Dr. Heyman on Future Therapeutic Directions in MCL

Benjamin Heyman, MD, hematologist, Moores Cancer Center, University of California, San Diego Health, discusses future therapeutic directions in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

Significant progress has been made regarding the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory MCL, particularly with the emergence of BTK inhibitors and CD19-directed CAR T-cell therapy, Heyman says. These advances changed the treatment paradigm of MCL and improved survival for patients.

However, improvements upon single-agent BTK inhibitors are needed, Heyman says. For example, combination approaches with BTK inhibitors could provide more durable and robust responses to patients with MCL. Moreover, as BTK inhibitors are currently given indefinitely until progression or unacceptable toxicity, combination strategies could offer patients time-limited, response-adapted options, Heyman says.

Additionally, moving targeted therapies into the frontline setting as single agents or in combination regimens could provide tolerable up-front options that still confer durable responses to elderly patients with MCL, Heyman concludes.