapy has low response rates in RR-FL, combinations may be more active. A phase 1/2 trial (NCT02631577) using obinutuzumab, atezolizumab (Tecentriq), and lenalidomide (G-atezo-len) in patients with RR-FL reported an ORR of 78% (CR of 72%), median DOR of 38 months, and 2-year PFS of 65%.⁶⁶ Cytopenias were the most common grade ≥ 3 adverse event and occurred in 71% of patients. While the majority of toxicities were manageable, the discontinuation rate of any study drug was 29%.

In a preliminary report of pembrolizumab with rituximab in patients with RR-FL (NCT02446457), the ORR was 80% (CR of 60%), and although safe, the benefit of pembrolizumab (Keytruda) over rituximab monotherapy was unclear, as this trial included patients with rituximab-sensitive disease.⁶⁷ In the frontline phase 2 trial (1st FLOR study; NCT03245021), immune priming with nivolumab (Opdivo), followed by rituximab and nivolumab had an ORR of 92% (CR of 54%), with a favorable toxicity profile.⁶⁸ Larger studies and a longer follow-up are needed to clarify the role of checkpoint inhibitors as first-line nonchemotherapy options.

Novel Antibodies and Combinations

Antibodies with novel targets are also under investigation in FL. The anti-CD47 antibody, magrolimab (Hu5F9-G4), blocks CD47 on lymphoma cells to enhance macrophage-mediated phagocytosis. In a phase 1 study of patients with RR-NHL, which included 7 patients with RR-FL, magrolimab with rituximab resulted in an ORR of 71% (5/7) and CR rate of 43% (3/7).⁶⁹ Although small, these numbers are encouraging, with many patients having rituximab-refractory disease. The phase 2 portion of this study (NCT02953509) is currently recruiting.

Another trial investigating venetoclax (Venclexta) with obinutuzumab and magrolimab (VENOM) in relapsed/refractory indolent lymphomas is recruiting, and the results are eagerly anticipated (NCT04599634). Tafasitamab (Monjuvi) is an anti-CD19 antibody approved in combination with lenalidomide for relapsed/refractory DLBCL, but has low activity as a monotherapy in FL.⁷⁰ A phase 3 trial (InMIND) of tafasitamab plus lenalidomide/rituximab versus lenalidomide/rituximab alone in patients with RR-FL or marginal zone lymphoma will determine whether there is a role for tafasitamab in RR-FL (NCT04680052).

Bispecific Antibodies

Bispecific antibodies or bispecific T-cell engagers (BiTes) are novel protein constructs with separate B-cell (CD20) and T-cell targeting (CD3) domains. Mosunetuzumab, glofitamab, odronextamab, and epcoritamab are bispecific antibodies being investigated in early-phase RR-FL trials (Table 3), which have shown promising results with ORR ranging from 80% to 100% (CR from 50% to 75%) in heavily pretreated patients.^71-75 Bispecific antibodies provide an off-the-shelf form of T-cell mediated therapy, with the goal of achieving the durable remissions seen with CAR T-cell therapy. Unlike CAR T-cell therapy, they appear to have a lower risk of CRS and neurotoxicity, and favorable responses in patients relapsing after CAR T-cell therapy. The optimal clinical use of bispecific antibodies remains unknown, and trials including novel combinations in FL are ongoing: mosunetuzumab and lenalidomide (NCT04246086); and epcoritamab with lenalidomide/rituximab or BR (NCT04663347).

BCL2 and Epigenetic Targeting

While BCL2 translocation and epigenetic dysregulation are both frequent features in FL, the efficacy of existing agents has been modest. The BCL2 inhibitor, venetoclax, had low monotherapy activity in FL with an ORR of 38% (CR of 14%),⁷⁶ but combination strategies are in development. A preliminary report of the first trial to combine a Bruton tyrosine kinase (BTK) inhibitor, ibrutinib (Imbruvica), with venetoclax in RR-FL showed an ORR of 83% (CR of 33%) with manageable toxicity (NCT02956382).⁷⁷ Several frontline trials using venetoclax-based combinations include the following: venetoclax, oral azacitidine (CC-486), and obinutuzumab (NCT04722601); venetoclax, lenalidomide, and obinutuzumab (NCT03980171); and venetoclax, ibrutinib, and obinutuzumab (NCT04450173).

The phase 2 PrECOG 0403 trial with frontline venetoclax, bendamustine, and obinutuzumab (NCT03113422) for patients with high tumor-burden FL (n = 56) showed an ORR of 93% (CR of 73%), 2-year estimated PFS of 86%, and 2-year estimated OS of 94% at a median follow-up of 21 months.⁷⁸ Despite the efficacy, the rate of ≥ grade 3 adverse events was high, at 84%, most notably due to tumor lysis, cytopenias, and infections. Unfortunately, this toxicity will preclude its use, but alternative dosing strategies to mitigate adverse effects are being explored. Tazemetostat is also being evaluated in combination with rituximab (NCT04762160), and in combination with lenalidomide and rituximab (NCT04224493).

Conclusions

While chemoimmunotherapy, lenalidomide with rituximab, or rituximab alone are standard first or subsequent line options for advanced FL, the treatment choices for RR-FL have evolved over the last several years. Additional agents for multiply relapsed patients include PI3K inhibitors, tazemetostat, and CAR T-cell therapy. Patient selection for CAR T-cell therapy is evolving, and the optimal sequencing with other therapies remains unknown. There are many emerging investigational products, including ADCs, anti-CD47 monoclonal antibodies, bispecific antibodies, checkpoint-based therapy, and novel combination strategies that are being evaluated. Individualized approaches, trial end points with quality-of-life measures, and information to guide sequencing of available regimens and agents are all desperately needed. These efforts, coupled with ongoing discovery in the biology of FL, are imperative to improving outcomes for patients with FL.

AUTHOR AFFILIATIONS:

Kirk E. Cahill, MD¹; and Sonali M. Smith, MD¹

¹Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology, University of Chicago Medicine Comprehensive Cancer Center, Chicago, IL.

Funding: None

Corresponding author

Sonali M. Smith, MD; Elwood V. Jensen Professor in Medicine; Chief, Section of Hematology/Oncology; Department of Medicine; The University of Chicago Medicine; 5841 S. Maryland Ave., MC 2115; Chicago, IL 60637; Email: smsmith@medicine.bsd.uchicago.edu

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