Cancer Treatment Today

Azerra (ofatumumab) is a new antibiody against Chronic lymphocytic leukemia( CLL).  Preclinical data suggest that it might be more effective than Rituxan in variety of lymphomas.  In early clinical trials, ofatumumab demonstrated single-agent activity against chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) and B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. It was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for the treatment of CLL that is resistant to both fludarabine

Recent studies suggest that lenalidomide and rituxan are effective in relapsed or refractory lymphomas. Revlimid, in particular, shows effectiveness for maintenance in myeloma. Because both drugs are well tolerated, this created an interest in studying their effectiveness for maintenance. The idea behind maintenance therapy is to supress any remaining or dormant cells and to prolong time to the return of the diseae, or possibly to produce a cure.

Double - hit (DH) lymphomas are a recently discovered subtype of lymphoma that is defined by a chromosomal breakpoint affecting the MYC/8q24 locus in combination with another recurrent breakpoint, for instance a t(14;18)(q32;q21), involving BCL2. In the 2008 WHO classification, they are classified as "B cell lymphoma unclassifiable with features intermediate between Diffuse Large Cell Lymphoma(DLBCL) and Brkitt’s Lymphoma(BL)". Thus, it is somewhere

Although CT remains the gold standard for the staging and follow-up of malignant lymphomas, 18F-FDG PET has a potential role in accurately staging disease and in predicting response to therapy. On the other hand, guidelines do not recommend PET routinely for surveillance. NCCN Guidelines for DLBCL on p. BCEL-4 recommend CT no more often than every 6 months for 2 years after completion of treatment, then only as clinically indicated. In contrast to

Brain and spinal cord(CNS) are "sanctuary" sites, places within the body where lymphoma cells can hide out and survive chemotherapy. Testicles is another such site. There remains an open question about whether intermediate risk lymphomas, such as diffuse large cell lymphomas, that invovle organs other than lymph nodes require prophylaxis against CNS involvement alingside methotrexate, that gets well into the CNS form the blood, with follinic acid

Extranodal marginal zone lymphoma, also called low grade B-cell lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT), is a lymphoma that, unlike most other lymphomas, arises outside of lymph nodes, in a number of locations, including the stomach, salivary glands, lung and small intestine. There is evidence for marginal zone lymphoma in general that it might be disseminated at presentation. Therefore, it is tempting to prescribe adjuvant chemotherapy

Cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) is classified as an indolent hematologic malignancy with distinct clinicopathologic features. Although prognosis varies depending on the stage, patients who have cutaneous tumor, lymph node or visceral involvement, or peripheral blood involvement (Sézary syndrome) generally have a poor outcome. Evidence for stem cell transplantation, both autologous and allogeneic is on the level of case reports. Experts agree that

Thalidomide, lenalidomide and rituximab have no direct effect on MCL cells. However, both indirectly affect peripheral blood mononuclear cell-mediated cytotoxicity,  and rituximab induces both complement-dependent and antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) against MCL cells. Rituximab-induced ADCC is enhanced by lenalidomide and thalidomide. In a 2004 series, thirteen patients of sixteen enrolled (81%) experienced an objective response,