July 28th 2025
Following the lifting of a clinical hold, the FDA has again accepted the BLA for tabelecleucel in adult and pediatric patients with EBV-positive PTLD.
Graft-Versus-Host Disease: A Complex Long-Term Side Effect of Hematopoietic Stem Cell
Consider the following case study, which illustrates the complex physical and psychosocial care required for the patient developing graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) following an allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT): Mr. SR is a 38-year-old male with a diagnosis of anaplastic large cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL).
New TKI promising for intolerant or resistant chronic myelogenous leukemia
August 1st 2008The investigational tyrosine kinase inhibitor bosutinib has an acceptable safety profile and appears to be efficacious among patients with chronic-phase chronic myelogenous leukemia who have intolerance or resistance to other TKIs, according to new data presented at ASCO 2008 (abstract 7001).
Granulocytic Sarcoma in a Patient With Myelodysplastic Syndrome
July 1st 2008Our case illustrates the fact that MDS-associated GS can be treated palliatively with radiation and hypomethylating agents in an appropriate setting. With the growing geriatric patient population, effective treatment options are needed in this disease.
Second-Generation TKIs in Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia
April 15th 2008Chronic myelogeneous leukemia (CML) is a biologically unique neoplasm resulting from a mutation producing a single abnormal protein that induces unregulated proliferation of myelopoiesis. Imatinib mesylate (Gleevec) profoundly inhibits the chimeric bcr/abl tyrosine kinase, and has dramatically improved the outlook for patients with CML in chronic phase.
Quality of Life in Myelodysplastic Syndromes
March 18th 2008What is the impact of being diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)? What are the physical/psychosocial ramifi cations of RBC transfusions to manage the extreme fatigue and weakness that accompany refractory anemia; of parenteral or oral iron chelation therapy for
Good nilotinib responses in imatinib-resistant AP-CML
February 1st 2008Among Ph+ chronic myelogenous leukemia patients in accelerated phase with imatinib (Gleevec) resistance or intolerance, treatment with nilotinib (Tasigna) rapidly produced significant responses and was generally well tolerated in an open-label pivotal phase II study
Dasatinib effective in imatinib resistant/intolerant CML
February 1st 2008Study results presented at ASH 2007 showed efficacy of the novel tyrosine kinase inhibitor dasatinib (Sprycel) in imatinib (Gleevec) resistant or intolerant chronic myelogenous leukemia patients in chronic, accelerated, and blast phase
Positive Results Announced From Pivotal Study of Bendamustine in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
November 1st 2007Cephalon, Inc, announced positive results from a phase III clinical trial of bendamustine (Treanda) in patients with indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) whose cancer is no longer responsive to treatment with rituximab (Rituxan). The study met its primary endpoints of overall response rate and median duration of response, while demonstrating a manageable tolerability profile.
Secondary Breast Cancer in a Woman Treated for Hodgkin Lymphoma as a Child
October 1st 2007Overall survival of Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is 90%; however, survival decreases with time owing to late complications, including subsequent malignancy. Female survivors of pediatric HL have increased morbidity and mortality associated with secondary effects of radiation therapy, most specifically the development of secondary breast cancer. It is estimated that female HL survivors have a 35- to 75-fold excess risk of developing breast cancer, with the greatest risk occurring 15 to 20 years after initial diagnosis. This risk time frame is more than 20 years before the median age (61 years) of breast cancer diagnosis among the general population. This equates to an HL survivor reaching the cumulative lifetime incidence of breast cancer by 40 years of age when compared with the general population.
Further Considerations About NHL in the Elderly
September 1st 2007As noted in part 1 of this two-part article, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of a few malignancies that have been increasing in incidence over the past several decades. Likewise, these disorders are more common in elderly patients, with a median age of occurrence of 65 years. Therapy in elderly patients may be affected by multiple factors, especially attendent comorbidities. The approaches to management of these patients, with either indolent or aggressive disease processes, have been based on prospective clinical trial results, many of which have included a younger patient population. Fortunately over the past decade, results of treatment trials that have targeted an older patient population have emerged. The disease incidence and treatment approaches for both follicular (part 1) and diffuse aggressive (part 2) histologies in elderly patients are reviewed, as well as the impact of aging on the care of these patients.
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in the Elderly: A Tale of Successes and Future Challenges
September 1st 2007As noted in part 1 of this two-part article, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of a few malignancies that have been increasing in incidence over the past several decades. Likewise, these disorders are more common in elderly patients, with a median age of occurrence of 65 years. Therapy in elderly patients may be affected by multiple factors, especially attendent comorbidities. The approaches to management of these patients, with either indolent or aggressive disease processes, have been based on prospective clinical trial results, many of which have included a younger patient population. Fortunately over the past decade, results of treatment trials that have targeted an older patient population have emerged. The disease incidence and treatment approaches for both follicular (part 1) and diffuse aggressive (part 2) histologies in elderly patients are reviewed, as well as the impact of aging on the care of these patients.
Tailoring Treatment in Elderly Patients
September 1st 2007As noted in part 1 of this two-part article, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of a few malignancies that have been increasing in incidence over the past several decades. Likewise, these disorders are more common in elderly patients, with a median age of occurrence of 65 years. Therapy in elderly patients may be affected by multiple factors, especially attendent comorbidities. The approaches to management of these patients, with either indolent or aggressive disease processes, have been based on prospective clinical trial results, many of which have included a younger patient population. Fortunately over the past decade, results of treatment trials that have targeted an older patient population have emerged. The disease incidence and treatment approaches for both follicular (part 1) and diffuse aggressive (part 2) histologies in elderly patients are reviewed, as well as the impact of aging on the care of these patients.
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in the Elderly (Part 2: Treatment of Diffuse Aggressive Lymphomas)
September 1st 2007As noted in part 1 of this two-part article, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of a few malignancies that have been increasing in incidence over the past several decades. Likewise, these disorders are more common in elderly patients, with a median age of occurrence of 65 years. Therapy in elderly patients may be affected by multiple factors, especially attendent comorbidities. The approaches to management of these patients, with either indolent or aggressive disease processes, have been based on prospective clinical trial results, many of which have included a younger patient population. Fortunately over the past decade, results of treatment trials that have targeted an older patient population have emerged. The disease incidence and treatment approaches for both follicular (part 1) and diffuse aggressive (part 2) histologies in elderly patients are reviewed, as well as the impact of aging on the care of these patients.
Zevalin/R after CHOP-R doubles CRs in follicular NHL
August 1st 2007Among patients with follicular non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (F-NHL), adding 90yttrium-ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin) plus extended-dose rituximab (Rituxan) to a short course of CHOP plus rituximab (CHOP-R) increased complete response rates with acceptable toxicity
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in the Elderly (Part 1: Overview and Treatment of Follicular Lymphoma)
August 1st 2007Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is one of a few malignancies that have been increasing in incidence over the past several decades. Likewise, these disorders are more common in elderly patients, with a median age of occurrence of 65 years. Therapy in elderly patients may be affected by multiple factors, especially attendant comorbidities. The approaches to management of these patients, with either indolent or aggressive disease processes, have been based on prospective clinical trial results, many of which have included a younger patient population. Fortunately, over the past decade, results of treatment trials that have targeted an older patient population have emerged. The disease incidence and treatment approaches for both follicular (part 1 of this article) and diffuse aggressive (part 2) histologies in elderly patients are reviewed, as well as the impact of aging on the care of these patients.
First-Line Dasatinib Effective in Chronic Phase CML
July 1st 2007In a phase II study, use of dasatinib (Sprycel) as first-line therapy for patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML) in chronic phase led to more and faster cytogenetic responses than seen historically with standard-dose imatinib (Gleevec)
Hodgkin's Lymphoma in the Elderly: A Different Disease in Patients Over 60
July 1st 2007With improved prognosis for patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), interest has increasingly focused on high-risk groups such as elderly patients. Advanced age at presentation is still one of the strongest negative risk factors. Many different factors influence the prognosis in elderly patients. These include biologic differences such as more aggressive histology, different distribution of disease, more frequent diagnosis of advanced stage, and shorter history of disease. In addition, however, aging itself and associated factors such as comorbidity, reduced tolerability of conventional therapy, more severe toxicity and treatment-related deaths, failure to maintain dose intensity, shorter survival after relapse, and death due to other causes contribute to the poorer outcome in elderly patients. Besides the evaluation of specific causes and risk factors, this review highlights recent and ongoing studies for elderly patients with HL as well as international approaches and recommendations for this age group.
Current Controversies in the Management of Hodgkin's Lymphoma
April 1st 2007Despite significant improvements in the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma over the past 2 decades, physicians continue to face dilemmas in therapy for the disease, and many cured patients live with complications of treatment. Newer therapeutic options are still needed for the disease, to minimize complications and to improve the treatment of patients in relapse. This review considers the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma in younger patients, addressing such issues as which patients with early-stage disease may require radiotherapy, what prognostic factors provide information that can affect treatment choices in patients with advanced disease, and what we have learned about treatment complications in this setting.
More Questions About Hodgkin's Lymphoma
April 1st 2007Despite significant improvements in the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma over the past 2 decades, physicians continue to face dilemmas in therapy for the disease, and many cured patients live with complications of treatment. Newer therapeutic options are still needed for the disease, to minimize complications and to improve the treatment of patients in relapse. This review considers the treatment of Hodgkin's lymphoma in younger patients, addressing such issues as which patients with early-stage disease may require radiotherapy, what prognostic factors provide information that can affect treatment choices in patients with advanced disease, and what we have learned about treatment complications in this setting.