Mantle cell lymphoma is a type of Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. It is a cancer that forms in the cells of the lymph system. Mantle cell lymphoma is considered to be a low-grade and slow growing lymphoma.

The standard of care treatment is usually the chemotherapy combination called MCP, mitoxantrone, chlorambucil, and prednisolone.

The Journal of Clinical Oncology says that the addition of Rituxan (rituximab) to the chemo combination of MCP as initial therapy can improve long term survival rates.

Since Rituxan has proved to have anti-cancer responses in other forms of NHL, researchers continue to evaluate how it can work in the treatment of various types of Non-Hodgkins lymphoma.

A clinical trial in now enrolling patients to evaluate the effectiveness of Rituxan (rituximab) plus the addition of Leukine (sargramostim) for patients with follicular B-cell lymphoma that has recurred. This type of lymphoma is categorized as a low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) that comprises 30 percent of all cases.

Rituxan is commonly used in the treatment of various forms of NHL. Researchers are continuing to evaluate ways to improve the anti-cancer responses to Rituxan. One such drug called Leukine is a growth factor which can stimulate the immune system to help fight disease. Leukine is also thought to have properties that improve Rituxan's cancer-killing effects based on previous clinical trials.

One group of patients in the study will be treated with Leukine plus Rituxan, and the other group will be treated with Rituxan alone. Patients will be assessed according to how their cancer responds to treatment.

For more information on enrollment for this clinical trial, go to

www.eCancerTrials.com

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.

At this time, there are 200 companies engaged in 600 clinical trials that involve 340 immunotherapy drugs -- all under study in an attempt to assist in the treatment of 40 different cancers. The top five targeted cancers are melanoma, breast, lung, prostate, and colorectal.

While antibody studies are the top headline-makers right now, cancer vaccines are following behind. With the recent approval of Gardasil -- the cervical cancer vaccine -- the push for more vaccine options will become strong. Future industry challenges also include discovering strong antigens, effective immunomodulators, and suitable delivery technologies.

Powerful drugs like Avastin, Erbitux, and Rituxan are just the precursors to what might lie ahead for cancer patients as a result of this widespread effort to knock cancer out of the ballpark.

For the first time in 25 years, cancer patients with large B-cell, CD20positive, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, have a new drug in the treatment of their cancer. Genentech and Biogen issued a press release announcing the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, FDA, approval of Rituxan® in the treatment for large B-cell, CD20positive, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Large B-cell, CD20positive, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma is an aggressive cancer that can be fatal within six months to two years. Rituxan® is a therapeutic antibody that targets and selectively depletes CD20-positive B-cells without targeting stem cells or existing plasma cells, and will be administered in combination with existing chemotherapy treatments. Before this approval, Rituxan® had been used as a single agent in relapsed or refractory, low-grade or follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.