Researchers discover new lymphoma treatment approach

Researchers from the University of Manchester have announced they have achieved positive results from a test of a new treatment for follicular lymphoma – a form of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The team assessed the efficacy of administering radioimmunotherapy – the delivery of a radioactive substance attached to an antibody – with the expectation this would improve the penetration of the drug within larger tumours, while also minimising the negative side-effects commonly associated with standard doses.

Published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, the findings reveal an overall response rate of 94.4 per cent. In almost 70 per cent of the cases, patients achieved a complete response and their symptoms disappeared. 

Study leader professor Tim Illidge said: "These results are encouraging, but we need further studies in larger numbers of patients to fully compare this treatment to the standard treatment of six to eight cycles of chemotherapy."

In addition, the team said they believe the treatment approach is feasible and safe, with very few side effects noted during the research period.