NEWS & VIEWS DECADE IN REVIEW—HAEMATOLOGICAL CANCER
Advances in biology and therapy
5
200
It has been a decade of remarkable progress in the field of haematological malignancies with the rapid translation of basic science discoveries into effective targeted therapies. We discuss the most exciting advances in this field, many of which have already produced meaningful improvements in survival and quality of life of patients.
7
‘‘
…the advent of bortezomib and lenalidomide changed the treatment of multiple myeloma in a radical way
’’
In patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, two key areas that were of great therapeutic frustration saw important advances. First, the need to prolong time to relapse in patients with follicular lymphoma using an approach that does not compromise quality of life was addressed. A large randomized trial of 1,018 patients undergoing mainten ance therapy with rituximab administered every 2 months for 2 years significantly prolonged PFS and time to next chemotherapy; 3‑year PFS was 75% with rituximab maintenance versus 58% in the observation arm (P
Advances in biology and therapy
5
200
It has been a decade of remarkable progress in the field of haematological malignancies with the rapid translation of basic science discoveries into effective targeted therapies. We discuss the most exciting advances in this field, many of which have already produced meaningful improvements in survival and quality of life of patients.
7
‘‘
…the advent of bortezomib and lenalidomide changed the treatment of multiple myeloma in a radical way
’’
In patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, two key areas that were of great therapeutic frustration saw important advances. First, the need to prolong time to relapse in patients with follicular lymphoma using an approach that does not compromise quality of life was addressed. A large randomized trial of 1,018 patients undergoing mainten ance therapy with rituximab administered every 2 months for 2 years significantly prolonged PFS and time to next chemotherapy; 3‑year PFS was 75% with rituximab maintenance versus 58% in the observation arm (P
