Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Rituxan or Rituxan with cladribine for Variant Hairy Cell Leukemia – pro

Recent literature suggests that a subgroup of Hairy Cell Leukemia(NCL), sometimes called Variant Hairy Cell Leukemia(HCL-V)l  my in fact be a different disease not related to HCL at all and which my respond to rituximab to a much higher extent than common Hairy Cell does. It is thought that this variant is what used to be called Leukemic Reticuloendotheliosis in the past. It is an uncommon disorder accounting for approximately 0.4% of chronic lymphoid

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Sorafenib for desmoid tumors – pro

  Desmoid tumors, also called aggressive fibromatosis, deep musculoaponeurotic fibromatosis, and fibrosarcoma grade I of the desmoid type, do not generally metastasize but can cause pain and compromise organs. Few treatments for this condition are well established, although many novel agents are being studied. Among them is Nexavar (sorafenib). The basis for the interest in this drug is that it appears to inhibit MPNST cell growth in vitro.

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Revlimid and Rituxan for maintenance for lymphoma – pro

Recent studies suggest that lanalidomide 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. Currently, maintenance is not standard for most lymphomas, including Diffuse Large B Cell lymphoma. Lenalidomide alone is still in studies, for example, Maintenance

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Zevalin and Rituxan for relapsed large cell lymphoma or for consolidation – pro

Zevalin, 90Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan, is a novel radioimmunotherapeutic agent approved forthe treatment of relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Zevalin is also indicated for the treatment of previously untreated follicular NHL in patients who achieve a partial or complete response to first-line chemotherapy. 90Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan consists of a murine monoclonal antibody covalently attached to a metal

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How to follow Diffuse Large Cell Lymphoma after completing treatment

Athough 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,  guidelines do not recommend MRI for surveillance. The most common lymphoma is Diffuse Large B0cell Lymphoma(DLBCL).  2012 NCCN Guidelines for DLBCL on p. BCEL-4 recommend CT no more often than every 6 months for 2 years after completion of

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PET for lymphomas – pro

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. This role has the potential to affect both the initial choice of chemotherapy and the decision to alter management based on the initial response to therapy . PET performed early in a chemotherapeutic regimen has demonstrated a role in identifying patients

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Low Grade Follicular Lymphoma Treatment – pro

Lay Summary: I review options for follicular lymphoma treatment. Patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) have a median survival of 4-8 years from diagnosis and a cause-specific survival of about 10 years. Radiotherapy can be curative in a small proportion of patients with very localized disease, but the majority of patients have advanced disease at diagnosis and it is not clear that any current therapy is curative in this situation.

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Angioimmunoblastic T-cell – pro

Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AILD) is considered a variety of T-cell lymphoma, which usually occurs in adults. Patients present with profound lymphadenopathy, fever, night sweats, weight loss, skin rash, a positive Coomb's test, and polyclonal hypergammaglobulinemia. It is quite rare and no standrd approach has beend efined. Angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma was formerly called angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia. Characterized

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Maintenance Rituxan – pro

Lay Summary: Maintenance rituximab is becoming more common although questions remain about its benefit for DLBCL. The impact of maintenance treatment with rituximab on overall survival is one of the most important open questions for patients with indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Recent randomized trials performed by the German Low Grade Lymphoma Study Group (GLSG) and by the EORTC demonstrated the superiority of rituximab maintenance after immunochemotherapy

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Revlimid for Chronic lymphocytic leukemia – pro

Lay Summary: Revlimid is promising for CLL. Revlimid is an orally administered derivative of thalidomide, which is a very active agent for the treatment of multiple myeloma but has serious side effects, especially thromboembolism. Revlimid is reported to have less toxicity than thalidomide but retains antimyeloma effects. Revlimid has recently been approved by the FDA for review of treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) wih a 5q- mutation and

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