Novel Immunotherapy Combination Shows Breakthrough Results in Advanced Hodgkin Lymphoma.
US Malignant Lymphoma News
Recent news in the US regarding malignant lymphoma, encompassing both Hodgkin and Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, highlights significant advancements in treatment, ongoing research, and the importance of early diagnosis.
Novel Immunotherapies Show Promise:
A landmark study reported in October 2024 in the New England Journal of Medicine demonstrated that adding the immunotherapy nivolumab to a standard chemotherapy regimen (AVD) significantly boosted the two-year progression-free survival rate for patients with advanced Hodgkin lymphoma to 92%, compared to 83% with the previous standard. Researchers believe this new approach could become the new standard of care, potentially reducing long-term side effects associated with radiation therapy.
Furthermore, the FDA has recently approved several therapies for relapsed or refractory Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, including:
Brentuximab vedotin with lenalidomide and rituximab for relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma (February 2025).
Acalabrutinib (Calquence) with bendamustine and rituximab for mantle cell lymphoma (January 2025).
Epcoritamab-bysp (Epkinly) for relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma (June 2024).
Lisocabtagene maraleucel (Breyanzi) for relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma (May 2024).
These approvals signify the rapid evolution of the treatment landscape for various subtypes of malignant lymphoma.
CAR T-Cell Therapy Advancements:
CAR T-cell therapy continues to show significant promise for patients with relapsed or refractory lymphoma. Research is focusing on improving its efficacy and safety, including a recent study that found knocking out the CD5 gene on CAR T cells could boost their anti-tumor activity (July 2024). Another trial of a modified CAR T-cell therapy for high-risk lymphoma received FDA Breakthrough Therapy designation, highlighting its potential for patients with limited options (July 2024). However, research also indicates the importance of identifying biomarkers to predict response and potential neurotoxicity associated with CAR T-cell therapy.
Targeted Therapies Offer Lasting Remissions:
Researchers at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) developed a non-chemotherapy, five-drug regimen (ViPOR) that achieved lasting remissions in some patients with aggressive B-cell lymphoma that had returned or stopped responding to standard treatments (June 2024). This combination therapy targets multiple pathways involved in lymphoma growth and survival, offering new hope for patients with resistant disease.
Understanding Lymphoma Subtypes and Mechanisms:
Ongoing research continues to unravel the complex genetic and molecular mechanisms driving different subtypes of malignant lymphoma. Scientists have discovered molecular mechanisms fueling the growth of aggressive B-cell lymphoma (June 2024), which could lead to new therapeutic targets. Advances in high-throughput sequencing and machine learning are also aiding in differentiating between lymphoma subtypes, potentially leading to more personalized treatment approaches.
Overall, the news from the US malignant lymphoma landscape is marked by significant progress in immunotherapy and targeted therapies, offering improved outcomes for patients across various lymphoma subtypes. Continued research into the underlying biology of these diseases promises further advancements in diagnosis and treatment strategies.