New Clinical Trial: Rituximab,Bendamustine Hydrochloride & Bortezomib Followed by Rituximab & Lenalidomide in Older Patients with Untreated Mantle Cell Lymphoma

E1411: Intergroup Randomized Phase II Four Arm Study In Patients > 60 With Previously Untreated Mantle Cell Lymphoma Of Therapy With: Arm A = Rituximab+ Bendamustine Followed By Rituximab Consolidation (RB → R); Arm B = Rituximab + Bendamustine + Bortezomib Followed By Rituximab Consolidation (RBV→ R), Arm C = Rituximab + Bendamustine Followed By Lenalidomide + Rituximab Consolidation (RB → LR) or Arm D = Rituximab + Bendamustine + Bortezomib Followed By Lenalidomide + Rituximab Consolidation (RBV → LR)

The Weill Cornell Lymphoma Program has recently opened a new clinical trial for men women age 60 and older with mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) that has not been previously treated. The study sponsor is the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group. The principal investigator at Weill Cornell is Dr. Peter Martin. 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 age 60 and older
  • Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL)
  • No prior therapy for MCL
  • Detailed eligibility reviewed when you contact the study team

Study Details

The study has two steps of treatment:

Step 1: The purpose of Step 1 is to determine the effectiveness of the addition of bortezomib (also called Velcade) to rituximab plus bendamustine, compared to rituximab plus bendamustine alone.

Step 2: The purpose of Step 2 is to determine the effectiveness of continuing treatment after Step 1 with lenalidomide plus rituximab, compared to continuing with rituximab alone.

Study participants will be randomly assigned to one of four treatment regimens:

  • Group 1: Step 1 rituximab plus bendamustine, followed by Step 2 rituximab for up to 2 years
  • Group 2: Step 1 bortezomib plus rituximab and bendamustine, followed by Step 2 rituximab for up to 2 years
  • Group 3: Step 1 rituximab plus bendamustine, followed by Step 2 lenalidomide plus rituximab for up to 2 years
  • Group 4: Step 1 bortezomib plus rituximab and bendamustine, followed by Step 2 lenalidomide plus rituximab for up to 2 years

Although each of the drugs used in the study are FDA-approved to treat blood cancers, the combinations used in this study have not been FDA-approved and are considered experimental.

Monoclonal antibodies, such as rituximab, can block cancer growth in different ways. Some find cancer cells and help kill them or carry cancer-killing substances to them. Others interfere with the ability of cancer cells to grow and spread. Drugs used in chemotherapy, such as bendamustine, also work in different ways to kill cancer cells or stop them from dividing. Bortezomib may stop the growth of cancer cells by blocking some of the enzymes needed for cell growth. Lenalidomide may stop the growth of mantle cell lymphoma by blocking blood flow to the cancer. It is not yet known whether giving rituximab together with bendamustine and bortezomib is more effective than rituximab and bendamustine, followed by rituximab alone or with lenalidomide in treating mantle cell lymphoma.

Treatment Plan

Participants will be asked to take 6 cycles (6 months) of chemotherapy in Step 1. Participants in Groups 1 and 2 will take rituximab every 8 weeks for 2 years. Participants in Groups 3 and 4 will take 24 cycles (2 years) of lenalidomide plus rituximab.

NewYork-Presbyterian ‘Light the Night Walk’ Team for LLS

NewYork-Presbyterian is forming a team for Light The Night Walk. Light The Night Walk is The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s evening walk and fundraising event. It is the nation’s night to pay tribute and bring hope to thousands of people battling blood cancers and to commemorate loved ones lost. By joining our team and raising funds for this important cause, you’ll be making a real impact on the fight against cancer. Patients, friends and family are welcome to join the NewYork-Presbyterian team.

Light the Night Walk

Wednesday, October 3, 2012
5:30pm NYP Team Photo
6:15pm Remembrance Ceremony

Basketball City
Pier 36, 299 South Street, New York, NY
(Look for RED NYP Team T-Shirts)

Click here to join the NYP Light the Night Team

NYP team t-shirts will be available starting Monday, September 10.
In order to pick up your T-shirt, you must printand bring a copyof your email registration to one of the following locations:

NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia Campus
Public Affairs Office, 627 West 165th Street, 6th floor, Room 621
Contact:Nancy Gautier-Matos @ 212-305-5587 or gautier@nyp.org

NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Campus
1300 York Avenue (at 69th Street), 2nd floor, Room F-203
Contact:Christine Dillon @ 212-746-2057 or chw9040@nyp.org

For  additional information, please call
Christine Dillon @ 212-746-2057 or chw9040@nyp.org

New Clinical Trial: GS-1101 (CAL-101) + Rituximab for Previously Treated CLL

A Phase 3, Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study Evaluating the Efficacy and Safety of GS 1101 (CAL 101) in Combination with Rituximab for Patients with Previously Treated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Update: this study is closed to enrollment. 

The Weill Cornell Lymphoma Program is now enrolling patients in a new clinical trial for people with previously treated Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL). The sponsor is Gilead Sciences, and the principal investigator at Weill Cornell is Dr. Richard Furman. For more information about the study, please call Amelyn Rodriguez, RN at (212) 746-1362 or email Amelyn at amr2017@med.cornell.edu.

Study Details

The study will evaluate the effectiveness of the experimental drug GS-1101 (CAL-101) combined with rituximab in treating CLL.

GS-1101 (CAL-101) is a pill designed to block some of the cell functions that cause CLL to grow and survive and may help control the disease. Rituximab is FDA-approved as a treatment for CLL. It is possible that giving rituximab together with GS-1101 may have more activity against the CLL disease process than giving rituximab alone.

Study participants will be randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups:

  • Group A: rituximab and GS-1101
  • Group B: rituximab and placebo (an inactive pill that looks like GS-1101 but contains no medicine)

Treatment Plan

All study participants will receive rituximab via infusion 8 times over 24 weeks: Day 1, then Weeks 2, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16 and 20.

Participants will take GS-1101 or placebo twice daily for 24 weeks.

After 24 weeks of therapy with rituximab and GS-1101 or placebo, participants will continue on GS-1101 or placebo as long as their CLL is controlled. If their CLL gets worse, participants may be able to take part in a separate extension study where they receive GS-1101 at a higher or lower dose. Thus, everyone who is treated in this study has an opportunity to receive active GS-1101, either in the main study or the extension study.