Lymphoma and leukemia research from 2010 ASCO conference

The American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) annual meeting was held June 4-8 in Chicago, Illinois, bringing together 50,000 physicians, researchers, and other health care professionals from around the globe to discuss and hear the latest results in cancer research.

Navigating Cancer’s co-founder and CEO Gena Cook was in attendance, and provided us with a round up of the most interesting presentations with links for you to learn more from the ASCO website.

Front-line Rituximab Maintenance May Improve Progression-free Survival for Follicular Lymphoma

Rituximab used as maintenance therapy is effective if used upfront or in relapsed patients with follicular lymphoma (FL) regardless of the type of induction treatment, according to presentations at yesterday’s Lymphoma Oral Abstract Session. After front-line therapy with rituximab and chemotherapy, rituximab maintenance was found to reduce the risk of disease recurrence by 50% in patients with newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma, based on the results of the Primary Rituximab and Maintenance (PRIMA) study presented (Abstract 8004).

Possible New Standard of Care for Patients with Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

The analysis of a phase IV multicenter trial indicating that whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT) as part of first-line therapy does not improve overall survival for patients with primary central nervous system (CNS) lymphoma met with some controversy during Saturday’s Lymphoma and Plasma Cell Disorders Oral Abstract Session.

Dasatinib, Nilotinib Superior Options to Imatinib for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia

Dasatinib, nilotinib, and bosutinib — three tyrosine kinase inhibitors — may soon provide additional options for the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), according to data presented at the Leukemia, Myelodysplasia, and Transplantation Oral Abstract Session held on Monday.

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