Haema 2013; 4(2):193-200
by Maria Dimou, Vassiliki Bartzi, Panayiotis Panayiotidis
Hematology Research Laboratory, 1st Department of Propaedeutic Medicine, School of Medicine, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, “Laiko” General Hospital, Athens, Greece
Abstract
Low-grade B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (B-NHL) represent a heterogeneous group of diseases with long-term survival but very low cure rates. The use of chemotherapy/radiation failed to produce optimal results; the first successful use of biological therapies in B-NHL was the anti-CD20 monoclonal rituximab. Today, new anti-CD20 monoclonals like obinutuzumab and ofatumumab, monoclonals against other B-cell markers and bispesific antibodies are tested in clinical trials in low-grade B-NHLs. Orally administered kinase inhibitors (ibrutinib, idelasilib), IMIDs (lenalidomide), new antisense bcl-2 oligonucleotides (ABτ-199) and proteasome inhibitors are clinically tested in various drug combinations in B-NHLs. The model of therapy for these diseases may change dramatically, with the new biological therapies gaining a pivotal role; thus, the possibility of treating B-NHL with non-chemotherapy-based regimens emerges as a viable and fascinating option.