Radioimmunotherapy May Fight Lymphoma

U.S. scientists have identified a new treatment for patients with follicular lymphoma, a slow-growing type of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center study suggests such people might benefit from chemotherapy followed by radioimmunotherapy.

The researchers found more than 90 percent of study patients responded completely to the treatment and, since only a short-course of chemotherapy was used, side effects were limited and well-tolerated. The radioimmunotherapy was delivered through the use of a radio-labeled monoclonal antibody specifically designed to kill lymphoma cells with the help of a radioactive atom.

We found that adding a radioactive monoclonal antibody to standard chemotherapy helped lymphoma patients achieve a higher complete response rate, said Dr. Samuel Jacobs, the study’s lead investigator. We hope that this will translate into long-lasting remissions.

The research was presented during the weekend in Chicago at the annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology.