Dr. Zelenetz on Anticipated Research in MCL

Andrew D. Zelenetz, MD, PhD, medical director of Quality Informatics at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, discusses anticipated research in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

MCL is an extremely rare disease, in which the average oncologist will encounter one newly diagnosed patient every 1 to 2 years. Although research has lagged behind, there are several exciting studies that researchers are anticipating. Specifically, researchers are eagerly awaiting the results of the phase III SHINE trial (NCT01776840), which is evaluating the addition of ibrutinib (Imbruvica) to the combination of bendamustine and rituximab (Rituxan) in elderly patients with newly diagnosed disease. Given its potency, researchers believe the addition of the BTK inhibitor to standard therapy will improve overall outcomes.

BCL-2 inhibitors are another therapeutic class that have garnered a lot of attention in MCL. Specifically, venetoclax (Venclexta), says Zelenetz, which is being evaluated in combination with ibrutinib in the recently completed, randomized phase II AIM trial (NCT02471391).