Hope for Marginal Zone Lymphoma Patients
Dr Maciej Tatarczuch
Haematologist, Dr Maciej Tatarczuch, studied genes in the tumour and blood samples of patients who were treated with a tablet medication (Zanubrutinib) for a rare type of lymphoma known as Marginal Zone Lymphoma, a blood cancer affecting lymph glands. Maciej found that presence or absence of certain genetic mutations in tumour samples could inform doctors if the patient was likely to respond to this treatment. Furthermore, through a blood test, Maciej was able to detect when patients were becoming resistant to the medication before this could be detected with scans or the patient had any symptoms. This is a first for this rare subtype of lymphoma.
These findings will hopefully inform doctors if this type of therapy is the right one for their patients and for those patients who are treated with it, when they should consider switching to another type of treatment.
Understanding the genes of this type of blood cancer is like having the blueprints to a house: doctors can tell if the key (the medication) is likely to fit and then open the door (treat the cancer).
Marginal Zone Lymphoma is a type of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. In Australia, Non- Hodgkin Lymphoma is the sixth most common cause of cancer and seventh leading cause of cancer death. Marginal Zone Lymphoma is a rare subgroup, comprising ~5-10% which makes it hard to find alternative treatments to chemotherapy. It affects older patients (median age 66), and while it is slow growing, it is incurable and can cause significant morbidity and mortality. Symptoms include night sweats, fevers, loss of weight, excessive fatigue, increased risk of infection. While lymph nodes, bone marrow, and spleen are most commonly affected, any organ can become involved and stop functioning properly.
The drug (Zanubrutinib) used in this study was used in a clinical trial of patients with Marginal Zone Lymphoma. It was a successful trial and hopefully the drug will be available in Australia on the PBS in the near future. Maciej’s study, which complemented the clinical study, further informed doctors as to which patients were likely to respond best to this therapy. When this drug is available to the public, the findings in Maciej’s study can be used to select patients who are likely to respond.
Maciej says, “Our study will hopefully improve the longevity and quality of life of patients with this rare type of lymphoma by better informing them and their doctors' on their best treatment pathway.”
A PhD Student in the Blood Cancer Therapeutics Laboratory, Maciej's research is in collaboration with the Australasian Leukaemia and Lymphoma Group (ALLG).
About Monash University
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