Exploring Potential Agents in Development for Follicular Lymphoma

Kami Maddocks, MD, an associate professor of clinical internal medicine, Division of Hematology, at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center–James, discusses potential treatments in follicular lymphoma.

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy looks promising in follicular lymphoma and there may be a specific group of these patients who benefit the most from this treatment, according to Maddocks. There are also newer bispecific antibodies that been investigated for relapsed lymphoma in general, and these studies have included patients with follicular lymphoma as well. Although bispecific agents are in early stages of their studies, they appear promising for patients, with less toxicity and easier administration access. She feels this is exciting option for physicians treating patients with follicular lymphoma.

Maddocks says other potential therapies for the future of the follicular lymphoma landscape include antibody drug conjugates (ADCs), which have data in large cell lymphomas. ADCs already have approvals in Hodgkin lymphoma and other proliferative diseases. Tafasitamab (Monjuvi), a single-agent CD19 anitbody, was recently approved in large cell lymphomas in combination with lenalidomide (Revlimid) and will most likely be evaluated further in follicular lymphoma.