Dr. Zain on Targets Under Investigation in T-Cell Lymphomas

Jasmine M. Zain, MD, hematologist/oncologist, associate clinical professor, Hematology and Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation, and director, T cell Lymphoma program, City of Hope, discusses targets that are under investigation in T-cell lymphomas.

In the field of T-cell lymphoma, investigators are evaluating molecular signatures and expression with different types of gene chips to determine if there are certain pathways that can be targeted. Notably, TET2 and RHOA mutations are expressed in a subset of T-cell lymphomas and have become actionable targets with hypomethylating agents, says Zain.

Another target that has emerged is the epigenetic pathway. HDAC inhibitors have demonstrated efficacy in some T-cell lymphomas. For example, romidepsin (Istodax), vorinostat (Zolinza), and belinostat (Beleodaq) have shown response rates of approximately 30% in patients with relapsed peripheral T-cell lymphomas.

Combination strategies targeting the epigenetic pathway are also under evaluation. At City of Hope, the combination of lenalidomide (Revlimid) and romidepsin is being tested as frontline therapy in older patients who are ineligible for chemotherapy, concludes Zain.