Triple Therapy: A New Standard for CLL - Genomic Aberrations & Mutation Status

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In further to earlier posts, Abstract No. 781 from the ASH 50th

Annual Meeting & Exposition titled " Genomic Aberrations, VH Mutation

Status and Outcome after Fludarabine and Cyclophosphamide (FC) or FC

Plus Rituximab (FCR) in the CLL8 Trial " does hone in somewhat on

genomic aberrations & mutational status.

It can be accessed at (link within quotes):

" http://ash.confex.com/ash/2008/webprogram/Paper7815.html "

Therein is a table that matrix odds and hazard ratios for typical

response & survival categories against mutational status and the more

common genomic aberrations. There is also the statement: " VH was

unmutated in 63.4% and V3-21 was rearranged in 4.9% " . However, this

leads me to question whether or not they discerned other IgVH

families, such as, VH-4, VH-6, et cetera through VH-7; which, in

turn, goes back to & brings into consideration the works of Dr.

Hamblin - - published in 1999, as well as that of others around that

time (if memory serves, I believe the seed was Jeanne Orchard).

Further, what about " mutation " outside the germinal center.

As to the " new standard " I just take it that, while in the U.S.

Rituxan as marketed by Genentech - Biogen Idec as part of the so

called " gold standard " in combination with FC is old hat, Roche who

sponsored the clinical trials is just getting the most " bang for

their mark " in marketing MabThera in Europe via its largest economy.

Nevertheless, I hope to integrate their stats within the table I've

been working on. On a lighter note, we can repeat it all again with a

human antibody. As Yogi would say it'll be de je vue all over again.