CHOP Plus Zevalin(R) Therapy is Feasible, Tolerable and .....
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CHOP Plus Zevalin(R) Therapy is Feasible, Tolerable and Shows Efficacy in Elderly Patients
With Most Common Type of Aggressive NHL
ORLANDO, Florida, December 11 /PRNewswire/ --
A study undertaken by the University of Bologna, Italy, was presented today at the 48th
Annual Meeting of the American Society of Haematology (ASH) in Orlando, USA, that
demonstrates an innovative treatment regimen for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL) may help
improve the quality of responses to treatment of elderly patients suffering from the most
common type of aggressive NHL, Diffuse Large-B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL)(1). Zevalin (90Y
Ibritumomab Tiuxetan) treatment was given to patients as a first-line consolidation
therapy after patients had received standard chemotherapy. The study showed that four out
of five elderly patients (80) boosted the quality of their response from a Partial
Response (PR) to a Complete Response (CR) when Zevalin was administered as first-line
consolidation therapy.
"The aim of consolidation therapy is to improve the quality of response already
achieved by the first-line treatment. These data are promising as they show Zevalin can
increase the complete remission rates when used as a consolidation therapy in elderly
DLBCL patients. Elderly patients may be less able to tolerate the toxicities associated
with conventional chemotherapies, so ensuring that first-line responses are maximised is
important in treating DLBCL, where a complete cure is the goal." Commented Professor Pier
Luigi Zinzani, Institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology, University of Bologna.
The single arm, phase II study evaluated the efficacy and safety of Zevalin in 20
patients over 60 years of age. Patients who were previously untreated received CHOP
chemotherapy (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin; vincristine and prednisone) and those
achieving at least a partial remission (PR) after 6 cycles of CHOP chemotherapy went on
to receive consolidation treatment with Zevalin. Results showed that all patients
achieved a response after receiving CHOP treatment: 75 (15 patients) achieved a CR and 25
(5 patients) achieved a PR. Following Zevalin consolidation therapy, 4 out of 5 patients
(80) converted from a PR to a CR.
"Cancer patients can suffer from two things: their disease and their chemotherapy side
effects. The next step is to see if we can reduce the cycles of chemotherapy and add in
Zevalin for these patients, in order to retain or boost the complete response rates,
while lessening a patient's exposure to the toxicities of chemotherapies." Commented
Professor Zinzani.
While the CHOP chemotherapy regimen has been standard of care for NHL patients for
many years, the recent advent of rituximab has meant this drug has now become an addition
to standard CHOP therapy (R-CHOP). Professor Zinzani continued: "The next clinical
question is to investigate the efficacy of Zevalin when used as a first-line
consolidation treatment in DLBCL patients who receive rituximab-containing chemotherapy
regimens."
Zevalin was generally well tolerated, neutropenia was the most common adverse event.
Reference:
1. Zinzani et al. ASH 2006 Abstract Number 2431. A Phase II Trial of CHOP chemotherapy
followed by Yttrium 90 (90Y) Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (Zevalin..) for previously untreated
elderly diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) patients. Poster Presentation; 9am Sunday
10 December 2006.
Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHL)
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is an umbrella term that includes a group of related
malignancies that originate in the body's lymphatic system - part of the body's immune
system. NHL is the most commonly diagnosed malignant haematological disease and among the
fastest growing cancers in the world. The incidence is about 10 per 100,000 in Western
Europe. There are about 230,000 people living with NHL in the European Union and
approximately 70,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. For unknown reasons, this
incidence is increasing in Europe by four percent per year.
About Zevalin treatment
Zevalin (90Y ibritumomab tiuxetan) is the first and only approved radiolabelled
immunotherapy with the power of Y90 radiation for adult patients with rituximab relapsed
or refractory CD20-positive follicular B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in Europe. Zevalin
consists of a monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody (ibritumomab) bound to a radioisotope
(yttrium-90). Once administered, Zevalin is transported through the blood stream and
binds to the surface of the tumour cells, thus delivering the isotope yttrium-90 directly
to the tumour cells. Through the so called "cross-fire effect" the target cells and
neighbouring malignant cells in a 5 mm radius are destroyed by the radiation. For
Zevalin.. Schering AG holds worldwide marketing and distribution rights excluding the
U.S., where Biogen idec retains its rights.
Contact:
For Further Information: Aba Edwards-Idun, Cohn and Wolfe, +44(0)207-331-5337,
+44(0)7790-038579, Jo Varney: +44(0)7788-718-429