Zevalin^™ Radioimmunotherapy of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma

• Incidence: 55,000/year and increasing
• Prevalence: 300,000 cases
• NHL is classified by:
  • The type of lymphocyte (B-cell or T-cell)
  • The speed of growth (grade)
  • The degree of spread (stage)

   

• Most are B cell and express CD20- 85% of all NHLs are B-cell lymphomas*
• Over 90% of B-cell lymphomas express CD20+ antigen**

• There are 30 or so different types in the most recent classification

• Most are B cell and express CD20 antigen

• They can be divided into two main categories

  • Indolent (or “low-grade” or “follicular”)

    • Generally felt to be incurable

    • Patients live a long time; median survival 6.2 years

  • Aggressive (“high-grade,” “diffuse,” “large cell”)

    • Can be cured 30-60% of the time

    • If not cured with therapy, median survival is short

  • Indolent can become aggressive over time (“transformation”)
    * ACS. Cancer Facts & Figures 2004.
    ** SEER Cancer Statistics Rev 1973-1999. Table XXIX-1.

Incidence of NHL in the Elderly

Key Point: The incidence of NHL is increasing, especially in the elderly. NHL is a growing problem, especially in elderly patients (>60 years), as shown above in the graph of SEER data. Note that these data are based upon a population of males. An increase in the incidence of NHL is seen in almost all age groups in the 20 years from 1975–1977 to 1998–2000, with the highest increase in persons older than 60 years.1 Ries LAG, Eisner MP, Kosary CL, et al, eds. SEER Cancer Statistics Review, 1975-2000, National Cancer Institute. Bethesda, MD, http://seer.cancer.gov/csr/1975_2000, 2003. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures 2003. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society; 2003