Dr. Erba on the Evolution of Treatment in MCL

Harry Paul Erba, MD, PhD, instructor, clinical investigator, Division of Hematologic Malignancies and Cellular Therapy, Department of Medicine, Duke University School of Medicine, member, Duke Cancer Institute, director, Leukemia Program and Phase I Development in Hematologic Malignancies, Duke Health, discusses the evolution of treatment in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

Similar to acute myeloid leukemia, the goal of therapy in MCL should be the key focus from treatment initiation. For example, a younger patient with limited comorbidities should be considered for curative-intent therapy or treatment with a time-limited regimen to elicit deep responses and prolonged progression-free survival, Erba says.

High-dose cytarabine-based therapies, such as the Nordic regimen known as maxi-CHOP, and autologous stem cell transplant could be considered for patients with MCL, Erba explains. Oral therapies, including BTK inhibitors, are also available options for patients with relapsed/refractory MCL or older patients who cannot tolerate intensive chemotherapy, Erba concludes.