Lenalidomide, an oral drug targeting the immune system, appears to have promise as a novel future treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory mantle-cell lymphoma, according to a study led by Myron S. Czuczman, MD, Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI). The research will be presented at the 2008 annual meeting of the American Society of Hematology, December 6-9, San Francisco, CA.

Mantle-cell lymphoma, a rare subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), accounts for approximately six percent of all NHL cases. Patients diagnosed with mantle-cell lymphoma typically respond to initial chemo-immunotherapy but many experience disease progression within a short time. Although overall survival has improved, most patients are not cured. This international phase II study evaluated the response of 39 patients diagnosed with mantle-cell lymphoma who had experienced disease progression after receiving a median of three previous treatments. The time from diagnosis to lenalidomide treatment was 0.4 to 9 years.

The overall response rate to lenalidomide was 41% and included 13% who experienced a complete response; 28% partial responses and 26% with stable disease. The most common side effects of treatment were neutropenia (51%), thrombocytopenia (25%), anemia (13%), fatigue (10%) and febrile neutropenia (10%).

"This novel anticancer agent continues to make a major impact in the treatment of patients with B cell malignancies. These results confirm that in the near future, lenalidomide may become a viable treatment option with manageable side effects for mantle cell lymphoma patients who have failed previous therapies," said Dr. Czuczman.

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 roswellpark.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute