Understanding TreatmentOptions in
Cutaneous Lymphoma
Clinical Trials
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SECTION4:
CLINICAL TRIALS
Scientific research is continuously evolving, and the best treatment options
may change as newdrugs and combinationdrug strategies are discovered. It is
important for patients to checkwith their physician for any treatment updates
thatmay have recently emerged.Patientswho join clinical trials are given the
best cancer treatment options available andmore frequent examinations and
disease evaluations.Patientsmay have the chance to receive a new treatment
being considered,which could be better than the current standard of care, and
contribute valuable information for improving cancer care. Sugar pills (also
calledplacebos) are rarely used in cancer clinical trials and are never used in
place of treatment.
As scientists learnmore about what changes occur in the cells of patientswith
different cutaneous lymphomas, drugs are being developed and tested that can
potentially target and stop or reverse these changes.There are a number of
agents being investigated for the treatment of cutaneous lymphoma.There are
also studies looking intonew combinations of treatments andnew formulations
of existing treatments, and there are trials to study the efficacy of drugs currently
approved to treat other types of cancer.
Proteasome inhibitors block the action of proteasomes,which are large cellular
protein complexes that helpdestroy other cell proteinswhen they are no longer
needed.Bortezomib (Velcade®) and carfilzomib (Kyprolis®) are proteasome
inhibitors already approved formultiplemyeloma that are undergoing clinical
trials for treatment of cutaneousT-cell lymphomas (CTCLs).Also, newer
proteasome inhibitorswith improved safety profiles are in clinical development.
Lenalidomide (Revlimid®), an immunomodulating agent that affects theway
the immune system functions, is being investigated as a treatment for relapsed
or refractory primary cutaneous largeB-cell lymphoma, leg type, a rare form
of the disease, aswell as in recurrent/refractoryCTCLs.Agents that target
immune checkpoints that allow the body’s immune system tofight cancer,
such as anti-PD-1 and anti-PD-L1, are indevelopment and being tested in
cutaneous lymphoma. Studies are also underway to assess brentuximab vedotin
