Mantle cell lymphoma remains incurable, despite researchers’ best efforts. However, new treatment options show promise in the relapsed/refractory setting and may improve patient outcomes if moved to the front-line, according to Dr. Reem Karmali.
Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a disease that “unfortunately still remains incurable, despite our best efforts,” according to Dr. Reem Karmali. However, due to the ever-evolving treatment landscape, new therapies are being offered to patients with relapsed and refractory MCL, including BTK inhibitors. Thanks to these targeted therapies, patients with MCL are living much longer and experiencing a better quality of life.
“BTK inhibitors like (Imbruvica [ibrutinib]) and (Calquence [acalabrutinib]) are very active with response rates from 70% to 80% in the relapsed and refractory (MCL) setting,” said Karmali. “The question is whether these agents can be moved up to the front-line setting and improve outcomes in these patients.”
At the 2019 American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual (ASCO) Meeting, she discussed the advancements being made in the treatment landscape, the use of targeted therapies to treat MCL and front-line interventions that could potentially fill the unmet needs of patients with MCL.
