Doctors at the University of Rochester's James P. Wilmot Cancer Center are first in the world to study a new, targeted agent that zeroes-in on B-cell lymphomas. The new twice-a-day pill offers patients with recurrent disease another choice as their options grow thin.
This investigative drug, R788, targets a common protein in normal B cells – white blood cells that fight infection -- and lymphoma cells. Previous studies have shown that inhibiting the activity of this protein, called SYK, spurs cellular death.
Jonathan Friedberg, M.D., director of hematological malignancies clinical research, is studying this drug to determine its impact on stubborn lymphomas. "If our standard therapies aren't working for these patients who see their remissions fail repeatedly, then this drug might work for them," Friedberg said. He said that if there is widespread success, this drug, in combination with other therapies might be a good one-two punch for lymphoma.
So far, nine Wilmot patients have participated in this study – the first in the world -- and initial tests are showing success, said Julia Schaefer-Cutillo, M.D., hematology/oncology Fellow. Oncologists at Stanford, Cleveland Clinic, Weill Medical College of Cornell University, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute will also participate in this study.