Improving Patient Response in Mantle Cell Lymphoma with Venetoclax

Principal Investigator: Dr. Tycel Phillips

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Disease: Mantle cell lymphoma

Research Description: Mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) is a rare form of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) that is diagnosed mostly in older male patients. Symptoms of this cancer can include fever, night sweats, abdominal pain, anemia, thrombocytopenia, itchy skin, rashes, lymph node inflammation and a painfully enlarged spleen. Currently there is no best treatment for patients who are diagnosed with MCL, and treatment responses vary among patients. Most treatments include chemotherapy, and these drugs have toxic side effects that can lead to complications including infection, heart failure, renal failure and potentially death, especially in older patients. This Phase I clinical trial will combine two oral medications together with an antibody that targets this cancer to improve disease treatment in all patients diagnosed with MCL, irrespective of age or other medical conditions. The repurposed drug, venetoclax, is approved to treat chronic lymphocytic leukemia and will be added to rituximab and lenalidomide, both of which are already approved to treat MCL. This study could lead to a standardized treatment regimen that is safe and tolerable enough for all MCL patients, potentially eliminating the need for high dose chemotherapy and improving overall patient outcomes.

Funding Partners: Goldman Philanthropic Partnerships and other anonymous funders

CWR funding role: Participating funder