Lymphoma

We have previously reported that normal B lymphocytes in lymph nodes and peripheral blood of patients with Hodgkin’s disease (HD) express CD40 ligand (CD40L) and CD30 ligand (CD30L). Both ligands can activate NF-kb and promote

Stage IV indolent lymphomas are currently considered incurable disorders. However, the achievement of an early molecular remission, as determined by the bcl-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay, is associated with a better outcome. In view

Response rates up to 50% have been observed in patients with relapsed CD20-positive non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma after treatment with the chimeric monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab (Rituxan). The malignant cell population in

SAN FRANCISCO-An Italian study has found that Hodgkin’s disease is becoming more frequent than non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) in people with HIV. The researchers speculate that this rise in Hodgkin’s disease may be due to the advent of highly active antiretro-viral therapy (HAART). Alessandro Re, MD, of the Universita di Brescia, presented the results at the American Society of Hematology annual meeting.

Patients with refractory/relapsed diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) who fail high-dose chemotherapy and stem cell transplant or are not suitable candidates for intensive therapy have limited therapeutic options. We have

Initial treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) with fludarabine (Fludara) or fludarabine/cyclophosphamide (Cytoxan, Neosar) resulted in complete remission (CR) rates of 28% and 35%, respectively. Recently, rituximab (Rituxan)

Our objective was to determine the efficacy of a fludarabine (Fludara)/mitoxantrone (Novantrone) regimen combined with the monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab (Rituxan) to induce clinical and molecular remissions in patients with relapsed

We designed a phase II trial to determine the efficacy of the chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab (Rituxan) in lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin’s disease (LPHD). A unique subtype of Hodgkin’s disease that expresses the CD20

Ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin) is an anti-CD20 murine IgG1 kappa monoclonal antibody covalently bound to tiuxetan, which forms a strong chelate with the pure beta-emitting isotope yttrium-90. We conducted an open-label trial of

HOUSTON-Chemoimmunotherapy with rituximab (Rituxan) plus fludarabine, novantrone (mitoxantrone), and dexamethasone (FND) reduced levels of a major tumor marker and significantly improved projected 2-year failure-free survival in patients with stage IV indolent follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL) who had molecular responses after 6 months of treatment. Results from a randomized study of 134 previously untreated patients were presented by Fernando F. Cabanillas, MD, chairman of the Department of Lymphoma-Myeloma at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston.

STANFORD, California-Rituximab (Rituxan) is highly active in achieving clinical response in lymphoctye predominance Hodgkin’s disease (LPHD) and may ultimately have the potential of reducing long-term side effects and improving survival in this disease, according to the results of a phase-II trial. Although LPHD has effectively been treated with radiotherapy, chemotherapy, or a combined modality, a subset of patients experiences recurrence and treatment related morbidity and mortality-often from heart disease.

HOUSTON-Removing B cells improves control of classic Hodgkin’s disease and relieves B symptoms, reported Anas Younes, MD. Dr. Younes, associate professor, Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma at the University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, administered the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab (Rituxan) to heavily pretreated patients who had relapsed classic Hodgkin’s disease. The rationale behind this trial, according to Dr.Younes, was that B cells may provide survival and resistance signals to Reed-Sternberg (RS) cells in Hodgkin’s disease.

NEW YORK-The promise of molecularly targeted therapies has been validated in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), Brian J. Druker, MD, of Oregon Health Sciences University, Portland, said at the Chemotherapy Foundation Symposium XVIII. "This disease has provided an ideal opportunity to test the concept that drugs targeted against a tumor-specific abnormality will have therapeutic utility," he said.

SAN FRANCISCO-Patients receiving monoclonal antibody-targeted chemotherapy with gemtuzumab ozo-gamicin (Mylotarg) rather than conventional combination chemotherapy for first relapse of acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) are more likely to be treated as outpatients, resulting in considerable cost savings, according to a study from Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Wyeth-Ayerst Research.

SAN FRANCISCO-Results of a phase II, open-label, multicenter study show that the investigational agent STI571 holds promise for many patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive (Ph+) chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) whose disease has proved resistant to interferon therapy.

SAN FRANCISCO-HIV-positive patients with Burkitt’s lymphoma treated with intensive chemotherapy achieved high complete response rates similar to those without HIV infection, according to a retrospective review of 38 patients treated at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) between 1988 and 2000.

Over the past 2 decades, our understanding of the pathobiological events underlying chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) has grown. At the same time, effective transplant and nontransplant treatment approaches to

Over the past 2 decades, our understanding of the pathobiological events underlying chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) has grown. At the same time, effective transplant and nontransplant treatment approaches to

Over the past 2 decades, our understanding of the pathobiological events underlying chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) has grown. At the same time, effective transplant and nontransplant treatment approaches to

NEW ORLEANS-Rituximab (Rituxan) is more effective in indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) than in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL), according to a study evaluating factors affecting toxicity, response, and time to progression presented at the 36th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO).

ASCO-Tositumomab (Bexxar), an investigational antibody-based radioim-munotherapy agent, has been shown to be effective as first-line treatment of advanced-stage, low-grade follicular lymphoma, Mark Kaminski, MD, said at the 36th Annual Meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, New Orleans.

ASCO-STI-571, an investigational drug that has high activity in benign-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), also produces significant hematologic responses in patients with advanced-stage CML or acute forms of leukemia, Moshe Talpaz, MD, said at the 36th annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) in New Orleans.

ASCO-Mylotarg (gemtuzumab ozogamicin) has received FDA approval for treatment of CD33-positive acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in patients age 60 and older in first relapse who are poor candidates for cytotoxic therapy. The agent, manufactured by Wyeth-Ayerst, was approved as an orphan drug.

NEW ORLEANS-The chemotherapy regimen HCVAD followed by stem cell transplantation yields high response and survival rates for patients with aggressive mantle cell lymphoma, Issa Khouri, MD, of the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, reported at the 41st annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology (ASH).

Researchers in Germany and Austria have found a way to achieve high survival rates in children with Hodgkin’s disease while reducing serious long-term side effects. Until now, children with Hodgkin’s disease have experienced high survival rates but