Activity & Safety Study of Lenalidomide & Rituximab as Non-chemotherapy Based Therapy on Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Summary

The rationale for combining lenalidomide with rituximab derives from preclinical observations suggesting that lenalidomide may enhance the ADCC (antigen-dependent cellular cytotoxicity) triggered by monoclonal antibodies such as rituximab. Lenalidomide augments NK cytotoxicity by increasing CD56dimCD3 subset, in addition to inducing IL-2 in T cells. These results provide the cellular and molecular basis for the use of lenalidomide as an adjuvant in immunotherapeutic strategies of monoclonal antibodies (mAb)-based therapies. The combination lenalidomide-rituximab was tested in lymphoma cell lines but not specifically on CLL cell lines. However the observed synergism was attributed to NK cells expansion, thus lending support to the notion that this synergism may operate in other B-cell lymphoproliferative malignancies. The objective was to develop a non-cytotoxic and effective treatment for CLL that would fulfill an unmet medical need, as a significant proportion of CLL patients are elderly and frail. These patients experience an excess in chemotherapy induced toxicity, often preventing the completion of the planned treatment.

Timeline

Start

2009-04

Primary completion

2012-12

Completion

2013-09

Drugs

Indications