John Leonard, MD

John Leonard, MD, medical oncologist, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, discusses the number of options doctors have to choose from when treating follicular lymphomas. Leonard says some of the more common and older options for these patients are the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab and bendamustine, with the latter being used especially if the patient had not previously received it in combination with rituximab.

Leonard says in addition to those treatments, the anti-body obinutuzumab has also been approved in patients with rituximab refractory relapsed follicular lymphoma. Data for idelalisib, a PI3 kinase inhibitor that can work in rituximab refractory patients, and RCHOP chemotherapy is another option, are also viable options, according to Leonard.

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John Leonard, MD, discusses the number of options doctors have to choose from when treating follicular lymphomas.

Dr. John Leonard on Treatment Options in Follicular Lymphoma

John Leonard, MD, medical oncologist, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYorkPresbyterian Hospital, discusses the inefficacy of early treatment and treatment options for patients with follicular lymphoma. Leonard says the relapse rate for patients with follicular lymphoma is around 80%, though most patients with the malignancy will not pass away from their disease.

Leonard adds that data from recent studies also shows that early treatment of follicular lymphoma does not improve long-term outcomes. After relapse, Leonard says patients should be asking their doctors if they should be doing anything post-relapse and, if so, what the options are. Leonard says one thing doctors should be looking out for is symptomatic progression in patients with follicular lymphoma, at which point treatment should be considered.

John Leonard, MD, discusses the inefficacy of early treatment and treatment options for patients with follicular lymphoma. Leonard says the relapse rate for patients with follicular lymphoma is around 80%.

Dr. John Leonard on When to Treat Patients With Follicular Lymphoma

John Leonard, MD, medical oncologist, Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYorkPresbyterian Hospital , discusses the top lymphoma studies to be presented at the 57th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting. Leonard says some of the more interesting studies to crop up in the field of Hodgkin's lymphoma include ones that utilize checkpoint inhibitors, as well as one of the first combination immunotherapies to be used in the disease &nbsp;a duet of brentuximab vedotin and ipilimumab.

Leonard goes on to say there is more data that involves brentuximab alongside chemotherapy in elderly patients, which would be in place of ABVD chemotherapy. ABVD chemotherapy is a standard of care for older patients with Hodgkin's lymphoma, though the treatment has proven less effective and more toxic to patients over time.

Leonard says some of the more interesting studies to crop up in the field of Hodgkin's lymphoma include ones that utilize checkpoint inhibitors, as well as one of the first combination immunotherapies to be used in the disease 

John Leonard, MD | Authors

Articles

Dr. John Leonard on Treatment Options in Follicular Lymphoma

Dr. John Leonard on When to Treat Patients With Follicular Lymphoma

Dr. John Leonard on Top Lymphoma Studies at the 2015 ASH Annual Meeting