An Overview of the Treatment of Hematologic Malignancies

Julian Adams, PhD, President, Research and Development, Infinity Pharmaceuticals, discusses PI3K inhibitors and chemotherapies for the treatment of hematologic malignancies.

Traditionally, patients are treated with chemotherapy and anti-CD20 therapies. Eventually, Adams says, patients relapse and are no longer responsive. A further challenge arises in that many of these patients are elderly and cannot tolerate aggressive chemotherapies.

Clinical Pearls

Adams says that targeted therapies such as PI3K-delta and PI3K-gamma inhibitors will obviate the need for harsh therapies. With these therapies, physicians will be able to rescue patients from their chronic and aggressive diseases.

• Traditionally, a patient with a hematologic malignancy will be treated with chemotherapy and anti-CD20 therapies
• Many patients are elderly and cannot tolerate aggressive chemotherapies
• With targeted therapies like PI3K-delta and PI3K-gamma inhibitors, the need for harsh therapies will be obviated