SAN DIEGO, Calif. (Ivanhoe Newswire) – Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, or NHL, is one of the most common cancers – one in 43 men and one in 53 women will be diagnosed with it. There are more than 60 sub-types of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Now, the FDA has approved a new treatment for one of the most common types.
Renee Bentson has been raising tortoises for decades.
“Speedy is his name. When we got him, they told us he was 50 years old,” she says about her beloved pet.
They make her happy and that’s important after the rough few years she’s had.
“I had swollen glands, and at the time, my husband had been diagnosed with heart failure and so, I just didn’t wanna say anything. Then one day I was doing my hair and there was a lump on right here on my arm,” Renee recalls.
Diagnosed with follicular lymphoma, or FL – a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma affecting the body’s immune B-cells – Renee underwent four different immunotherapy trials.
Renee says, “Every one was successful in the beginning.”
But all failed in the end. Then, a new trial led by a City of Hope Hematology & Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation specialist, Elizabeth Budde, MD became available — Renee was one of the first patients to sign up for the new bi-specific antibody treatment.
“It really grabs the T-cells and redirect the T-cells to the neighborhood of the lymphoma cells,” Dr. Budde explains.
Mosunetuzumab is given intravenously for eight to 17 cycles.
Dr. Budde further explains, “So now, they’re able to see the target know direct into the target. So, the T-cells are activated, and they killed up the targets as directed.”
In the trial, 80 percent of patients responded to treatment, 60 percent are in complete remission. The FDA has given accelerated approval to Mosunetuzumab for patients experiencing relapsed follicular lymphoma. Ongoing clinical trials are exploring its application as an injectable treatment, either at an earlier stage in the therapeutic process or in combination with other medications.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Matt Goldschmidt, Videographer & Editor.
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Source:
MEDICAL BREAKTHROUGHS
RESEARCH SUMMARY
TITLE: NEW HOPE FOR NON-HODGKIN’S LYMPHOMA PATIENTS
REPORT: MB #5352
BACKGROUND: Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) is a type of cancer that originates in the lymphatic system, which is part of the body’s immune system. Unlike Hodgkin’s lymphoma, another type of lymphoma, NHL involves the proliferation of abnormal lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell, and can occur in various parts of the body, including lymph nodes, bone marrow, spleen, and other organs. The exact cause of Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma is not fully understood, but several factors may increase the risk of developing the disease, including a weakened immune system, age, and exposure to certain chemicals or toxins. NHL is one of the most common cancers in the United States and accounts for four percent of all cancers. Incident rates have declined by about one percent since 2015 and deaths have declined by about two percent per year from 2012 to 2021.
and infections.
DIAGNOSING: The symptoms of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma can vary depending on the type of lymphoma, its location, and the extent of the disease. Common symptoms may include swollen lymph nodes that are usually painless, fevers, night sweats, unexplained weight loss, fatigue, abdominal swelling, chest pain or cough, itchy skin, and shortness of breath. Diagnosing Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma typically involves a combination of tests and procedures, including blood tests to evaluate blood cell counts, liver function, and levels of certain proteins associated with lymphoma. Also, a biopsy of an enlarged lymph node is the definitive test for diagnosing lymphoma.
NEW TECHNOLOGY: A new drug called Jaypirca that targets the B-cell receptor signaling pathway is now being tested in clinical trials for various types of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. It was approved in 2023 for treating mantle cell lymphoma that has gotten worse after two or other previously performed treatments. There are many other targeted therapies currently being tested in non-Hodgkin lymphoma research.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS REPORT, PLEASE CONTACT:
Letisia Marquez
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