News and Research Items on lymphomation.org

[Guest guest]

News and research items posted recently to

http://www.lymphomation.org/current.htm

~ Karl

* cutaneous NHL: Radiotherapy Suitable for Most Primary Cutaneous B-Cell

Lymphomas cancerpage.com

NEW YORK JAN 02, 2008 (Reuters Health) - Radiotherapy is appropriate for

most patients with primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (CBCL), according to a

recent Dutch study, but more aggressive treatment is needed in patients

presenting with lesions on the leg.

* Pilot CAM study: Jefferson scientists studying the effects of high-dose

vitamin C on non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients http://www.eurekalert.org

" This is a very unique study for a set of patients who have really run out

of options, " said Monti, M.D., director of the Myrna Brind Center of

Integrative Medicine, and primary investigator of the study. " Vitamin C

administered intravenously has shown great promise in the laboratory and

there has been some anecdotal data in cancer patients, but no one has really

ever run a detailed study on humans. Vitamin C doesn't cost much and is very

low in toxicity, making it a particularly desirable agent for further

study. "

* CLL secondary risks: Risk for Second Neoplasms in Chronic Lymphocytic

Leukemia abkhazia.com

" CLL is currently viewed as a long-term disease, for which most available

treatments (with the exception of allogeneic transplantation) do not result

in a cure. Awareness of physicians following these patients needs to be

raised to the fact that significant morbidity and mortality stem not only

from CLL itself, but also from superimposed processes, most notably

infections and second malignancies. "

* CT risks: Debate continues about risks, and for which populations?

cancernetwork.com

The authors recommend better equipment and techniques to lower radiation

exposure and the alternative use of MRI and ultrasound, ***especially for

infants and children.*** They urge physicians to avoid inappropriate CT

utilization. ... Arl Van , Jr., MD, chair of the ACR board of

chancellors, worried that patients may mistakenly avoid what the ACR

characterized as " life-saving medical imaging care, " because of the article.

" They may be terribly confused and unduly distressed by some of the

statements in this study, " he said.

* preclinical / interesting: New technique enhances binding avidity of

monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) cancernetwork.com

a humanized anti-CD20 MoAb enhanced with DXL technology, being developed for

the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The DXL technique involves

modifying a MoAb by adding a small peptide sequence that becomes

self-recognizing when two or more MoAb molecules are in close proximity.

This self-binding property causes the modified antibodies to cluster at the

target receptor, resulting in greater molecular mass on the surface of the

target cell

* Perspective on research obstacles: Why so many dead-end phase II trials?

cancernetwork.com

To expand evidence-based oncology care, we need to recognize the flaws in

the drug development system so they can be corrected. As Dr. Tannock pointed

out, self-aggrandizement among ambitious young researchers is one trend

driving the troubling preponderance of dead-end phase II trials.

* RIT at risk? Cell Therapeutics buys drug (Zevalin) shown to shrink tumors

seattlepi.nwsource.com

" In November, Medicare announced that it would cut back on its

reimbursements of radioimmunotherapies, such as Zevalin, which can cost more

than $20,000 to administer. An uproar ensued, and last week Congress passed

legislation extending the previous reimbursement arrangement for six

months. "

* fNHL outcomes: Genitope Corporation Reports Initial Results of Phase 3

Clinical Trial of MyVax® Personalized Immunotherapy genitope.com/

" We are excited by these results because the data clearly show that MyVax

personalized immunotherapy is a safe and active drug for follicular lymphoma

patients. Both arms of the trial appear to show activity.

Patients who received MyVax personalized immunotherapy and mounted a

positive immune response to the tumor-specific target demonstrated superior

clinical outcomes compared to patients who did not mount this specific

immune response. While we recognize that the regulatory path would be

clearer had the trial met its primary endpoint, we are pleased with the

outcome of the trial. We are working closely with the FDA to determine the

path forward for MyVax personalized immunotherapy, "

* CLL Outcomes: Fludara (Fludarabine) Not Superior to Cytoxan

(Chlorambucil) for Elderly with CLL cancerconsultants.com

involved 206 patients with CKK older than 64 years of age. Eighty-five

percent of patients in this study were Binet stage B-C. The median age was

70 years.