Follicular lymphoma is considered to be a low grade lymphoma. It is a kind of non-Hodgkins lymphoma that is considered slow growing. At this time advanced follicular NHL cannot be cured by standard treatment.
The Journal of Clinical Oncology published results that showed treatment with the chemotherapy regimen CHOP ( cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) followed by Bexxar, a radio immunotherapeutic agent, that can provided long-term anticancer responses in patients with advanced follicular lymphoma.
According to the article - Radio immunotherapy involves treatment with a radioactive substance linked to an antibody. The antibody attaches to cancer cells when injected into the body. By delivering the radiation directly to the cancer, more normal tissue is spared from radiation, and there are fewer side effects.
Researchers conducted a clinical trial to evaluate 90 patients with advanced follicular NHL. Patients were treated with CHOP followed by Bexxar.
The study showed that overall anticancer response was 90 percent when receiving Bexxar after CHOP regime. At five years the overall survival was 87 percent and at five years, the progression-free survival rate was 68 percent.
A Phase III trial is now underway and is going to compare CHOP plus Bexxar to CHOP plus Rituxan.
