Dr. Cheson on Novel ADCs in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Bruce D. Cheson, MD, Professor of Medicine, Head of Hematology, Director of Hematology Research, Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, discusses the prospect of using antibody drug conjugates (ADCs) in non-Hodgkin's lymphomas, including follicular lymphoma.

In phase I trials presented at the 2012 American Society of Hematology Annual Meeting, two ADCs targeting CD22 and CD79b, respectfully, showed single-agent activity in follicular and large cell lymphoma.

An ongoing randomized trial is analyzing the activity of these two agents in combination with rituximab. The study has crossover opportunities, providing information about cross resistance or lack thereof between the two agents, Cheson says. These trials have exciting possibilities and could be the first step to developing a drug similar to the ADC brentuximab in Hodgkin lymphoma.