Dr. Pagel on the Shift Toward Precision Medicine in Large Cell Lymphoma

Video

John M. Pagel, MD, PhD, chief of the Hematologic Malignancies Program, and director, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Program, at Swedish Cancer Institute, discusses the shift toward precision medicine in large cell lymphoma.

John M. Pagel, MD, PhD, chief of the Hematologic Malignancies Program, and director, Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Program, at Swedish Cancer Institute, discusses the shift toward precision medicine in large cell lymphoma.

The field has learned that not all large cell lymphomas are the same, says Pagel. Biologically, they’re very different. Now, it is known that there are different cells of origin and there are different genetic signatures, a handful of which confer different outcomes to treatment. Work is ongoing to define the optimal therapy for these patients, says Pagel.

Through this enhanced understanding of disease biology, researchers have developed more personalized treatment strategies. For example, the combination of lenalidomide (Revlimid) and rituximab (Rituxan; R2), which has demonstrated activity in patients with activated B-cell type or non-germinal center diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, is now associated with long-term benefit in patients with specific genetic signatures. Additionally, data have shown that R2 is relatively well tolerated, especially in older and frailer patients who are not candidates for anthracycline-based therapy, concludes Pagel.

Related Videos
Ricardo D. Parrondo, MD, hematologist/oncologist, Mayo Clinic
Ilyas Sahin, MD
Raj Singh, MD
Jaime R. Merchán, MD, professor, co-leader, Translational and Clinical Oncology Research Program, director, Phase 1 Clinical Trials Program, Department of Medicine, Division of Medical Oncology, the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Saad J. Kenderian, MB, CHB
Tycel Phillips, MD
Minesh Mehta, MD
Corey Cutler, MD, MPH, and Hana Safah, MD, experts on GvHD
Shivaani Kummar, MBBS, FACP, Margaret and Lester DeArmond Endowed Chair of Cancer Research, Professor and Division Head, Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, Oregon Health & Science University School of Medicine; co-director, Center for Experimental Therapeutics, co-deputy director, Knight Cancer Institute
Andre Goy, MD