Targeting non-Hodgkin lymphoma with blinatumomab.

INTRODUCTION: Management of patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) remains challenging, and novel effective agents are eagerly awaited. Blinatumomab is a bispecific T-cell engager, targeting CD19. While blinatumomab's primary clinical use has been in B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), there are increasing data for its use in B-lineage lymphomas. Areas covered: The aim of this review is to highlight the clinical data for blinatumomab use in NHL. Herein, the authors provide an overview of blinatumomab, its mechanism of action, its proven efficacy against B-ALL, and its phase I-II data assessing its use in NHL Expert opinion: Blinatumomab has modest activity in phase I-II trials in NHL, and may represent a means of bridging patients with relapsed disease to hematopoietic stem cell transplant. More widespread use is currently hampered by lack of phase III data, multiple competing agents, an onerous administration schedule and significant side effect profile. Further studies are eagerly awaited assessing its use in combination with other immunotherapy strategies.