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Cheson. J Cancer Metastasis Treat 2022;8:8 Journal of Cancer
DOI: 10.20517/2394-4722.2021.153
Metastasis and Treatment

Perspective Open Access

Moving towards the chemo-free treatment of
lymphoma: hype or reality?

Bruce D. Cheson

Scientific Advisor, Lymphoma Research Foundation, New York, NY 10005, USA.
Correspondence to: Prof. Bruce D. Cheson, Scientific Advisor, Lymphoma Research Foundation, New York, NY 10005, USA.
E-mail: bdcheson@gmail.com

How to cite this article: Cheson BD. Moving towards the chemo-free treatment of lymphoma: hype or reality? J Cancer
Metastasis Treat 2022;8:8. https://dx.doi.org/10.20517/2394-4722.2021.153

Received: 23 Jul 2021 First Decision: 17 Sep 2021 Revised: 18 Jan 2022 Accepted: 11 Feb 2021 Published: 18 Mar 2022

Academic Editors: Lucio Miele, Rafat A. Siddiqui Copy Editor: Xi-Jun Chen Production Editor: Xi-Jun Chen

Abstract
A new generation of novel, effective targeted drugs and cellular therapies include monoclonal antibodies directed
at the cell surface, such as the anti-CD-19 tafasitamab which, combined with lenalidomide, is the first therapy
approved by the Food and Drug Administration for second-line treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Other
agents interfere with pro-survival intracellular signaling pathways including drugs that inhibit Bruton tyrosine
kinase, phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3-kinase), and bcl-2. An increasing number of therapies impact the
microenvironment, notably checkpoint inhibitors and bispecific antibodies. Chimeric antigen receptor-T cell
therapy has improved the outcome of patients with a variety of histologies of lymphoma. Whereas in the past, such
therapies would be used inrelapsed and refractory settings, they are now being evaluated as initial treatment in
selected patients. With an improved ability to individualize treatment approaches, chemo-free will be a reality for
lymphoma patients.

Keywords: Lymphoma, targeted therapies, chemo-free, bispecifics, BTK inhibitors, PI3k inhibitors, CAR-T cell

BACKGROUND
The beginnings of chemo-free approaches
The possibility of treating diseases such as cancer with immunologic therapies dates back two centuries to
[1]
the imagination of Pro. Paul Ehrlich, the father of modern immunology. Ehrlich conceptualized the Magic

© The Author(s) 2022. Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0
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