Adcetris Performs Well Against Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

Phase II clinical trial results of Seattle Genetics' antibody drug conjugate Adcetris (brentuximab vedotin) have been published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and indicate good things about the breakthrough lymphoma treatment against a specific subtype, systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).

Researchers from Philadelphia's Fox Chase Cancer Center carried out a prospective clinical trial evaluating Adcetris in 58 patients diagnosed with ALCL whose disease had proven recurrent after at least one previous therapy.

The primary end point of the study was overall objective response rate.

Patients were given an infusion of Adcetris every three weeks on an outpatient basis, and investigators reported the following:

-- 86 percent achieved an objective response
-- 57 percent achieved a complete remission
-- 29 percent achieved a partial remission

Median duration for overall response was 12.6 months.

Patients reported neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and peripheral sensory neuropathy.

"Targeted therapy with this CD30-directed antibody-drug conjugate may be an effective treatment for relapsed or refractory systemic ALCL and warrants further studies in front-line therapy," the study authors wrote.

Source: JCO