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New treatment for lymph cancer

September 02, 2004

A NEW drug that pushes survival rates up to 95 per cent is set to become

the standard non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treatment, the Leukaemia Foundation

said today.

A recent trial in Australia and 17 other countries in patients with a

particularly aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma showed a 95 per

cent survival rate over two years when the drug, known as MabThera, was

given in conjunction with chemotherapy.

The survival rate for chemotherapy alone was about 85 per cent.

Diffuse large cell lymphoma is an aggressive form of non-Hodgkin's

lymphoma that spreads rapidly and can be fatal in as little as six months

if left untreated.

More than 1000 of the 3500 Australians diagnosed with non-Hodgkin's

lymphoma have the aggressive form.

Leukaemia Foundation Research Unit head Professor Boyd said that,

based on the trial results, the medication would become standard

first-line treatment for patients suffering the life-threatening

non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

" There is a real prospect that forms of lymphoma previously thought to be

incurable might be permanently eradicated by combined MabThera and

chemotherapy, " Prof Boyd said.

" It may also be a very effective new treatment in leukaemia and other

blood diseases and auto-immune diseases. "

More than 80 per cent of the non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients treated

during the trial with chemotherapy and MabThera achieved complete

remission, Prof Boyd said.