Dr. Ai on the Efficacy of Brentuximab Vedotin in Patients With Advanced CTCL

Weiyun Z. Ai, MD, PhD, assistant clinical professor, Department of Medicine, University of California San Francisco, discusses the optimal patient population in which she has seen have the most benefit from brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) in patients with advanced stage cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL).

Advanced CTCL is life threatening and has a median survival of 2 to 5 years, says Ai, adding that the disease is so rare.

Brentuximab vedotin has shown a significant clinical benefit in advanced stage patients. The drug is the most effective in tumor stage disease, widespread disease, and visceral disease. In a randomized study between brentuximab vedotin and physicians' choice of therapy, methotrexate and vorinostat (Zolinza)—current drugs used in CTCL—the superiority of brentuximab vedotin by stage of the disease is easily discerned. The most benefit was seen in patients with advanced stage disease.