Tag: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

New Clinical Trial: Nivolumab in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) that have Either Failed or are Not Eligible for Autologous Stem Cell Transplant

The Weill Cornell Lymphoma Program has recently opened a new clinical trial for men and women with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, that have either failed or are not eligible for Autologous Stem Cell Transplant. The study sponsor is Bristol-Myers Squibb, and the principal investigator at Weill Cornell is Dr. John Leonard. For more information about the study, please call Amelyn Rodgriguez, RN at (212) 746-1362 or e-mail Amelyn at amr2017@med.cornell.edu.

Key Eligibility

  • Men and women equal to or greater than 18 years of age
  • A performance status of 0 or 1
  • Biopsy confirmation of relapsed, refractory DLBCL, or transformed lymphoma (TL) prior to the initiation of study drug
  • Prior treatment as defined below:
    – Subjects with relapsed or refractory DLBCL or TL after high-dose conditioning chemotherapy and ASCT, or
    – Subjects with relapsed or refractory DLBCL or TL after at least 2 prior multi-agent  chemotherapy regimens if ASCT ineligible. Ineligibility for ASCT will be determined  using local institutional criteria
  • Detailed eligibility reviewed when you contact the study team

Study Details

This clinical trial is testing a drug called Nivolumab (also known as BMS-936558, a monoclonal antibody) as therapy for subjects with relapsed or refractory Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) after failure of autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). The purpose of this study is to test the effectiveness, safety, and tolerability of the investigational drug Nivolumab.

Subjects enrolled on this study will receive Nivolumab 3 mg/kg intravenously on the start of every 2 week cycle.  The study medication may be interrupted, withheld or stopped for different reasons. However, subjects will be asked to follow up periodically for two years after ending treatment.

Demethylase Activity of AID During Germinal B-cell Maturation Could Contribute to Lymphomagenesis

shaknovich_rBy Rita Shaknovich, MD, PhD

Diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL) are aggressive tumors that arise from germinal center B-cells (GCB). Post GCB are noted for their heterogeneity and variable clinical outcomes. In previous genome wide studies we found profound alterations in the cytosine methylation patterning of DLBCL and that the expression of activation-induced deaminase (AID) was associated with the loss of methylation in DLBCL patients. AID functions as demethylase during embryonic development, which  led us to ask whether AID has demethylase activity during the transit of B-cells through the germinal center, and if over expression contributes to lymphomagenesis through the disruption of DNA methylation.

This question was addressed in an abstract during the 56th annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH). We studied the epigenetic function of AID in GCB and germinal center-derived lymphomas. Our preliminary results indicate that high AID expression is correlated with a more aggressive phenotype of the disease. We are currently analyzing the epigenetic targets of AID in both normal GCB and tumors, in order to find genes that could be epigenetically deregulated and contribute to the formation of lymphomas. These results demonstrate – for the first time – that AID functions as a demethylase in GCB in vivo. This suggests that the epigenetic role of AID could contribute to lymphomagenesis.

Patient Experience at Weill Cornell Medical College

Meet Jane a patient diagnosed with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Hear about her experience with the Lymphoma Program at Weill Cornell Medical College.