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Yttrium 90 Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (Zevalin) as Effective in Older as in Younger Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Patients: Presented at ASTRO

By Ed Susman

DENVER, CO -- October 24, 2005 -- An analysis of registry trials indicates that use of the radioimmunotherapy agent yttrium 90 ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin) is at least as effective in treating non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in patients over age 60 as in treating younger patients.

"These older patients had been treated with several previous therapies and likely had lower hematopoetic reserves than younger patients," said Ruby Meredith, MD, Professor of Medicine, University of Alabama, Birmingham, Alabama, United States. "Nonetheless, yttrium 90 ibritumomab tiuxetan produced high levels of response -- up to 80% -- without increasing the incidence of severity of hematologic toxicities in this older population."

Dr. Meredith presented the findings in a poster presentation here on October 18^th at the 47^th annual meeting of the American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (ASTRO).

She noted that when the results of the four trials were compared, there was a 78% overall response to treatment with Zevalin among the 113 patients under age 60, a 71% overall response among the 58 patients between the ages of 60 to 69, and a 90% response to treatment among the 40 patients over the age of 70. The differences between the groups was not statistically significant (P = .48).

When looking at those patients treated with Zevalin who achieved complete responses, Dr. Meredith said 35% of patients under 60, 33% of those patients in their 60s, and 38% of those 70 years of age or older achieved a complete response (P = .89).

Yttrium 90 ibritumomab tiuxetan consists of the monoclonal antibody to CD20 ibritumomab conjugated to yttrium 90 through the chelator-linker tiuxetan. It has been approved in the United States and Europe, and is indicated for the treatment of relapsed or refractory low-grade, follicular, or transformed B-cell non Hodgkin's lymphoma, including rituximab refractory follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

"The safety of the ibritumomab tiuxetan regimen compares favorably with that of chemotherapy," Dr. Meredith said. "It may be an effective treatment early in the course of therapy.

"Analysis of data from four registration trials of the ibritumomab tiuxetan regimen showed no differences in the outcomes in older patients and younger patients," she concluded.

The studies were supported by the drug maker, Biogen Idec Inc., San Diego, California, United States.


[Presentation title: Radioimmunotherapy With Yttrium 90 Ibritumomab Tiuxetan (Zevalin) Is a Safe and Effective Treatment Option for Older Patients with Relapsed or Refractory Low-Grade Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma (NHI). Abstract 2310]

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