For Immediate Release
Monday, December 11, 2006

BUFFALO, NY – Treatment side-effects are moderate and consistent for patients treated with radioimmunotherapy (RIT) for relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), according to the results of a large multi-institutional study which included Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI). 

Myron C. Czuczman, MD, departments of Medicine and Immunology, RPCI will describe the results of this important study at the 48^th Annual Meeting & Exposition of the American Society of Hematology, December 11, at 2:30 pm*, in Orlando, FL.

RIT is an innovative therapy for patients with relapsed or refractory NHL. The treatment links radioactive atoms to monoclonal antibodies which deliver “internal” radiation therapy directly to lymphoma by seeking out and latching onto proteins found on cancer cells. This study investigated the incidence of treatment-associated bone marrow damage: myelodysplastic syndrome or acute myelogenous leukemia as a side-effect to RIT treatment.

“The medium-term effects of radiation on bone marrow were studied in patients after treatment with ibritumomab tiuxetan (ie, Zevalin) RIT and we found that incidence rates are consistent with those expected on the basis of the patient’s history of prior treatment for NHL,” said Dr. Czuczman.  “This study demonstrates that this novel therapy does not increase incidence of subsequent blood-related disorders and cancers at least for the period of three to five years following treatment.” 

 Cytogenetic data (chromosome studies) were available for 15 of the patients, and each had multiple cytogenetic aberrations, commonly on chromosomes 5 and 7, suggesting an association with previous exposure to chemotherapy. Dr. Czuczman and colleagues recommend cytogenetic testing before administration of RIT to identify existing chromosomal abnormalities in previously treated patients.

Roswell Park Cancer Institute, founded in 1898, is the nation’s first cancer research, treatment and education center and is the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center headquartered in Upstate New York. RPCI is a member of the prestigious National Comprehensive Cancer Network, an alliance of the nation’s leading cancer centers. Roswell Park has affiliate sites and collaborative programs in New York, Pennsylvania and in China. For more information, visit RPCI's website at www.roswellpark.org, call 1-877-ASK-RPCI (1-877-275-7724) or e-mail askrpci@roswellpark.org

 

*Dr. Czuczman’s presentation will be part of a Simultaneous Session titled, “Immunotherapy of Indolent Lymphoma, including Radioimmunotherapy (RIT),” Monday, December 11 (1:30-3 pm).

 

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