Burkitt’s Lymphoma: Effectivenss of Low-Intensity Therapy

Kieron M. Dunleavy, M.D. Metabolism Branch Lymphoma Therapeutics Section Staff Clinician Center for Cancer Research National Cancer Institute Bethesda, MD 20892MedicalResearch.com Interview with
Kieron M. Dunleavy, M.D.
Metabolism Branch
Lymphoma Therapeutics Section
Center for Cancer Research
National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892

MedicalResearch.com: What are the main findings of the study?

Dr. Dunleavy: We found that low-intensity therapy was highly effective in Burkitt’s lymphoma and cured over 95% of patients with the disease.

MedicalResearch.com: Were any of the findings unexpected?

Dr. Dunleavy: Burkitt’s lymphoma is typically treated with very intensive chemotherapy regimens so the fact that it can be successfully treated with low-intensity therapy represents a paradigm shift.

MedicalResearch.com: What should clinicians and patients take away from your report?

Dr. Dunleavy: Low-intensity therapy (EPOCH-R based treatment) is highly effective in Burkitt’s lymphoma and associated with low toxicity compared to standard Burkitt’s lymphoma regimens.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Dr. Dunleavy: To validate these results, we are currently studying this approach in a multi center study of Burkitt’s lymphoma and the approach is also being tested in a pediatric study.

Citation:

Low-Intensity Therapy in Adults with Burkitt’s Lymphoma

Kieron Dunleavy, M.D., Stefania Pittaluga, M.D., Ph.D., Margaret Shovlin, R.N., Seth M. Steinberg, Ph.D., Diane Cole, M.S., Cliona Grant, M.D., Brigitte Widemann, M.D., Louis M. Staudt, M.D., Ph.D., Elaine S. Jaffe, M.D., Richard F. Little, M.D., and Wyndham H. Wilson, M.D., Ph.D.

N Engl J Med 2013; 369:1915-1925November 14, 2013DOI: 10.1056/NEJMoa1308392

 

 

Last Updated on November 22, 2013 by Marie Benz MD FAAD

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