Monash University research uncovers potential of new clinical trial for lymphoma patients

Dr Jake Shortt

Researchers at Monash University have shown a novel anti-lymphoma therapy is remarkably effective against one of the most aggressive B-cell lymphomas.

Published in the prestigious journal Leukemia and led by Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre’s Dr Gareth Gregory, the research is part of an ongoing collaboration with Monash University’s School of Clinical Sciences(SCS).

According to Cancer Council Australia, lymphomas are the most common form of haematological or blood cancer in Australia, and the sixth most common form of cancer overall.  

The incidence of lymphomas has more than doubled over the past 20 years and is continuing to rise, for no known reason.

“Certain B-cell lymphomas carry a cancer causing gene called ‘Myc’, said research collaborator Dr Jake Shortt, co-senior author and Adjunct Senior Lecturer, School of Clinical Sciences at Monash Health.

“These patients usually have a poor response to chemotherapy and ultimately have a poor prognosis.”

The new treatment, a drug called dinaciclib, is a type of epigenetic therapy that can alter the way a cancer cell reads its own abnormal DNA.

“In the case of Myc-positive lymphoma, dinaciclib effectively turns off genes that Myc is activating and then kills the cells, including those resistant to conventional chemotherapy,” said Dr Shortt.

Dr Shortt and his colleagues have worked on this type of lymphoma for more than seven years and have tested numerous novel and conventional therapies. 

“Dinaciclib is the most effective treatment we have seen to date by a long way,” added Dr Shortt. 

“We’ve even seen results in animal models that have led to some cures — this is something we have never seen before.”  

Interestingly, dinaciclib until recently was being tested in Phase III trials for low-grade lymphoma, namely chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL).  Although found to be an active therapy against CLL, its clinical development was suspended due to market competition.

“Dinaciclib has not been tested in aggressive lymphoma in the clinic,” said Dr Shortt. 

“Thanks to these very promising results, Monash Haematology is actively pursuing an investigator initiated Phase II clinical trial to test dinaciclib in patients with aggressive lymphoma.”