Advances in the treatment of follicular lymphoma. (February 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ujjani, Chaitra; Cheson, Bruce D
• Is Part Of: Expert opinion on orphan drugs. Volume 3:Number 2(2015:Feb.)
• Page Start: 207
• Page End: 218
• Publication Date: 2015-02
• Subjects: Orphan drugs -- Periodicals; Rare diseases -- Periodicals; Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; 615.1
• DOI: 10.1517/21678707.2015.1011123
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2167-8707

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <p> <bold> <italic>Introduction:</italic> </bold> Follicular lymphoma, the most common of the indolent non-Hodgkin lymphomas, exhibits a highly variable clinical course. The disease is characterized by a high response rate to therapy, but due to repeated relapses additional treatment options are necessary.</p> <p> <bold> <italic>Areas covered:</italic> </bold> The rediscovered chemotherapeutic agent, bendamustine, has demonstrated remarkable efficacy and tolerability when paired with rituximab and has been established as a front-line regimen. More recently, a number of new targeted therapies have been developed, directed against intrinsic drivers of malignant B-cell proliferation and survival, and extrinsic factors such as the tumor microenvironment and escape from the immune response. For the first time, a targeted oral agent, idelalisib, is now FDA approved for the treatment of this disease.</p> <p> <bold> <italic>Expert opinion:</italic> </bold> The promise of these new therapies has enabled us to move forward with multi-targeted biologic regimens and toward a future of individualized treatment without traditional chemotherapy.</p> </abstract>