Dr. Leonard on Lenalidomide With Rituximab in Follicular Lymphoma

John P. Leonard, MD, medical oncology, NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Weill Cornell Medical Center, discusses an ongoing study examining the use of lenalidomide combined with rituximab in patients with recurrent follicular lymphoma (FL).

Various ongoing studies are examining the combination of lenalidomide and rituximab in the treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Leonard says. Lenalidomide has approximately a 30% response rate in numerous lymphoma subtypes, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia, mantle cell lymphoma, and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Researchers have also looked at this combination in phase II studies in the frontline setting and in relapse patients.

The ongoing AUGMENT trial is a randomized study examining the combination in recurrent FL. Patients are randomized to receive single-agent rituximab or lenalidomide plus rituximab. Researchers will be able to determine the combination’s safety profile and if it has greater efficacy than the single agent. Though the phase III trial is still accruing patients, Leonard explains that previous studies suggest the combination will show benefit.