Mantle cell lymphoma: immunotherapy after chemotherapy prolongs patient survival
The addition of immunotherapy by rituximab after chemotherapy in patients with mantle cell lymphoma has made it possible to prolong their survival, according to a study conducted by the French and Belgian centres of the Lymphoma study Association (LYSA) and published on Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine (NEJM) [1].
In this study of 299 patients with mantle cell lymphoma and under 66 years of age at the time of diagnosis, half of the patients treated with chemotherapy and then autologous stem cell transplant Hematopoietic, had received immunotherapy in the form of an injection of rituximab (a monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody) every two months for three years in Day hospital.
Four years after the end of chemotherapy, 89% of patients in this group were still alive, compared with 80% in the observation group that did not have immunotherapy.
We show with this study that immunotherapy therapy can delay the occurrence of relapse and prolong the survival of patients. It is a step further in the process of combating this cancer which unfortunately still has a high risk of relapse, says the principal investigator of the study, Prof. Steven le Gouill, hematologist at the CHU of Nantes and member of the LYSA, a grouping Co-operator comprising 500 researchers from 120 centres in Europe.
A new therapeutic strategy
"It is clear that the use of rituximab in maintenance after chemotherapy in this type of lymphoma will become a new standard of treatment so it is very likely to move towards a change in the treatment strategy for these patients. Especially since we have been able to reduce the chemotherapy protocol, which has been alleviated, due to the follow-up by a maintenance treatment, stresses Prof. Gouill.
Lymphomas are blood cancers developing in the lymphatic tissue. This is the 6th most common type of cancer in France every year.
Mantle cell lymphoma is a rare form of lymphoma (6% of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas). It develops from B lymphocytes in an area of the lymph nodes, called the mantle area, where the cancer cells are located, hence its name.
It is almost incurable with a median of survival, all patients of all ages, 40 months.
About lymphoma
Lymphomas are cancers of the lymphatic system. They represent the most common malignant hemopathy, or nearly half of the blood cancers. These are heterogeneous diseases, with more than 50 subtypes of lymphomas, which makes diagnosis difficult and requires different supports. They are divided into approximately 80% non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) and 20% Hodgkin lymphoma (LH). Lymphomas can affect all ages (including in children), are mainly ganglion but can touch (only or accompany) all organs. There is no prevention or screening. The incidence has doubled in 30 years, with 14,000 new cases in France each year (figures 2015).
About LYSA
The LYSA is an association law 1901 working internationally, for clinical research against Lymphoma, the 6th most common cancer in Europe. Labeled Co-operator GROUP by the National Cancer Institute (CNIB) in November 2012, it ratified the Charter of independence of the oncology co-operative groups. It federates a set of 500 researchers in 120 care centres in France and Europe around the management of patients with lymphoma, from diagnosis to the follow-up of cured patients. The group carries out projects from the first administration to humans of new treatments up to the establishment of therapeutic reference strategies. He collaborates with numerous scientific teams to understand and treat lymphomas, including the Institut Carnot CALYM (Consortium for the acceleration of innovation and its transfer in the field of lymphoma), of which he is a member. Endowed with a structure of clinical research and platforms of pathology, biology and imaging, it offers a complete and pluridis expertise
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