Zevalin hits high notes at 2011 Lymphoma Conference

The 11th International Conference on Malignant Lymphoma (ICML) was held from June 15 through June 18 in Lugano, Switzerland

The radioimmunotherapy (RIT) regimen Zevalin featured prominently.

A summary of Zevalin presentations

Oral Session : Controversies in Follicular Lymphomas

In this oral discussion, several experts debated which treatment better served the patient population in question: Zevalin consolidation or rituximab maintenance in patients in first remission from follicular lymphoma. The conclusion, according to Dr. Anton Hagenbeek:

"A single infusion of Zevalin matched roughly 16 infusions of rituximab in terms of achieving the same increase in PFS … RIT represents the most effective single 'drug' in the treatment of follicular NHL. No doubt about it."

Read the full summary HERE (#006)

Poster Session: Mantle Cell Lymphoma

Abstract #017 concerned a Phase 2 Study of R-CHOP followed by 90Y-Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (Zevalin) in Untreated Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL): 5-Year Follow-Up of Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group E1499.

In this study, researchers concluded that in previously untreated patients with mantle cell lymphoma, the regimen of Zevalin plus R-CHOP (x4) is at least as effective as R-CHOP (x6) but presents a potentially less toxic alternative.

Read the full abstract HERE (#017)

Poster Session: Autologous Transplant

Poster #256: Upfront Consolidation with Targeted Intensification Utilizing Yttrium-90 Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (Zevalin) and High Dose Therapy in Poor Prognosis Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma – Z-BEAM 2 Study.

In this study, researchers sought to determine the safety and efficacy of Zevalin plus BEAM chemotherapy followed by an autologous SCT in patients who have already undergone R-CHOP (x4-6).

Conclusion: "Adding [Zevalin] to high-dose BEAM is safe without an increase in transplant-related toxicity or delayed engraftment. Outcome was similar for patients with positive or negative pre-ASCT PET evaluation. Randomized study is now warranted."

In other words, more research is necessary to determine whether this is a good direction or not. Read the full poster HERE (#256)

Poster Session: Autologous Transplant

Abstract #257: Significant Improvement in Overall Survival in High-Risk Aggressive B Cell Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma After 90Yttrium Ibritumomab Tiuxetan-BEAM Followed by Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation.

In this study, researchers sought to determine whether adding Zevalin to BEAM salvage chemotherapy prior to autologous SCT would lead to better overall survival in patients with high-risk, aggressive DLBCL who had previously undergone induction therapy that included rituximab.

Conclusion: "Adding [Zevalin] to the BEAM conditioning regimen preceding AuSCT leads to a significant improvement in overall survival in relapsed, refractory or transformed NHL patients. Addition of [Zevalin] did not result in decreased bone marrow reserve or non hematological long term sequelae enabling treatment of relapse including allogenic SCT."

Read the full abstract HERE (#257)

Poster Session: New Drug Combinations

Abstract #113: Short Course Fludarabine, Mitoxantrone, Rituximab Followed by 90Y-Ibritumomab Tiuxetan in Untreated Intermediate/High-Risk Follicular Lymphoma: A Phase II Trial

In this phase II trial, researchers sought to determine the general safety and efficacy of fludarabine, mitoxantrone and rituximab (FMR, x4) combination chemotherapy followed by Zevalin consolidation in patients with untreated, intermediate/high-risk, follicular NHL.

Conclusion: "This study has established the feasibility, tolerability, and efficacy of a regimen composed by a short FMR induction with [Zevalin] consolidation in untreated intermediate/high-risk follicular NHL patients."

Read the full abstract HERE (#113)