Targeted Therapy

Similar to a previous answer (http://talkabouthealth.com/for-what-types-of-non-hodgkin-lymphoma-is-rituxan-a-typical-treatment-option), the B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas are usually treated with Rituxan. This is because all but a few of these lymphomas express CD20, the target antigen that Rituxan binds to. Rituxan has been shown the be beneficial a single agent therapy in indolent lymphomas, when combined with chemotherapy (R-CHOP or R-CVP are two examples) and for maintenance after initial treatment in the case of indolent lymphomas. Similar to a previous answer (http://talkabouthealth.com/for-what-types-of-non-hodgkin-lymphoma-is-rituxan-a-typical-treatment-option), the B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas are usually treated with Rituxan. This is because all but a few of these lymphomas express CD20, the target antigen that Rituxan binds to. Rituxan has been shown the be beneficial a single agent therapy in indolent lymphomas, when combined with chemotherapy (R-CHOP or R-CVP are two examples) and for maintenance after initial treatment in the case of indolent lymphomas.

Rituxan is a useful drug for B-cell lymphomas. Most B-cell lymphomas express the B-cell marker protein CD20. Rituxan is a monoclonal antibody with specificity for B cell lymphomas expressing CD20. These include follicular, diffuse large cell, mantle cell and several other types. Rituxan is a useful drug for B-cell lymphomas. Most B-cell lymphomas express the B-cell marker protein CD20. Rituxan is a monoclonal antibody with specificity for B cell lymphomas expressing CD20. These include follicular, diffuse large cell, mantle cell and several other types.

The FDA’s approval in 2011 of Zelboraf (vemurafenib) is another important step in what is a rapidly changing landscape for melanoma and cancer therapy in general. Some cancers are formed when, inside a cell, a signal is passed from one molecule to another, like a game of telephone. Zelboraf stops that signal from being sent and, in doing so, stops the growth of the cancer. Data published in February of 2012 in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that Zelboraf extended average survival to about 16 months for stage IV melanoma patients whose tumors had BRAF mutations. The drug was generally well tolerated with minimal side effects. These results, while promising on their own, are a stepping stone to another exciting prospect in cancer research: combining drugs like vemurafenib with other therapies, where two treatments used together might be more effective than each one by itself. The FDA’s approval in 2011 of Zelboraf (vemurafenib) is another important step in what is a rapidly changing landscape for melanoma and cancer therapy in general. Some cancers are formed when, inside a cell, a signal is passed from one molecule to another, like a game of telephone. Zelboraf stops that signal from being sent and, in doing so, stops the growth of the cancer. Data published in February of 2012 in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that Zelboraf extended average survival to about 16 months for stage IV melanoma patients whose tumors had BRAF mutations. The drug was generally well tolerated with minimal side effects. These results, while promising on their own, are a stepping stone to another exciting prospect in cancer research: combining drugs like vemurafenib with other therapies, where two treatments used together might be more effective than each one by itself.