Efficacy

Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin-piiq) Efficacy in Lymphoma

Polivy (polatuzumab vedotin-piiq) is a monoclonal antibody-drug conjugate that targets CD79b, a protein expressed on the surface of B cells. It is used in the treatment of lymphoma, specifically for adult patients with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), not otherwise specified, after at least two prior therapies. The efficacy of Polivy was demonstrated in a pivotal clinical trial that combined the drug with bendamustine and rituximab (BR). This combination showed a significant improvement in complete response rates and overall survival compared to BR alone, making it a valuable option for patients with limited treatment choices due to the aggressive nature of DLBCL.

The approval of Polivy was based on the results of a multicenter, open-label, randomized study (GO29365 study). Patients treated with the Polivy combination had a complete response rate of 40%, compared to 17.5% for those who received BR alone. Moreover, the median duration of response for patients treated with Polivy was markedly higher. These results highlight the efficacy of Polivy in inducing a significant tumor response in a population with a poor prognosis.

Xalkori (crizotinib) Efficacy in Lymphoma

Xalkori (crizotinib) is primarily known as a treatment for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with specific genetic alterations (ALK or ROS1). It is an oral small-molecule tyrosine kinase inhibitor. While Xalkori has shown remarkable efficacy in NSCLC, its use in lymphoma is more limited and is generally considered off-label. There is some evidence suggesting that crizotinib may have activity in lymphomas that express ALK, such as anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), which is a subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. However, the evidence for its efficacy in lymphoma is not as well-established as for Polivy or in the context of NSCLC.

Crizotinib's potential in treating ALK-positive lymphomas comes from its mechanism of action, which involves the inhibition of the ALK tyrosine kinase that can drive tumor cell growth. Some case reports and small studies have suggested that patients with ALK-positive lymphomas may benefit from crizotinib treatment. Nevertheless, larger and more definitive clinical trials are needed to establish the efficacy and safety of Xalkori in lymphoma patients. Until such data is available, the use of crizotinib in lymphoma remains exploratory and should be approached with caution, typically within the context of clinical trials or as a last resort when standard therapies have failed.