International Clinical Study Confirms Effectiveness Of Lenalidomide For Patients With Relapsed, Aggressive Lymphoma

Main Category: Lymphoma / Leukemia / Myeloma
Also Included In: Lymphology/Lymphedema
Article Date: 09 Dec 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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Results of an international clinical study confirm the efficacy and safety of lenalidomide, an oral treatment, for patients with relapsed, refractory diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The research, led by Myron Czuczman, MD, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI), will be presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, December 6-9, San Francisco, CA.

Dr. Czuczman will discuss "Confirmation of the Efficacy and Safety of Lenalidomide Oral Monotherapy in Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Diffuse Large B Cell Lymphoma: Results of An International Study," (Abstract # 268) at 7 am PT, Monday, December 8.

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma is the most common subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) in the United States, accounting for approximately one out of every three cases. Patients diagnosed with DLBCL who are not cured with standard CHOP chemotherapy plus rituximab or high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell rescue have a poor prognosis and limited treatment options.

This international phase II clinical study evaluated the efficacy of lenalidomide for 73 DLBCL patients with relapsed/refractory cancer who had received at least one prior treatment and had measurable disease.

The median time from diagnosis to lenalidomide treatment was approximately two years and patients had received between one and six prior treatment regimens. The overall response rate to lenalidomide was 29% and included four percent who experienced a complete response; 25% partial response and 15% with stable disease. The most common toxicities of treatment were neutropenia (32%), thrombocytopenia (15%), asthenia (8%) and anemia (7%).

"These results confirm an earlier, smaller U.S. based phase II study," said Dr. Czuczman. "Lenalidomide, administered orally and will manageable side effects, appears likely to become a potentially viable future treatment option for this group of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients who have failed previous therapies."

Roswell Park Cancer Institute , founded in 1898, is the nation's first cancer research, treatment and education center. The Institute was one of the first cancer centers in the country to be named a National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center and remains the only facility with this designation in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation's leading cancer centers; maintains affiliate sites; and is a partner in national and international collaborative programs. For more information, visit RPCI's website at http://www.roswellpark.org.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute

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