Home » Large B-cell lymphoma, a new therapy on the horizon

Large B-cell lymphoma, a new therapy on the horizon

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AFTER more than 20 years, a new therapeutic opportunity may be on the horizon for the first-line treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (or Dlbcl), the most common form of lymphoma in Western countries. The drug in question is polatuzumab vedotin, a monoclonal antibody already in use in the treatment of relapsing or resistant Dlcbl lymphomas to the current standard of care. An important news, which arrives a few days after the anniversary of the World Lymphoma Awareness Day (WLAD, World Lymphoma Awareness Day), scheduled as every year for September 15.

Diffuse large B cell lymphoma

Dlbcl lymphoma is an aggressive haematological neoplasm, which presents at diagnosis with important and disabling symptoms. In Western countries it accounts for about 30-40% of all diagnoses of large B-cell lymphoma, making it the most common form of lymphoma in these areas of the world. The first-line therapies currently used are ineffective in almost half of the patients, and this is why a therapeutic novelty is considered an important milestone by specialists.

The first-line study

Polituzumab vedotin was tested in combination with other drugs – rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone (R-CHP) – in previously untreated patients in the pivotal phase III POLARIX study, which compared it with current therapeutic standard (known by the acronym R-CHOP). The results show a significant and clinically relevant improvement in terms of progression-free survival, as reported by the manufacturer, Roche. The data – says the pharmaceutical company – will be disclosed in detail at upcoming scientific conferences and then presented to regulatory agencies for approval of the new therapy. The safety profile is confirmed in line with that observed in previous studies.

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“Many advances have been made in the management of relapsed / refractory disease, while for 20 years R-CHOP has remained the first line standard of care,” he explains. Alessandra Tucci, Head of the Hematology Unit of the ASST Spedali Civili of Brescia and Principal Investigator of the POLARIX study at the center. “Therefore, the news of the positivity of the POLARIX study, which involves the combination of polatuzumab, rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone (pola-r-chp), increases for the first time, after many years and attempts, the probability of treating patients already from the first line of therapy “.

Psychological support is still underestimated

“Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is undoubtedly an extremely demanding pathology both from the point of view of prognosis and the treatment path”, concludes Davide Petruzzelli, President of the association Aladdin’s Lamp and national coordinator of the FAVO Hematological Neoplasms group. “Of course, this also significantly affects the impact that the diagnosis has from a psychological point of view on patients and their families. Despite this, the psychological aspect is sometimes still neglected in taking care of the patient, even if it is shown that adequate support represents a fundamental support “.

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