Lenalidomide Is Safe And Active: International Study Of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Main Category: Lymphoma / Leukemia
Article Date: 19 May 2008 - 5:00 PDT

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Myron Czuczman, MD, Head, Lymphoma/Myeloma Section, Department of Medicine at Roswell Park Cancer Institute, will present the preliminary results of an international study of lenalidomide (Revlimid®) in patients with relapsed/refractory (r/r) aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), June 1, at 9 am, at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), in Chicago, IL.

Lenalidomide (Revlimid®) has been shown to be active in patients with NHL, and side effects have been manageable. This study was designed to confirm the activity, safety and predictors of response previously reported for lenalidomide in patients with r/r aggressive NHL in an international setting.

The study included 46 patients for response evaluation and 79 patients for safety evaluation. The median age of the group was 65 years, 74% were male and 96% had received prior therapy with rituximab. Median time from diagnosis was two years, and the median number of prior treatment regimens was 3.5. An objective response was observed in 13 patients (48%) and 10 patients had stable disease which are very promising in these patients with a poor prognosis and limited salvage therapy options. Response was associated with low tumor burden and longer time from the last dose of rituximab.

The authors conclude from these early data that lenalidomide has significant activity in this patient population with a poor prognosis and limited options and a favorable safety profile. Patients with a low tumor burden and who had a longer duration without disease progression due to prior rituxamib therapy are more likely to respond.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation's first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation's leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs both nationally and internationally.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute