Dr. Fanale on Brentuximab Vedotin in High-Risk ALCL

Michelle A. Fanale, MD, Associate Professor, Division of Cancer Medicine, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, discusses the role of brentuximab vedotin as frontline treatment of systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL).

In the phase II trial, patients with low-risk factors saw a 70% to 80% chance of being in remission for five years, compared to 15% to 20% of patients with higher risk factors. In the phase III trial, Fanale says, researchers look to compare CHOP chemotherapy to brentuximab vedotin + CHP in the frontline treatment of mature T-cell lymphomas and to enroll patients with high-risk disease. The goal remains to improve outcomes for high-risk patients by escalating chemotherapy or adding a targeted therapy.

Brentuximab vedotin is currently approved for Hodgkin lymphoma in the third-line setting and ALCL in the second-line setting.