title: Siltuximab and hematologic malignancies. A focus in non Hodgkin lymphoma.
abstract: The role of interleukin-6 (IL-6) in tumorigenesis and in particular in haematological malignancies is crucial. On the basis of the favourable results obtained in the subset of multicentric Castleman disease (MCD), Siltuximab, a chimeric, human-murine, immunoglobulin (Ig) Gk monoclonal antibody directed against human IL-6 has been evaluated in haematological malignancies such as multiple myeloma, myelodisplastic syndromes and non Hodgkin lymphomas. Areas covered: This review discusses available data related to the role of IL-6 as a therapeutic target, the characteristics of Siltuximab in term pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics properties and a detailed analysis of the studies involving haematological malignancies with a peculiar focus on non Hodgkin lymphoma. Expert opinion: The results obtained with Siltuximab in haematological malignancies and in particular with non Hodgkin lymphoma are inferior to those obtained in MCD. The complex interaction between malignant clones, inflammatory background and host response could justify this difference. New interesting areas of study are the role of Siltuximab in early phase of multiple myeloma (smoldering multiple myeloma) and if there may be a possible future application in the treatment of Waldenström macroglobulinemia.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Hematology , ASST Sette Laghi, Ospedale di Circolo , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ferrario
authors.affiliation: a Division of Hematology , ASST Sette Laghi, Ospedale di Circolo , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Merli
authors.affiliation: a Division of Hematology , ASST Sette Laghi, Ospedale di Circolo , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Basilico
authors.affiliation: a Division of Hematology , ASST Sette Laghi, Ospedale di Circolo , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Margherita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maffioli
authors.affiliation: a Division of Hematology , ASST Sette Laghi, Ospedale di Circolo , Varese , Italy.|b Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine , University of Insubria , Varese , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Passamonti
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005871:Castleman Disease / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000276:immunology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D015850:Interleukin-6; C504234:siltuximab
keywords: IL-6; Siltuximab; hematological malignancies; non Hodgkin lymphoma