International Workshop on Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma (iwNHL) 2012

With Dr Wyndham Wilson - National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA; Prof. Owen O’Conner – New York University Cancer Institute and Lagone Medical Centre; Dr Myron Czuczman - Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA; Prof John Gribben - Bart’s and Royal London School of Medicine, London, UK The panel discuss the key points that emerged from the second day of the 10th iwNHL meeting in Boston. The topics discussed include T-cell-mediated immunotherapy with a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR), the identification of defects in epigenetic pathways associated with follicular lymphoma, the potential benefits of lenalidomide to different lymphoma sub-types and probable beneficial and adverse effects of drugs that target NF-κB. In addition, the panel address concerns regarding the regulation of bio-similar versions of biological agents, discuss the toxicities associated with immunotherapies, including the potential long term reduction of patient B-cell levels, outline the potential costs and benefits of chronic treatment with ECR receptor signalling drugs and explain the approaches taken to reduce toxicities of the BiTE monoclonal antibody blinatumomab.

With Dr Wyndham Wilson - National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA; Dr Myron Czuczman - Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY, USA; Professor Michael Pfreundschuh - University of Saarland, Homburg-Saar, Germany; Prof John Gribben - Bart’s and Royal London School of Medicine, London, UK The panel discuss the key points that emerged from the first day of the 10th iwNHL meeting in Boston. Topics include the role of antigenic drive of B-cells in different lymphomas, the prospect of curative therapies for front line diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, potential new therapies to target B-cell receptor signalling pathways and treatment options for T-cell lymphoma. In addition, the panel discuss a number of concerns that have emerged. These include the need for additional research clarifying the value of maintenance therapies, uncertainty of the biology and mechanism of action of new CNS treatments and concerns over the choice of patients for clinical trials