Efficacy

Beleodaq (Belinostat) for the Treatment of Lymphoma

Beleodaq, also known by its generic name belinostat, is a histone deacetylase inhibitor approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL). This is a rare and aggressive form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma that affects the T-cells of the immune system. The efficacy of Beleodaq was evaluated in a multicenter, single-arm clinical trial where patients received the drug intravenously over a period of five days in a 21-day cycle. The overall response rate, which includes complete and partial responses, was observed to be approximately 25-30% in patients who had previously received treatment for PTCL.

The duration of response for those who benefited from Beleodaq treatment varied, with some patients experiencing prolonged responses. However, it is important to note that while Beleodaq can induce responses in a subset of patients with PTCL, it is not considered a cure and the long-term survival benefit of the drug is still under investigation. Physicians may consider Beleodaq as a second-line therapy or beyond for patients with PTCL who have not responded to other treatments.

Xalkori (Crizotinib) and Its Efficacy in Lymphoma

Xalkori, with the generic name crizotinib, is primarily known as a targeted therapy for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) that harbors specific genetic alterations. However, its efficacy in lymphoma, particularly in anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) that carries the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene rearrangement, has been a subject of clinical interest. ALCL is a subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, and the presence of ALK rearrangement in lymphoma cells is a potential target for crizotinib.

While crizotinib is not FDA-approved for the treatment of lymphoma, early-phase clinical trials and case reports have suggested that crizotinib may have activity in ALK-positive lymphomas. The results from these studies indicate that some patients with ALK-positive ALCL may respond to crizotinib treatment, with a subset achieving complete remission. Nevertheless, these findings are preliminary, and more extensive clinical trials are necessary to fully establish the efficacy and safety profile of crizotinib for the treatment of ALK-positive lymphomas.