Tag: rituximab

ICML Update: Lenalidomide and Rituximab Are Well Tolerated and Effective in Patients with Previously Untreated Follicular Lymphoma

On June 20, at the 12th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma, Dr. Peter Martin presented preliminary results from the CALGB-sponsored phase II study of oral lenalidomide plus rituximab in patients with previously untreated follicular lymphoma. Although preliminary, the overall and complete response rates were promising (93% and 72%, respectively) and the regimen was well tolerated. Moreover, these results are comparable to standard chemotherapy-containing regimens and provide rationale for further development of non-chemotherapy treatments for patients with follicular lymphoma. Shortly we will begin conducting a trial of lenalidomide, rituximab, and ibrutinib in patients with previously untreated follicular lymphoma and hope to improve even further on these results.

Please look back to this space for further updates regarding future trials with lenalidomide, rituximab, and ibrutinib.

Dose-Adjusted EPOCH-Rituximab Shows Encouraging Results for Patients with Primary Mediastinal B-Cell Lymphoma

Initially recognized in the 1980s, primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) is a subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) arising in the thymus. Representing less than 3% of non-Hodgkin lymphoma cases, PMBCL has a skewed age distribution affecting young adults, especially young women. Historically, patients with PMBCL have been treated with mediastinal radiation following chemotherapy based on evidence that chemotherapy alone was insufficient. Despite the high cure rates with this strategy, mediastinal radiation in young patients can be associated with late adverse effects, including premature cardiovascular disease and secondary cancers.

Researchers from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and their partner institutions recently completed a phase II study of infusional dose-adjusted etoposide, doxorubicin, and cyclophosphamide with vincristine, prednisone, and rituximab (DA-EPOCH-R) with no mediastinal radiation complement. In 51 patients with a median age of 30 years, of which 59% were women, the overall survival rate was 97% at the median 5-year follow-up. From these results, researchers suggested that DA-EPOCH-R therapy obviated the need for radiotherapy in patients with PMBCL.  

While these results from this phase II study are encouraging, they will need to be confirmed with further research.

Clinical Trial: MLN8237 in Relapsed/Refractory Aggressive B-Cell Lymphoma Treated With Rituximab & Vincristine

Update: this study is closed to enrollment. 

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 (DLBCL) and other aggressive lymphomas including Transformed Follicular Lymphoma, and Mantle Cell or Burkitt Lymphoma. The study sponsor is Millennium Pharmaceuticals, and the principal investigator at Weill Cornell is Dr. Jia Ruan. 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 18 and older
  • Parts 1 and 2:
    • Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Transformed Follicular Lymphoma, Mantle Cell or Burkitt Lymphoma
  • Part 3:
    • Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma, Transformed Follicular Lymphoma (people with Mantle Cell or Burkitt Lymphoma are eligible for Parts 1 and 2 only)
    • For Part 3, must have received prior rituximab
  • Relapsed or refractory after at least 1 prior systemic treatment for aggressive lymphoma; relapsed following autologous stem cell transplant is allowed
  • Detailed eligibility reviewed when you contact the study team
Study Details

The purpose of the study is to investigate whether the experimental drug MLN8237 has any treatment benefit when combined with rituximab (this combination is called MR) or when combined with rituximab and vincristine (called MRV). The study will also evaluate the safety and tolerability of the MR and MRV combinations.   Continue reading “Clinical Trial: MLN8237 in Relapsed/Refractory Aggressive B-Cell Lymphoma Treated With Rituximab & Vincristine”