In a nutshell
This study looked at the safety and effectiveness of idelalisib treatment for patients with relapsed or difficult to treat follicular lymphoma. The study concluded that idelalisib can be used safely to treat these patients.
Some background
Follicular lymphoma (FL) is an incurable type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Patient outcomes have improved with more modern treatments. However, outcomes are still poor for patients with relapsed or refractory (cancer does not respond to treatment) FL. Idelalisib has been approved to treat patients with relapsed or refractory FL. Idelalisib is a type of targeted therapy that kills B-cells (white blood cells) that are involved in FL. More research is needed to confirm the safety and effectiveness of idelalisib for patients with relapsed or refractory FL.
Methods & findings
72 FL patients participated in this study. Patients received 150 mg of idelalisib twice a day until their disease progressed or they could no longer tolerate the treatment.
At the end of the study, 13.9% of patients had a complete response (no detectable cancer). 41.7% of patients had a partial response (reduction in tumor size and/or number). 31.9% of patients had stable disease (no increase or decrease in tumor size and/or number).
The average progression-free response time (time from treatment do disease progression) was 11 months. The average progression free survival for patients with a complete response was 30.6 months. The average progression free survival for patients with a partial response was 11 months. The average progression free survival for patients with stable disease was 8.2 months.
The 2-year overall survival rate (time from treatment to death from any cause) was 69.8%. The 2-year overall survival rate for patients with complete response was 100%.
The most common negative effects of idelalisib were diarrhea, cough, fever, fatigue, and nausea.
The bottom line
The authors concluded that idelalisib is a safe and effective treatment for patients with relapsed or refractory follicular lymphoma.
Published By :
Haematologica
Date :
Dec 15, 2016
