Berlex starts trial for new cancer treatment

The phase II trial is evaluating the efficacy and safety of combining therapy with the monoclonal antibody rituximab and the cytokine sargramostim compared to treatment with rituximab alone.

“Previous studies have suggested that the combination of sargramostim with rituximab may substantially improve the treatment efficacy of rituximab in indolent lymphomas, without the use of chemotherapy and without increasing toxicity,” explains Peter McLaughlin, lead investigator and professor, Department of Lymphoma/Myeloma at MD Anderson Cancer Center.

“The goal now is to develop new biologic combination treatment regimens that result in improved response rates and survival,” said Richard Nieman, vice president, Berlex Laboratories.

This cancer, known as follicular B-cell lymphoma, is a slow-growing, type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma that comprises approximately 30% of all diagnosed cases.