A phase II study of lenalidomide in patients with extranodal marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma).

Mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma shares certain features with multiple myeloma. In view of this and the activity of lenalidomide in various B-cell lymphomas, we have initiated a phase II study of lenalidomide in patients with mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. Patients with histologically verified advanced stages of this lymphoma were included in the study. Treatment consisted of oral lenalidomide 25 mg Days 1-21, with a 7-day break after each cycle. A total of 18 patients were included in the trial: 5 had gastric and 13 had extragastric mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma, but 2 discontinued therapy during the first course of therapy. In the intent to treat analysis, an overall response rate of 61% was seen (11 of 18; 6 complete and 5 partial remissions). Three patients had stable disease while 2 progressed. Side effects were manageable and included neutropenia (grade III in 3 patients) as the leading hematotoxicity. After a median follow up of 20.3 months, one patient has died from lymphoma while the remaining patients are alive and relapse-free. These data suggest activity of lenalidomide monotherapy in mucosa associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. The study protocol had been approved by the Ethical Board of the Medical University Vienna (EK-No.: 146/09), and before opening the trial, it had been registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov. (identifier: NCT00923663).