title: Lenalidomide for the treatment of B-cell lymphoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the combination of an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody and chemotherapy has widely improved survival of patients with B-cell lymphoma, the disease still relapses. A better understanding of the biology of lymphomas has highlighted the role of the cell of origin in response to treatment and outcome. Lenalidomide represents an attractive therapeutic option due to its original mechanism of action.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this review, the authors describe the pharmacological properties of lenalidomide, and the rational for its use in B-cell lymphomas; focusing on diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), follicular lymphoma (FL), and mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). They discuss the mechanism of action of the drug and its current and future clinical development. They also review the current data in relapsed/refractory situations as well as in first-line treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lenalidomide is an oral non-chemotherapy immunomodulatory agent with an acceptable toxicity profile and manageable side-effects. Efficacy has widely been demonstrated, especially in MCL, FL and non-Germinal Center DLBCL patients. Further studies are now warranted to better define the strategy for the use of lenalidomide in B-NHL patients, and clarify which subgroup of patients will really benefit of lenalidomide as part of first-line treatment or in a relapsed/refractory setting.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hematology, Institut Paoli-Calmettes , Université de la Méditerranée , Marseille , France.
authors.forename: Sylvain
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Garciaz
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hematology, Institut Paoli-Calmettes , Université de la Méditerranée , Marseille , France.
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Coso
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hematology, Institut Paoli-Calmettes , Université de la Méditerranée , Marseille , France.
authors.forename: Jean-Marc
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Schiano de Colella
authors.affiliation: a Department of Hematology, Institut Paoli-Calmettes , Université de la Méditerranée , Marseille , France.
authors.forename: Réda
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bouabdallah
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D006801:Humans; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000077269:Lenalidomide; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D020522:Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology / Q000401:mortality; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D007155:Immunologic Factors; D013792:Thalidomide; D000077269:Lenalidomide
keywords: B-cell lymphoma; efficacy; lenalinomide; safety