Hematologic malignancies

This article reviews highlights in the field of hematologic malignancies presented at the 2001 annual meeting of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. Targeted therapies continue to proceed from the laboratory to the clinic. Monoclonal antibody-based therapies predominate, and further data on radioimmunoconjugates (RICs) (tositumomab and Iodine 131 tositumomab [Bexxar] and ibritumomab tiuxetan [Zevalin]) are presented. Both agents have high response rates in relapsed B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Results from the first trial directly comparing an RIC (Zevalin) to an unconjugated antibody (rituximab) are presented. A novel application of RIC therapy as part of high-dose therapy for mantle cell NHL is described. A new fusion toxin, BL22, targets the CD22 antigen and shows marked activity in the treatment of hairy cell leukemia. Similarly, the Hu1D10 monoclonal antibody has activity in B-cell NHL and might have a relatively unique mechanism of action. Finally, advances in the treatment of mucositis are described. These abstracts all describe therapies derived from our enhanced understanding of tumor immunology and molecular biology.