From OHC, Specialists in the Treatment of Adult Cancers and Blood Disorders
August 31, 2020
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is the most common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma in adults worldwide. It continues to be a challenge to manage because it’s an aggressive disease with about one in three patients not responding to initial treatment or relapsing afterward.
On July 31, 2020, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted approval for a new treatment for adult patients with relapsed or refractory DLBCL who are not eligible for an autologous stem cell transplant, and within days, the cancer experts at OHC were the first in the U.S. to administer the newly-approved drug.
“I received a referral for a patient with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma that didn’t respond to chemotherapy. And the patient was not a good candidate for a stem cell transplant,” explained James H. Essell, MD, medical oncologist, hematologist and transplant specialist. “I was aware of Monjuvi and knew it had just been FDA approved. So that night, I contacted our director of pharmacy and asked him to order it for my patient. Within days, our team had the drug ready to administer.”
Monjuvi is a targeted therapy that binds to cells with CD19 proteins, including lymphoma cells. It then activates the killing of those cells with little or no harm to healthy cells. Standard treatment for DCBCL is chemotherapy. When the cancer doesn’t respond to chemotherapy, the next option is a stem cell transplant. But for many patients, a transplant isn’t a viable option. With Monjuvi, OHC doctors are able to offer patients another option and hope for remission.
“This is a great advancement because it gives us another viable option for these patients, many of whom have run out of options,” said Dr. Essell.
Not only is the new drug promising, but the fact that OHC was able to get it within days of its approval is remarkable. OHC doctors, pharmacy team, nurses, administrators and others worked together to get the treatment for this patient.
“At OHC, we have to stay informed on new treatments that are in development and showing great promise so when they are approved, we can make them available for patients as soon as possible,” Dr. Essell added.
The ongoing development of new treatments is improving the prognosis for patients with DLBCL and other types of cancers. OHC has been instrumental in bringing new treatments to patients in the region. To learn more about treatment options, or to request a second opinion, visit ohcare.com or call 1-888-649-4800.
