Clemens Schmitt, MD of the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany discusses the clinical implications of targeted therapies for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). According to Prof. Schmitt, the implications are complex but in general, it means deciding strategies based on molecular investigations, i.e. genomic mutational screening to identify lesions. In his opinion, there is too much focus on the actual lesion in the lymphoma cell population as targeted agents show activity outside the target population. For example, if BTK is inhibited in the lymphoma population, a similar kinase ITK in T-cells is inhibited. In other words, the situation is complex and he believes that we need to use additional test platforms (e.g. animal models) to identify sensitivity to predict outcome or responsiveness.
Recorded at the 2016 International Workshop on Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (iwNHL) meeting held in San Diego, CA.
