Ibrutinib Active Against Aggressive DLBCL Subtype

According to ongoing clinical trials, the experimental agent ibrutinib (PCI-32765) is showing real promise against one of the most aggressive and most difficult to treat subtypes of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL).

DLBCL is the most commonly diagnosed subtype of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and researchers have found there are at least three sub-subtypes of the disease. The one that has the poorest outcomes with current treatment regimens of the three is known as activated B-cell DLBCL, or 'ABC' DLBCL. This subtype accounts for as many as two of every five diagnoses of DLBCL

Molecular studies determined ibrutinib to be a potent inhibitor of what's known as Bruton's tyrosine kinase (BTK). BTK is a key enzyme in the B-cell receptor pathway that is necessary for the survival of cancerous ABC DLBCL cells.

Although ibrutinib has been evaluated against several other blood cancers, including subtypes of leukemia, multiple myeloma and some lymphomas, the National Cancer Institute is now evaluating this inhibitor in a multi-center study against ABC DLBCLs.

Interim data was presented at the most recent meeting of the American Association of Cancer Research, where the oral drug was shown to induce anti-tumor responses as well as complete remission for some of the participants. Researchers at the NCI continue to recruit patients for trials evaluating this potential breakthrough in the treatment of such an aggressive subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

Source: NCI