Dr. Rule on Searching for a Biomarker Indicating Indolent MCL

Simon Rule, MD, professor of hematology, University of Plymouth, discusses a study comparing patients with newly diagnosed mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) who receive immediate systemic treatment versus patients who are closely monitored instead.

A registry has been collecting information, such as disease, blood, marrow, and germline DNA from almost 600 patients with newly diagnosed MCL. There are no exclusion criteria, allowing this biobank to capture information from all patients.

Within that study, Rule and researchers are suggesting if patients are asymptomatic with low-volume disease, it is better to hold off on administering treatment and monitor instead. There is a prospective study comparing patients who are waiting and patients who require treatment immediately to see if researchers can bind a biomarker indicating indolent disease, which is defined as going untreated for 2 years.