Dr. Grossbard on the Activity of Venetoclax in Follicular Lymphoma

Michael L. Grossbard, MD, professor in the Department of Medicine, chief of the Hematology and Medical Oncology Inpatient Service at Tisch Hospital, and section chief of Hematology at NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, discusses the activity of venetoclax (Venclexta) in follicular lymphoma.

Venetoclax has demonstrated clinical utility in several hematologic malignancies such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia, acute myeloid leukemia, and myelodysplastic syndrome, says Grossbard.

The chromosomal alteration t(14;18) is common in follicular lymphoma and results in an overexpression of the BCL-2 protein, explains Grossbard. As such, venetoclax, a BCL-2 inhibitor, should have significant activity in follicular lymphoma.

However, response rates with the agent in follicular lymphoma have been modest, says Grossbard. Additional trials are needed to determine whether venetoclax has a role in the follicular lymphoma armamentarium.