R-GEM-Lenalidomide versus R-GEM-P as second-line treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: results of the UK NRCI phase II randomised LEGEND trial.

Outcome of patients with relapsed/refractory (r/r) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remains poor, highlighting the need for novel treatment approaches. The multicentre randomised phase II LEGEND trial evaluated lenalidomide in combination with rituximab, methylprednisolone and gemcitabine (R-GEM-L) vs. standard R-GEM-P as second-line treatment of DLBCL.

The P2X7 receptor gene polymorphism 1513 A-->C has no effect on clinical prognostic markers and survival in multiple myeloma.

A P2X7 receptor gene polymorphism 1513 A-->C has recently been suggested as playing a role in the pathogenesis and disease progression of chronic lymphocytic leukemia, although several studies have failed to show any effect of the polymorphism. The effects of this polymorphism were analysed in 136 patients with multiple myeloma. The frequency of the polymorphism in the myeloma samples was not significantly different from that found in normal healthy controls.

Repair of DNA interstrand crosslinks as a mechanism of clinical resistance to melphalan in multiple myeloma.

Melphalan is widely used as a preparative agent in patients with multiple myeloma (MM) undergoing autologous stem cell transplantation (SCT). Although disease relapse is the major cause of death after a melphalan-conditioned autograft, the mechanism remains unclear. Melphalan produces a number of DNA adducts with the DNA interstrand crosslink (ICL) considered to be the critical cytotoxic lesion.