Do new therapies help Follicular Lymphoma patients who progress within 24 months?
Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a slow-growing cancer of the lymph system. Some patients experience disease progression within 24 months of initial treatment, a condition known as POD24. This group has historically had a poorer outlook. However, newer therapies are showing promise for these patients. Research indicates that treatments such as CAR T-cell therapy, bispecific antibodies, and other novel agents can achieve high response rates even in POD24 patients.
What the research says
A meta-analysis of 21 trials involving 1242 POD24 patients found that CAR T-cell therapy produced an overall response rate (ORR) of 91.2% and a complete response (CR) rate of 75.7% 4. Bispecific antibodies, another type of immunotherapy, showed an ORR of 81.6% and CR of 65.7% in the same analysis 4. For example, the bispecific antibody mosunetuzumab, given as a subcutaneous injection, showed an ORR of 76.6% and CR of 61.7% in relapsed/refractory FL patients, with a median progression-free survival of 23.7 months 2. Other novel agents like abexinostat, a histone deacetylase inhibitor, demonstrated an ORR of 69.5% in relapsed/refractory FL, with a median progression-free survival of 13.8 months 3. Additionally, lenalidomide (Revlimid) is FDA-approved for previously treated FL in combination with rituximab 1. The meta-analysis also reported that anti-CD19 antibody-drug conjugates and monoclonal antibodies, such as loncastuximab plus rituximab and tafasitamab plus lenalidomide/rituximab, achieved ORRs of 100% and 87.5%, respectively, in POD24 patients 4. These findings suggest that newer therapies can effectively treat POD24 FL, offering hope for improved outcomes.
What to ask your doctor
- Given my POD24 status, what newer therapy options (like CAR T cells or bispecific antibodies) might be appropriate for me?
- What are the potential benefits and side effects of treatments such as mosunetuzumab or lenalidomide plus rituximab?
- Are there any clinical trials available for novel agents like abexinostat or other targeted therapies?
- How do these newer treatments compare with standard chemotherapy in terms of response rates and quality of life?
- What monitoring or follow-up will be needed if I start one of these newer therapies?
This question is drawn from common patient questions about this topic and answered using cited medical research. We do not provide individualized advice.