Romidepsin for peripheral T-cell lymphoma

Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is comprised of a rare heterogeneous group of diseases with diverse clinical presentations; however outcomes associated with conventional chemotherapy are generally poor in the majority of patients. Newer approaches, which include dose-intensification and agents with novel mechanisms of action, are needed to improve outcomes in this group of patients. In this review we examine the results of two recent large Phase II trials with romidepsin, a histone deacetylase inhibitor which shows considerable activity and good tolerability in patients with T-cell lymphoma. These initial results observed with single-agent romidepsin provide a foundation for exploring combination strategies and demonstrates proof-of-principle that other such drugs with similar mechanisms of action may be effective in T-cell lymphoma.