Allison C. Rosenthal, DO, hematology consultant, Mayo Clinic, discusses the accelerated FDA approval of ibrutinib (Imbruvica) as a treatment for patients with advanced marginal zone lymphoma (MZL).

The approval for ibrutinib in MZL was based on findings from an open-label phase II study. The objective response rates with ibrutinib was 46%, with a complete response rate of 3.2%, according to findings presented at the 2016 ASH Annual Meeting. The median progression-free survival was 14.2 months with ibrutinib (95% CI, 8.3-NR) and the median overall survival was not yet reached at a median follow-up of 19.4 months.

The accelerated approval for MZL is contingent upon findings from a larger confirmatory study and helps to fill an unmet medical need for patients with MZL. Further studies will continue to assess the safety and efficacy of the BTK inhibitor for patients with MZL.

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Allison C. Rosenthal, DO, hematology consultant, Mayo Clinic, discusses the FDA approval of of ibrutinib (Imbruvica) as a treatment for patients with marginal zone lymphoma (MZL).

Dr. Rosenthal on FDA Approval of Ibrutinib in Marginal Zone Lymphoma

Allison C. Rosenthal, DO, hematology consultant, Mayo Clinic, discusses some of the treatment strategies for patients with indolent lymphomas in an interview during the 2016 

 State of the Science Summit on Treatment of Hematologic Malignancies.

Currently, first-line treatment for patients with indolent lymphomas involve rituximab (Rituxan) or rituximab plus chemotherapy, Rosenthal explains. These strategies, however, are not effective for all patients, especially those who have comorbidities.

Some oral targeted therapies that are becoming available could be better options for patients; however, longer follow-up is needed with them to ensure their efficacy in patients for long-term use.

Allison C. Rosenthal, DO, hematology consultant, Mayo Clinic, discusses some of the treatment strategies for patients with indolent lymphomas.

Allison C. Rosenthal, DO

Articles

Dr. Rosenthal on FDA Approval of Ibrutinib in Marginal Zone Lymphoma

Dr. Rosenthal on Treatment Strategies for Indolent Lymphomas