New lymphoma therapies targets diverse and difficult cancer

April 25, 2008

The fifth leading cause of cancer in the United States, lymphoma is made up of more than 40 rare and highly diverse diseases that target the body's lymphatic system. Lymphomas include both one of the fastest growing cancers -- Burkitt's lymphoma, which can double in size in as little as a day -- and one of the slowest, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

While all lymphoma types can be cured or managed as a chronic disease, its complexity and variation do not allow for a one-size-fits-all treatment approach. Instead, it necessitates highly specialized and individualized approaches.

With a dozen new therapies in development -- one of the largest portfolios of lymphoma drugs under development anywhere -- the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University Medical Center is meeting this challenge with highly effective new treatments for the disease, giving hope to the more than one million lymphoma patients worldwide.

In 2006, NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia recruited Dr. Owen A. O'Connor, one of the world's top lymphoma researchers, to lead its Lymphoid Development and Malignancy Program, and direct more than 25 full-time scientists and physician scientists.

"By increasing the number and quality of treatment options for lymphoma patients, we are improving their chances for survival. This is especially critical for patients who haven't responded to standard therapies," says Dr. O'Connor, who is also chief of the Lymphoma Service at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia and associate professor of medicine at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

One of the most promising new therapies developed at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia is PDX (pralatrexate) for T-cell lymphoma -- among the most fatal forms of the disease. The drug is uniquely designed to camouflage itself as a folic acid, which allows it to be absorbed by the tumor, where it attacks the cancer. The therapy has been shown effective in 54 percent of patients who did not respond to other treatments. The drug is now being evaluated around the world, and if its activity is confirmed, it may get regulatory approval some time next year.

"Our hope is that the national multi-center clinical trial that is currently underway to evaluate this drug will result in an improved treatment option for patients," says Dr. O'Connor, who has played a leading role in developing the drug.

Researchers are also exploring novel lymphoma treatments that are not chemotherapies. These include drugs targeting Bcl-6, a gene cloned by Dr. Riccardo Dalla-Favera in 1993, and an enzyme known as histone deacetylase. Work by Dr. Dalla-Favera has shown that drugs affecting these two targets will markedly synergize with conventional chemotherapy, and may lower the amount of chemotherapy necessary to achieve remission.

"We are very excited about the promise of these new therapies. Our lymphoma program includes some of the nation's brightest scientists working together to translate laboratory discoveries into improved treatment options for patients," says Dr. Dalla-Favera, who is director of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia, director of the Institute of Cancer Genetics at Columbia University Medical Center and Uris Professor of Pathology and Genetics & Development at Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons.

###

Investigators at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia also collaborate with colleagues at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, including Dr. John Leonard.

For more information about lymphoma treatments, contact the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at 212-305-3653.

Lymphoma

Lymphoma is a type of cancer that originates in lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell in the vertebrate immune system. The most common type of lymphoma, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) includes B-cell lymphoma and T-cell lymphomas. Since the early 1970s, incidence rates of NHL have nearly doubled. The overall five-year survival rate is only 59 percent. Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), also known as Hodgkin's disease, is a less common form of lymphoma that arises from an abnormal lymphocyte. The overall five-year survival rate is 85 percent. HL occurs mainly in young adults, with a peak occurrence between ages 16 and 34. Older patients, especially those over age 55, may also develop the disease. Treatments for lymphoma may include radiation therapy, chemotherapy, immunotherapy and bone-marrow or peripheral blood transplants.

Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center

The Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at Columbia University Medical Center and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital encompasses pre-clinical and clinical research, treatment, prevention and education efforts in cancer. The Cancer Center was initially funded by the NCI in 1972 and became a National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated comprehensive cancer center in 1979. The designation recognizes the Center's collaborative environment and expertise in harnessing translational research to bridge scientific discovery to clinical delivery, with the ultimate goal of successfully introducing novel diagnostic, therapeutic and preventive approaches to cancer. For more information, visit www.hiccc.columbia.edu.

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital

NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, based in New York City, is the nation's largest not-for-profit, non-sectarian hospital, with 2,242 beds. The Hospital has nearly a million patient visits in a year, including more than 230,000 visits to its emergency departments -- more than any other area hospital. NewYork-Presbyterian provides state-of-the-art inpatient, ambulatory and preventive care in all areas of medicine at five major centers: NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, Morgan Stanley Children's Hospital of NewYork-Presbyterian, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Allen Pavilion and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Westchester Division. One of the largest and most comprehensive health-care institutions in the world, the Hospital is committed to excellence in patient care, research, education and community service. It ranks sixth in U.S.News & World Report's guide to "America's Best Hospitals," ranks first on New York magazine's "Best Hospitals" survey, has the greatest number of physicians listed in New York magazine's "Best Doctors" issue, and is included among Solucient's top 15 major teaching hospitals. The Hospital's mortality rates are among the lowest for heart attack and heart failure in the country, according to a 2007 U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) report card. The Hospital has academic affiliations with two of the nation's leading medical colleges: Weill Cornell Medical College and Columbia University College of Physicians and Surgeons. For more information, visit www.nyp.org.

Columbia University Medical Center

Columbia University Medical Center provides international leadership in pre-clinical and clinical research, in medical and health sciences education, and in patient care. The medical center trains future leaders and includes the dedicated work of many physicians, public health professionals, dentists, nurses and scientists at the College of Physicians and Surgeons, the Mailman School of Public Health, the College of Dental Medicine, the School of Nursing, the biomedical departments of the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, and allied research centers and institutions. For more information, visit www.cumc.columbia.edu.

New York- Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center

Living with Lymphoma: A Patient's Guide
by Elizabeth M. Adler (Author)

When neurobiologist Elizabeth M. Adler was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, she learned everything she could about the disease, both to cope with the emotional stress of being diagnosed and to make sure she made the best possible decisions for her treatment. In Living with Lymphoma, she combines her knowledge of lymphoma—both scientific and personal—with the desire to help other patients come to grips with this complex, and often baffling, disease. Adler thoroughly explains the disease, describing the many different kinds of Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the wide range of symptoms, and the various treatment options available. Convinced that understanding lymphoma's biological basis will help patients make better treatment decisions, Adler explains basic cell biology and how...

100 Questions & Answers About Lymphoma, Second Edition
by Peter Holman (Author)

EMPOWER YOURSELF! Written by oncology experts with over 20 years of experience, 100 Questions and Answers About Lymphoma, Second Edition provides authoritative answers to your questions on lymphoma. Featuring the information you need in one concise, easy-to-read volume, 100 Questions and Answers About Lymphoma, Second Edition is an invaluable resource for newly diagnosed patients, survivors, friends or relatives of either. Now, in its Second Edition, this newly updated text features information on the latest, cutting-edge treatments and medication, Hodgkin s and Non-Hodgkin s lymphoma, natural killer cells, T-cell lymphoma, autoimmune diseases, and much more! Comprehensive, insightful, compact, 100 Questions and Answers About Lymphoma, Second Edition is an essential guide for anyone...

Johns Hopkins Patients' Guide to Lymphoma
by Aditya Bardia (Author), Eric Seifter (Author)

Johns Hopkins Patients' Guide to Lymphoma is a concise, easy-to-follow how to guide that puts you on the path to wellness by explaining lymphoma treatment from start to finish. It guides you through the overwhelming maze of treatment decisions, simplifies the complicated schedule that lies ahead, and performs the task of putting together your plan of care in layman's terms. Empower yourself with accurate, understandable information that will give you the ability to confidently participate in the decision making about your care and treatment.

Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas
by James O. Armitage (Editor), Peter M. Mauch (Editor), Nancy Lee Harris (Editor), Bertrand Coiffier (Editor), Riccardo Dalla-Favera (Editor)

Thoroughly updated for its Second Edition, Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas is the definitive textbook on the biology, diagnosis, staging, and treatment of all forms of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. With backgrounds in medical and radiation oncology, molecular biology, and pathology, the editors and contributors provide an international, multidisciplinary approach to the topic. This edition is the first text using the new World Health Organization classification of non-Hodgkin lymphomas. The book offers complete coverage of the most current techniques for diagnosis, staging, and treatment, the approach to specific types of lymphoma, and special problems common to the management of patients with these disorders. A companion Website includes the fully searchable text and downloadable...

Medifocus Guidebook on: Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma
by Medifocus.com (Author), Elliot Jacob PhD. (Editor)

The MediFocus Guidebook on Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma is the most comprehensive, up-to-date source of information available. You will get answers to your questions, including risk factors of Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, standard and alternative treatment options, leading doctors, hospitals and medical centers that specialize in Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, results of the latest clinical trials, support groups and additional resources, and promising new treatments on the horizon. This one of a kind Guidebook offers answers to your critical health questions including the latest treatments, clinical trials, and expert research; high quality, professional level information you can trust and understand culled from the latest peer-reviewed journals; and a unique resource to find leading experts,...

My Secret Lymphoma
by Hanratty, Philip

This book is one patient’s sometimes humorous account of living with and being treated for cancer which he likens to having a mistress. Headaches that began in June of 2009 were not diagnosed as Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma until mid December. Given odds of 50/50 by his oncologist he describes the tests, bone marrow biopsies and treatments which included six cycles of R-CHOP, four spinal infusions with other drugs and, while in remission, three 28-day cycles of Revlimid (AKA Lenalidomide). Starting with the R-CHOP treatments he describes the day to day side effects of chemotherapy and his attempts to deal with them. The remainder of the book describes the aftermath of treatment which lasts much longer than one would normally expect.

What You Need To Know About: Non- Hodgkin Lymphoma

This booklet is about non-Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer that starts in the immune system. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma is also called NHL. Each year, more than 63,000 Americans learn they have non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

This booklet tells about diagnosis, treatment, and supportive care. Learning about the medical care for people with lymphoma can help you take an active part in making choices about your own care.

Extranodal Lymphomas: Expert Consult - Online and Print, 1e
by Judith A. Ferry MD (Author)

Extranodal Lymphomas is a practical, easy-to-use guide that helps you accurately diagnose even the most challenging cases. Dr. Judith Ferry and leaders in the field present their expertise to fill the need for a highly-illustrated, authoritative reference that keeps you up to date on histologic, immunophenotypic, genetic, and clinical features, along with risk factors and current nomenclature. This comprehensive resource also features access to the fully searchable text and a downloadable image library online at www.expertconsult.com so you'll have convenient access to everything you need for effective diagnostic decision making.Access the fully searchable text online at www.expertconsult.com, along with a downloadable image bank. See specimens as they appear through the microscope with...

Skin Lymphoma: The Illustrated Guide
by Lorenzo Cerroni (Author), Kevin Gatter (Author), Kerl Helmut (Author)

Skin lymphomas are relatively rare and can be easily misdiagnosed as psoriasis or dermatitis. These lymphomas can be fatal. Consequently, those in training in dermatology and pathology need to have a good understanding of the clinical presentations and the pathological correlates of this challenging disease.This updated edition provides:A full-colour illustrated text and atlas that combines pathology with clinical features and treatmentupdated nomenclature according to WHO/EORTC and WHO classificationsImages to expand the diagnostic potentialCases to enhance the scope for teaching and learning

Understanding Leukemias, Lymphomas and Myelomas
by Tariq I. Mughal (Author), Tariq Mughal (Author), John Goldman (Author), John M. Goldman (Author), Sabena T. Mughal (Author), Sabena Mughal (Author)

A brand-new edition of the bestselling guide to hematologic malignancies. An international team of contributors come together to present all clinically relevant aspects of leukemias, lymphomas, and myelomas. Using clear terminology, the book discusses salient features, diagnostic procedures, prognosis, and treatments for these cancers. Following on the successful steps of the first edition, this Second Edition covers: various types of leukemias, lymphomas, and myelomas utilizing stem cell transplantation side-effects of various treatments future prospects for leukemia, lymphoma, and myeloma targeted therapies and history of the cancers information and support sources for...