Promising results of oral chemotherapy drug for refractory low-grade NHL

An early study of a drug called duvelisib has recently announced promising results in people with low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphomas who have not responded (refractory) to previous treatment.

Duvelisib is a cell-signal blocker that targets two subtypes of a protein called P13K, which play an important role in the growth and survival of B lymphocytes (the type of white blood cells that become abnormal in B-cell lymphomas). It is taken as an oral capsule twice a day.

The DYNAMO study involved people with follicular lymphoma, small lymphocytic lymphoma or marginal zone B-cell lymphoma who had not responded to treatment with rituximab (on its own or combined with other drugs) and to at least one other treatment (for example, chemotherapy or radio-immunotherapy).

Oral duvelisib showed promising efficacy, with an average duration of response to treatment of 10 months. The most common side effects were diarrhoea, nausea, fatigue and low white blood cell count, but these were generally manageable.

The study authors concluded that duvelisib may provide a new oral treatment option for people with refractory low-grade non-Hodgkin lymphomas, many of whom are older people who may need gentler treatments.

For more information about new treatments, visit our information on targeted drugs. If you’d like to find out more about clinical trials, including what they are and how they work, visit Lymphoma TrialsLink. You can also use our searchable database to find a trial or study that might be suitable for you.

27 March 2019