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VIDEO: Immune-based strategies ‘transform’ treatment of hematologic malignancies
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Steven T. Rosen, MD, director of the Comprehensive Cancer Center and Beckman Research Institute, City of Hope, Duarte, Calif., reviews the range of immune approaches hematologists have at their disposal today and the practice implications of these treatment options.
“Immunotherapy has transformed the treatment of blood cancers,” he said.
Rosen notes the emergence of monoclonal antibodies as part of standard treatment for most B-cell malignancies since the approval of rituximab (Rituxan, Genentech) nearly a decade ago.
He highlights agents used to enhance immune response including daratumumab (Darzalex, Janssen) targeting CD-38 and elotuzumab (Empliciti, Bristol-Myers Squibb) targeting SLAMF7 in multiple myeloma, as well as brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris, Seattle Genetics) targeting CD-30 in Hodgkin’s lymphoma.
Rosen discusses bispecific antibodies, highlighting blinatumomab (Blincyto, Amgen) targeting both CD19 on malignant B cells and CD3 on T cells as showing benefit in acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
He also talks about what makes chimeric antigen receptor T cells an “intriguing approach” and checkpoint inhibitors an “exciting area,” touching on responses as well as toxicities.
Among the other immune-based strategies he covers are nonmyeloablative allogeneic transplantation, vaccines and immune modulators including lenalidomide (Revlimid, Celgene), thalidomide (Thalomid, Celgene) and pomalidomide (Pomalyst, Celgene).
Rosen says he anticipates “major advances in our understanding of the microenvironment for the blood cancers,” as well as a “more precise approach to each patient.”