Novel treatments in B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas
https://www.bmj.com/content/377/bmj-2020-063439
The improved understanding of lymphoma biology and recent advances in the field of cancer immunology have paved the way for the development of many effective small molecule inhibitors and immunotherapies in B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas. This article reviews novel treatments that have been approved recently by the US Food and Drug Administration and are now routinely used in clinical practice. It also reviews other exciting novel treatments that are not yet approved but have unique mechanisms of action and have shown encouraging early results.
The treatment landscape of B cell NHLs has evolved with the development of many novel therapies including immune based cellular and antibody therapies such as CAR T cells, bispecific antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, and ADCs and small molecule inhibitors such as BTK inhibitors, PI3K inhibitors, EZH2 inhibitors, and others. As our knowledge of lymphoma biology and cancer immunology expands, these therapies will improve further and newer exciting treatments will continue to emerge. Exploring potential combination therapies based on rational approaches and determining the optimal sequencing of these different treatments will be key to achieving higher therapeutic efficacy and acceptable toxicity. Furthermore, developing biomarkers to guide treatment selection will be crucial.