Authors' objectives: Obinutuzumab is a humanised and glyco-engineered, type II anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody for the treatment of B-cell malignancies such as indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Such antibodies act by increasing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, which increases immune-mediated target cell death. However, as obinutuzumab specifically targets a CD20 type II epitope to enhance direct cell death induction, it has lower complement-dependent cytotoxicity compared with existing type I anti-CD20 antibodies, such as rituximab and ofatumumab. Indolent NHLs include follicular lymphomas, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma/Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia, small lymphocytic lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma. NHL is the 6th most common cancer in the UK with around 12,800 new cases diagnosed annually (2011). For England, the crude incidence of NHL was 20.3 per 100,000 population in 2011; the incidence for follicular lymphoma was 3.4 per 100,000 in England and Wales in 2008. In 2013-14, there were 22,015 admissions for follicular lymphoma in England, resulting in 14,046 bed days and 22,551 finished consultant episodes. In 2013, there were 4,151 deaths registered from NHL in England and Wales, of which197 were from follicular lymphoma. Indolent NHLs are progressive diseases that are characterised by a relapsing and remitting clinical course; they are highly responsive to standard chemotherapy but remain incurable. The main aim of treatment is to increase life expectancy and increase quality of life. Treatment should commence when patients become symptomatic. Current treatment involves chemotherapy in combination with rituximab. Chemotherapy options include chlorambucil, fludarabine, bendamustine, R-CVP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisolone) and R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisolone). Currently, obinutuzumab is in one phase III study comparing its effects on progression free survival against treatment with rituximab (both with chemotherapy). This trial is expected to complete in March 2017.

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2015

URL for published report: http://www.hsric.nihr.ac.uk/topics/obinutuzumab-gazyvaro-for-indolent-non-hodgkin-lymphoma-first-line-in-combination-with-chemotherapy/

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre

Contact Address: The NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, 90 Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SP. United Kingdom. Tel: +44 121 414 7831, Fax: +44 121 2269

Contact Name: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Contact Email: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Copyright: NIHR Horizon Scanning Research&Intelligence Centre (NIHR HSRIC)