Dr. Fenske Discusses Targets Under Evaluation in MCL

Timothy Fenske, MD, MS, an associate professor at the Medical College of Wisconsin, discusses targets under investigation in mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).

The proteasome has long been a target, and bortezomib (Velcade) was one of the first novel agents to be FDA approved in MCL, Fenske says. Other proteasome inhibitors are being tested. An ECOG trial involving the Medical College of Wisconsin is studying the combination of ibrutinib and ixazomib (Ninlaro) in patients with relapsed/refractory MCL.

There are several other intriguing targets under investigation, Fenske adds. PI3K inhibitors, which have made the most headway in chronic lymphocytic leukemia, have been of interest in MCL. Although there has been some activity with these inhibitors in this space, no dramatic single-agent activity has been observed. None of these agents have an FDA approval in MCL, but combination approaches with PI3K inhibitors might serve as a more effective strategy.