Research Report - Lymphoma Research Foundation

Research Report Fall 2014 | Volume 12 | Number 3

About the Research Report Research Report is a publication of the Lymphoma Research Foundation, providing the latest updates on our grantees and their progress, as well as on the work of the Foundation. The Lymphoma Research Foundation is the nation’s largest nonprofit organization devoted to funding innovative lymphoma research and serving the lymphoma community through a comprehensive series of education programs, outreach initiatives, and patient services.

Inside this Issue

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he Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) has appointed six new members to its Scientific Advisory Board (SAB). Comprised of 45 world-renowned lymphoma experts, the SAB provides guidance on LRF’s research program, seeking out the most innovative and promising lymphoma research projects for support, and serving as scientific advisors in the development of research and education programs, patient services, and public policy efforts. The new members bring a range of perspectives and areas of expertise to the SAB. They include Andrew M. Evens, DO, MSc of Tufts Cancer Center, Eric D. Hsi, MD of Cleveland Clinic, Brian K. Link, MD of the University of Iowa, Laurie Sehn, MD, MPH of British

Columbia (BC) Cancer Agency, Margaret Shipp, MD of Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, and Sven deVos, MD, PhD of UCLA’s Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. They began serving five year terms on July 1, 2014. “The Lymphoma Research Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board is comprised of the preeminent lymphoma specialists in the world and we are thrilled to have these six prominent individuals lend their expertise and talents to our Scientific Advisory Board,” said LRF Chief Executive Officer Elizabeth Thompson. “Members of the Lymphoma Research Foundation’s Scientific Advisory Board are Continued on page 4

LRF Recognizes National Blood Cancer Awareness Month

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New SAB Members

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Letter from the CEO

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SAB Member’s ASH Award 3 Lymphoma Biobank

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News from the Field

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Grantee Publications

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Scientific Advisory Board

Six Lymphoma Experts Join LRF’s Scientific Advisory Board

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very seven minutes, someone in the United States is diagnosed with lymphoma—despite this staggering statistic, many people do not know much about this disease. This year, the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) recognized National Blood Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM) with its largest awareness campaign to-date. Throughout the month of September, LRF hosted a variety of national and local events intended to educate the public about the blood cancers and raise funds for research. The Foundation also expanded its Light it Red for Lymphoma initiative. In addition to buildings and landmarks around the world lighting red for lymphoma, Facebook and Continued on page 2

Seattle’s Pacific Science Center participated in the Light it Red for Lymphoma initiative in 2013 and 2014.

Letter from the CEO

Dear Friends, Autumn is one of my favorite times of the year and an incredibly dynamic season for the Lymphoma Research Foundation. We kick off September, Blood Cancer Awareness Month, with our Light it Red for Lymphoma campaign (see page 1 for details and photos) and offer numerous educational and fundraising programs throughout the month. In October, we host our Annual Gala in New York on October 8th and at the end of the month, we travel to the other side of country for the North American Educational Forum on Lymphoma in Manhattan Beach, CA from October 24 to 26. We hope you will be able to join us for one or more of these events. We are delighted to announce that our Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) welcomes six new members to its group of worldrenowned lymphoma experts. The SAB provides invaluable guidance to LRF’s research program and its members are exceedingly generous in donating their time and expertise to a wide range of LRF activities. Profiles of each of our new members begin on the first page of this issue. We’re also very proud of the incredible contributions of one of our long-time SAB members, Kanti Rai, MD. He will be receiving the Wallace H. Coulter Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hematology at the American Society of Hematology’s (ASH) Annual Meeting this December. A profile of Dr. Rai and his career appears on page 3. We recently completed an analysis of LRF’s research program and its outcomes, including a through updating of our records of LRF grantee publications. An overview of this work and how it reflects the impact of LRF’s research portfolio on lymphoma research appears on page 9. The contributions you make in support of our mission remain the sustaining force of our work. On behalf of the LRF Board of directors and staff, thank you for everything you do to help us advance the goal we share—to eradicate lymphoma and serve those touched by this disease. Yours in purpose and progress,

Elizabeth Thompson Chief Executive Officer

Blood Cancer Awareness Month

currently living with, or in remission from, lymphoma.

Twitter users turned their profile pictures red to show support. To help raise critical funds for lymphoma research, LRF also encouraged supporters to visit lymphoma.org/bloodcancerawareness and donate seven dollars, or a multiple of seven, in honor of newly-diagnosed patients and the more than 700,000 Americans

Awareness and education are powerful tools in the race to find a cure for lymphoma. LRF is committed to providing education and resources to all those affected by a lymphoma diagnosis and asks everyone for their support in raising awareness. Together, we can ensure a brighter future for all those touched by lymphoma! n

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Boston’s TD Garden Arena participated in the Light it Red for Lymphoma initiative in 2013 and 2014.

ASH Lifetime Achievement Award

SAB Member Kanti Rai Receives Wallace H. Coulter Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hematology

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he American Society of Hematology (ASH) has announced that Kanti R. Rai, MD, of Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, will receive the 2014 Wallace H. Coulter Award for Lifetime Achievement in Hematology at its Annual Meeting and Exposition in December 2014. The Society’s highest honor, the Wallace H. Coulter Award is given to an individual who has been a vital contributor to the field of hematology, demonstrating lifetime achievement and leadership in research, education, and practice. Dr. Rai, a long-standing member of the Lymphoma Research Foundation’s (LRF) Scientific Advisory Board (SAB), has been an international leader in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) research. In 1975, he published the Rai prognostic categorization of CLL, a staging system that remains in wide use today. Currently, Dr. Rai is the Chief of the CLL Research and Treatment Program at North Shore-LIJ Cancer Institute, an Investigator at the Peter Karches Center for CLL of The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research, and Joel Finkelstein Cancer Foundation Professor of Medicine at Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine, where he is also Professor of Molecular Medicine. He has continued to collaborate with his colleagues Drs. Jacqueline Barrientos and Nicholas Chiorazzi at The Feinstein Institute in testing the addition of new novel therapies to chemoimmunotherapy regimens. After completing his medical education at the SMS Medical

“All of us involved in trying to find a cure...cannot afford to sit back and relax. We must continue working until we have met our goals.” College of the University of Raiputana in Jaipur, India, Dr. Rai finished residencies in medicine at Mahatma Gandhi Hospital in Jodhpur, India and in pediatrics at both Lincoln Hospital in Bronx, New York and North Shore Hospital in Manhasset, New York. He finished his medical training with a fellowship in nuclear medicine and hematology at Long Island Jewish Medical Center in New Hyde Park, New York. Throughout his career, Dr. Rai has demonstrated a commitment to collaboration in the field of hematology and oncology; in addition to his service on LRF’s Scientific Advisory Board, he was President of ASH in 2006, and is a member of American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), the

Kanti R. Rai, MD

New York Society for the Study of Blood, the New York Academy of Medicine, the Harvey Society, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR), and the Henry Kunkel Society. Previous awards include the 2011 Physician of Distinction Award from the Long Island chapter of the American Cancer Society and ASCO’s 2012 David A. Karnofsky Memorial Award and Lecture. In an interview for the LRF Featured Researcher series in 2011, Dr. Rai explained why he is still motivated to continue his research after all his accomplishments in the field. “In the course of half a century that I have spent in this field, undoubtedly we have made significant progress,” he said. “Unfortunately this progress still falls short of the expectations of our patients. Thus all of us involved in trying to find a cure for these deadly diseases cannot afford to sit back and relax. We must continue working until we have met our goals.” LRF congratulates Dr. Rai on this prestigious award, and is proud to count him among our Scientific Advisory Board members. For more on Dr. Rai and his research, visit the Featured Researcher section of the LRF Website (lymphoma.org/researchers). n

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New SAB Members

New SAB Members continued from page 1

leaders in blood cancer research and lymphoma care; the expertise of the newly elected Scientific Advisory Board members will complement that of the SAB and enable us to continue to make progress in the field of lymphoma research,” said Dr. John P. Leonard, Chair of LRF’s Scientific Advisory Board, the Richard T. Silver Distinguished Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology and Associate Dean for Clinical Research at Weill Cornell Medical College. “I look forward to working with the newest SAB members as we continue to make strides to eradicate lymphoma.”

Andrew M. Evens, DO, MSc Tufts Cancer Center Boston, MA Dr. Evens is Director of Tufts Cancer Center, where he is also Director of the Lymphoma Program and Chief of Hematology/Oncology. His research focuses on lymphoma biology, investigation of novel treatment agents for lymphoma, lymphoma epidemiology and health outcomes, and medical education. A primary focus is translational research studies, which seek to move laboratory discoveries into a clinical setting, and emphasizes collaborative, multi-disciplinary projects. Dr. Evens is particularly proud of his work on multi-center

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retrospective research projects, including an examination of outcomes and prognostic factors in patients with Posttransplantation Lymphoproliferative Disease (PTLD), and a recent study of lymphoma occurring during pregnancy. “There are clinical questions in lymphoma that are difficult to answer as an individual center, but combining efforts and data across multiple centers can help provide information that would otherwise be difficult to ascertain,” he says. Dr. Evens received his DO from the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine at Midwestern University before completing his residency at Lutheran General Hospital and a Hematology/Oncology fellowship and Masters at Northwestern University. A long time contributor to LRF programs, Dr. Evens currently chairs the New England Lymphoma Rounds Program and serves as faculty for the LRF Clinical Research Mentoring Program. He is looking forward to spending his time on the SAB, “working with colleagues to help promote education and enhance a multitude of lymphoma research endeavors.” Dr. Evens advises newly diagnosed patients to stay well informed about their treatment options, and encourages patients to use LRF’s educational materials. “LRF is an awesome resource for all aspects of care,” he says. He sees hope for the future of lymphoma research in collaborative projects such as those on which he works. “We are going to continue to identify new discoveries faster and more effectively if we collaborate and work together on scientific and clinical questions.”

Eric Hsi, MD Cleveland Clinic Cleveland, OH Dr. Hsi is a Professor of Pathology in the Lerner College of Medicine at Cleveland Clinic, where he is also Chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Section Head of Hematopathology. As a pathologist, his research focuses on diagnosis, classification, and the development of biomarkers for lymphomas. “[My] goals are to improve diagnostic accuracy, develop better tools for diagnosis, and refine prognosis and therapy selection for patients,” he says. Dr. Hsi received his MD from the University of Michigan where he also completed his residency and fellowship. Prior to joining the SAB, he participated in several LRF initiatives, including the annual Mantle Cell Lymphoma Workshop and the North American Educational Forum on Lymphoma. He believes the SAB can impact the broader lymphoma research agenda by identifying and funding new avenues of research that in turn

“We are going to continue to identify new discoveries faster and more effectively if we collaborate and work together on scientific and clinical questions.”

New SAB Members

spur research along related lines. “The work of the SAB has and will continue to contribute to our understanding of the biology of lymphoma and lead to better treatments for patients with lymphoma.” Dr. Hsi advises newly diagnosed patients to seek out a hematologist that specializes in lymphoma, and to remember that lymphoma is highly treatable. “Our understanding of the biology and genetics of lymphoma is increasing rapidly,” he adds. “New targeted agents have and are being developed that significantly improve the lives of patients with lymphoma.”

Brian K. Link, MD University of Iowa Iowa City, IA Dr. Link is Professor of Medicine at the University of Iowa. His research focuses on early phase clinical trials of immunotherapies, as well as large populationbased observation studies to look for patterns of remission and survival following standard treatment strategies. “Many lymphoma patients already have adequate treatment options to control the lymphoma for their lifetime,” he says; by analyzing the long-term outcomes for currently incurable lymphomas “we can focus our research efforts on patients who more predictably have life-threatening disease.” He cites an ongoing study of this type in follicular lymphoma as the

research he is most proud of, explaining that by adding analysis of novel markers in the bold and individual genetic traits to standard clinical observations, “I anticipate when our project is complete we will have a much more accurate idea of which patients need novel or aggressive therapies and which patients can be spared more toxic approaches.” Dr. Link received his MD from the University of Iowa before completing his residency at Rush Presbyterian St. Luke’s Hospital in Chicago and returning to Iowa for his hematology/oncology fellowship. Before joining the SAB, he presented at several LRF patient education programs, including the Minnesota Lymphoma Workshop, the North American Educational Forum and Ask the Doctor programs. He is looking forward to learning “more rapidly and thoughtfully about new developments in lymphoma from my colleagues on the SAB as well as researchers who propose new ideas for LRF funding.” Dr. Link is also mindful of the role the SAB plays in helping LRF best allocate the funds raised for research and programs. “So many ideas, such precious resources,” he says. “We must collectively think, debate, and argue to get the most impact for lymphoma patients.” Dr. Link advises newly diagnosed patients to make an effort to get an opinion from a physician or medical center with recognized expertise in lymphoma prior to launching a management plan, and notes that he routinely provides his own patients with information on the LRF website as an educational resource. He sees hope for the future of lymphoma research in the collaborative efforts of LRF with lymphoma patients and survivors. “Private foundations such as LRF have been highly effective at creating a culture among lymphoma patients and survivors of advocating for resources needed to fund the research that will lead to better management and better

outcomes for future patients afflicted with this disease.”

Laurie Sehn, MD, MPH BC Cancer Agency Vancouver, Canada Dr. Sehn is Chair of the Lymphoma Tumor Group at the British Columbia (BC) Cancer Agency in Vancouver, Canada. She received her MD from McGill Medical School in Montreal, before a residency at Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center and a hematology-oncology fellowship at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Brigham and Women’s Hospital; she also holds an MPH from Harvard School of Public Health. Dr. Sehn’s primary research interests have focused on identifying prognostic indicators and biomarkers, as well as the development of novel therapies and approaches to treatment of lymphoma. “The biologic diversity of lymphoma presents both a challenge and opportunity,” Dr. Sehn says, adding that the improved insight into this biologic diversity “has translated into the development of novel targeted approaches, which is moving the field toward the possibility of personalized therapy.” That shift towards novel therapies has created its own issues for lymphoma patients, which Dr. Sehn hopes the SAB Continued on page 6

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New SAB Members

New SAB Members

and Hodgkin lymphoma. “We have a particular interest in targetable mechanisms of tumor immune evasion in these discan help address by advocating for more eases,” she says of her colleagues in the rapid development of and access to Shipp Laboratory. those therapies. “I look forward to the possibility of promoting research and Dr. Shipp received her MD from supporting patient advocacy,” she says. Washington Universit y S chool of She advises newly diagnosed patients Medicine, St. Louis, where she also comto stay fully informed about available pleted her residency. She notes she is treatments and clinical trial opportuni- particularly looking forward to the SAB’s ties. “Recent developments have dramati- potential to contribute to the field by cally improved outcomes in lymphoma,” articulating priorities for lymphoma she adds, “and this progress will most research and linking biological insights to novel treatment strategies. certainly continue into the future.” continued from page 5

Margaret Shipp, MD Harvard Medical School Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Boston, MA Dr. Shipp rejoins the SAB after concluding her previous term in 2007. She is a Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Lymphoma and Myeloma Program at Dana-Farber, where she is also Chief of the Division of Hematologic Neoplasia in the Department of Medical Oncology. Her research interests include the characterization of comprehensive molecular signatures, survival pathways, and associated rational therapeutic targets in aggressive B-cell lymphomas, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma,

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Dr. Shipp is proud of the work she and her colleagues have done in defining clinical and molecular heterogeneity in lymphoid malignancies – biomarkers such as genetic mutations or pathways that distinguish lymphoma cells from normal human tissue – and the use of these biomarkers to develop targeted treatments. She finds the development of molecular based targeted therapies “very promising” for the future of lymphoma research and is particularly interested in the current investigations into the possible genetic contributors that cause tumor cells to escape the immune system’s normal surveillance for malignant cells.

“We must collectively think, debate, and argue to get the most impact for lymphoma patients.”

Sven de Vos, MD, PhD UCLA/ Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center Los Angeles, CA Dr. de Vos is an Associate Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology/ Oncology at the University of California Los Angeles’ David Geffen School of Medicine and the Director of the UCLA Lymphoma Program. He is a member of the Stem Cell Biology Program Area and the Chair of the Data Safety and Monitoring Board of the Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center. His research interests are in the identification of novel targets and the development of new therapeutics for the treatment of lymphomas. Dr. de Vos holds an MD and a doctorate in virology from the University of Tübingen as well as a PhD in Pathology from UCLA. After residencies in neurology at the University in Essen, and in internal medicine at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, he completed a hematology/ oncology fellowship program at UCLA, Los Angeles. He held research fellowships at the University in Freiburg and at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center/UCLA. He is a current member of LRF’s Mantle Cell Consortium and a past LRF Postdoctoral Fellowship recipient; he has also served as the speaking faculty for the North American Educational Forum. n

Lymphoma Biobank

SAB Member and Round It Up For Lymphoma Campaign Launch Lymphoma Biobank

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tissue bank supported by the successful Round It Up For Lymphoma campaign is helping the Lymphoma Program at the University of Chicago Medicine investigate possible environmental and demographic factors that may affect the outcomes of lymphoma patients. The Lymphoma Biobank at the University of Chicago Medicine is establishing a collection of tissue samples that will be made accessible to researchers in Chicago and around the world, who will examine the tissue for genetic and epidemiological factors – such as age, lifestyle, and environment – that may affect the outcomes of lymphoma patients. The Biobank was established with a gift from the Hoogland Family Foundation in 2013. The gift included funds raised through the Round It Up For Lymphoma campaign, run annually since 2012 as a partnership between Family Video, the largest movie and game rental chain in the United States, and LRF. During the campaign Family Video customers are able to support lymphoma research by rounding up their purchases to the nearest dollar. In addition to individual donations, Family Video staff hold local fundraisers and promotions to support the campaign. In the first three years of the campaign, Round It Up for Lymphoma has raised over $3.4 million; 100 percent of the proceeds support lymphoma-specific research projects.

An Interview with Dr. Sonali Smith The Biobank is headed by LRF Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) member Sonali Smith, MD. Dr. Smith generously took time out of her busy schedule to answer a few questions about the Biobank, and the hopes she and her colleagues have for its future. How do biobanks advance research in general, and lymphoma research in particular? A major shift in treating cancers is to try to personalize the treatment based on an individual patient’s biology. This requires detailed evaluation of tumor tissue, which is usually a lymph node biopsy in lymphomas. A lot of other cancers have the advantage of dedicated surgical team members who can obtain tumor biopsies during surgery. In lymphoma, we have two major challenges. The first is that lymphomas are blood cancers, and surgery is not typically used to treat the disease, and most patients have already had a biopsy before meeting the lymphoma specialist or oncologist. The second is that, over time, biopsy specimens are smaller and smaller. While that may

be adequate to make a diagnosis of lymphoma, it is often not large enough to do more sophisticated analysis that allows a personalized approach and also is often not large enough for research. In particular, there needs to be a demand from patients and oncologists for larger biopsies (if safe) or we will not be able to move forward. A biobank is just a way of making Sonali M. Smith, MD a concerted effort to collect biopsy material from patients and save some of it for research. In lymphoma, looking at lymph nodes that have been stored and preserved has led to many major advances that are critical in order for us to move forward in improving treatments. The best examples of successful biobanks in lymphoma are the National Cancer Institute, the British Colombia Cancer Agency, and the University of Nebraska Medical Center. By studying the lymph node biopsies stored in these biobanks, investigators have discovered that diffuse large B-cell lymphoma comes in at least two genetic varieties, that the microenvironment in follicular lymphoma is an important part of the disease, and that some gene and protein abnormalities (i.e. MYC) predict that standard treatment does not work as well. None of these discoveries, and many more, would have been possible without these biobanks that are linked to clinical information on patients. How do you get samples for the Biobank? Can any lymphoma patient donate? Currently, all patients included in the Biobank are patients at The University of Chicago or have come here for a second opinion. Our goals are to expand regionally and then nationally. What are some of the research projects being done on the Biobank currently? The Biobank at The University of Chicago is just getting started. However, we are excited to have the opportunity to build up the reservoir of material, thanks to a generous gift from an LRF Board Member [Keith Hoogland]. In addition to storing lymph node biopsy material, we are collecting blood from patients who agree to be part of the Biobank. In addition, we are working closely with our Epidemiology Core (part of The University of Chicago Comprehensive Cancer Center) and collecting detailed diet and lifestyle information on patients who agree Continued on page 11

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News from the Field

News from the Field

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study published in the April 1, 2014 issue of the Journal of Clinical Oncology establishes 24 months as a valid end point for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with immunochemotherapy. The study, which includes contributions from SAB members Brian Link, MD (University of Iowa), Thomas Habermann, MD and Thomas Witzig, MD (both of Mayo Clinic), tracked 767 patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL who were treated with immunochemotherapy regimens such as R-CHOP and enrolled in one of two clinical trials from 2002 to 2009. Researchers found that patients who achieved event free status 24 months from their diagnosis had an overall survival rate equivalent to that of the general population, with a risk for relapse at only 8 percent. The study has important implications for endpoints in other clinical studies, as well as recommendations for patients regarding surveillance and testing.

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everal SAB members were among the collaborators on a study of brentuximab vedotin (Adcetris) in relapsed T-cell lymphomas published in the May 15 2014 issue of Blood. The paper evaluated the efficacy and safety of the drug, which targets the CD30 protein, in a subset of a multicenter study including 34 patients with relapsed or refractory peripheral T-cell lymphomas (PTCL), particularly angioimmunoblastic T-cell lymphoma (AITL). The overall response rate for the full group was 41 percent; the thirteen AITL patients had a response rate of 54 percent, with 5 complete remissions. Steven Horwitz, MD, a former LRF grant recipient was first author on the study, which also included SAB members Ranjana Advani, MD (Stanford), Nancy Bartlett, MD (Washington University St. Louis), and Owen O’Connor, MD (Columbia). The results of the study

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suggest that brentuximab vedotin, already approved for Hodgkin lymphoma and anaplastic large cell lymphoma, may also be effective in T-cell lymphomas, particularly AITL.

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AB member Stephen Ansell, MD (Mayo Clinic), published a study in the June 1 2014 issue of Clinical Cancer Research identifying the presence of two biomarkers as independent predictors of transformation in follicular lymphoma (FL). Dr. Ansell and colleagues examined tissue specimens taken at diagnosis from 58 FL patients whose lymphoma later transformed. They discovered that the pattern of the cells rather than the quantity was a key determining factor; patients with cells expressing the protein CD14 localized in the follicle or PD1 cells with diffuse staining (a complete absence of follicular dendritic cells) were associated with shorter time to transformation. Patients with the diffuse PD1 pattern also demonstrated poorer overall survival. The research points to a potentially clearer method for identifying FL patients at risk for early transformation at the time of diagnosis.

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RF grantee Selina Chen-Kiang, PhD (Weill Cornell Medical College), and her colleagues may have identified both the molecular mechanism that causes some MCL patients to be resistant to ibrutinib (Imbruvica) and ways to overcome that resistance. Dr. Chen-Kiang has received three successive LRF grants for the research published in the study, which identified the first mutation specific to MCL patients who relapse from ibrutinib after an initial durable response. Dr. Chen-Kiang and her colleagues, including LRF SAB Chair John Leonard, MD, further discovered that the targeted agent palbociclib, a CDK4-inhibitor, made

MCL tumor cells more sensitive to ibrutinib or PI3K inhibitors, suggesting that a combination therapy of these drugs may be an effective strategy to overcome resistance. The study appeared online at Cancer Discovery in July 2014; an NCI supported clinical trial to test palbociclib and ibrutinib as a combination therapy is currently open for enrollment.

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study published in the August 2014 issue of The Lancet Oncology evaluating the combination therapy of R-CHOP and ibrutinib (Imbruvica) in B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) featured contributions from SAB members Jonathan Friedberg, MD (University of Rochester) and Anas Younes, MD (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center), who served as first author on the study. The non-randomized multicenter study tested ibrutinib and R-CHOP (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) as a first line treatment in patients with DLBCL, MCL, or FL, to determine the dose of ibrutinib that was most effective and least toxic in conjunction with a standard R-CHOP regimen. Thirty of the 32 patients (94 percent) who received treatment achieved an overall response; researchers further found that R-CHOP and ibrutinib did not adversely affect the other’s effectiveness. Further trials to confirm the effectiveness of this combination for B-cell NHL are planned.

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workshop held at the 11th International Conference on Malignant Lymphomas (ICML) in Lugano, Switzerland has led to two papers published online at the Journal of Clinical Oncology in August 2014 that modernize recommendations for evaluation, staging, and response assessment for both Continued on page 11

Grantee Publications

Where Can I Read More About LRF-Funded Research? Blood - 18% Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - 5% Cancer Research - 4% Journal of Clinical Oncology - 3% Clinical Cancer Research - 3% Leukemia - 3% Journal of Experimental Medicine - 3% Journal of Clinical Investigation - 3% Journal of Immunology - 3% Leukemia & Lymphoma - 3% % = percent of all LRF grantee publications, 1995-2014

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his year the Lymphoma Research Foundation (LRF) evaluated our research grants program, analyzing grants awarded between 1995 and 2014. During that time, 137 grants were awarded, spanning disease-specific research and support for early career investigators across bench, translational, and clinical research in a wide variety of lymphoma subtypes. As part of the analysis, LRF sought to determine the impact made by its research portfolio. One measure of such impact is a review of the publications on which LRF received acknowledgment as a funder, noting both the influence of the journal in which the research is published as well as the number of times papers are cited by other researchers. LRF grantees have published more than 500 scientific papers or articles during this time period, with each grant recipient averaging three lymphoma-specific publications

8,028 CITATIONS

in relevant academic journals. The top ten journals in which LRF funded research has appeared (see above chart) is headed by Blood, one of the most widely read English language hematology journals; other journals in the top ten are routinely listed as influential journals in oncology, (Cancer Research, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Leukemia) immunology (Journal of Experimental Medicine, Journal of Immunology), and general biomedical science (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal of Clinical Investigation). Moreover, these 500 papers have been cited over 8,000 times in other scientific papers. These figures demonstrate that LRF grantees are developing a substantial body of knowledge about lymphoma and contributing significantly to the wider medical community’s understanding of the disease, while also indicating that the Foundation’s strategy and reach is impacting the field in a meaningful way. n

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Scientific Advisory Board

Lymphoma Research Foundation’s

SCIENTIFIC ADVISORY BOARD 2014 - 2015 The Lymphoma Research Foundation’s volunteer Scientific Advisory Board, comprised of 45 world-renowned lymphoma experts, guides the Foundation’s research activities, seeking out the most innovative and promising lymphoma research projects for support.

Lymphoma Rounds provides a forum for healthcare professionals to meet on a regular basis and address issues specific to the diagnosis and treatment of their lymphoma patients. This program is free for healthcare professionals and available for CME credits.

Upcoming Sessions: Seattle October 9 Philadelphia October 15 Los Angeles October 22 New England November 5 Chicago November 12

Register at lymphoma.org/ProfessionalED

LRF National Headquarters 115 Broadway, Suite 1301 New York, NY 10006 212-349-2910 212-349-2886 (Fax) [email protected] LRF Helpline 800-500-9976 [email protected]

Stay Connected

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John P. Leonard, MD Chair New York-Presbyterian Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical Center Leo I. Gordon, MD, FACP Chair Elect Northwestern University Medical School

Andrew M. Evens, DO, MSc Tufts Cancer Center Richard I. Fisher, MD Past Chair Fox Chase Cancer Center Temple University School of Medicine

Christopher R. Flowers, MD, MS Bruce D. Cheson, MD, FACP, Winship Cancer Institute of FAAAS Emory University Immediate Past Chair Nathan H. Fowler, MD Georgetown University The University of Texas Hospital, Lombardi MD Anderson Cancer Center Comprehensive Cancer Center Jonathan Friedberg, MD Ranjana Advani, MD Stanford University Medical Center

University of Rochester James P. Wilmot Cancer Center

Stephen Ansell, MD, PhD Mayo Clinic

Randy Gascoyne, MD BC Cancer Agency

Nancy Bartlett, MD Washington University Medical School

Andre Goy, MD John Theurer Cancer Center

Laura Pasqualucci, MD Columbia University Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center Oliver Press, MD, PhD Past Chair Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center University of Washington Medical Center Kanti R. Rai, MD, BS Hofstra North Shore-LIJ School of Medicine Laurie Sehn, MD, MPH BC Cancer Agency Margaret Shipp, MD Harvard Medical School Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Sonali M. Smith, MD The University of Chicago Eduardo Sotomayor, MD H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center

Louis M. Staudt, MD, PhD Thomas M. Habermann, MD National Cancer Institute Mayo Clinic Kristie A. Blum, MD Center for Cancer Research The Ohio State University Eric Hsi, MD Sven deVos, MD, PhD Comprehensive Cancer Cleveland Clinic Jonsson Comprehensive Center Cancer Center, UCLA Brad S. Kahl, MD John Chan, MD University of Wisconsin Michael E. Williams, MD City of Hope Carbone Cancer Center University of Virginia Morton Coleman, MD School of Medicine Neil E. Kay, MD New York-Presbyterian Mayo Clinic Thomas Witzig, MD Hospital, Weill Cornell Medical Mayo Clinic Center Ann S. LaCasce, MD Harvard Medical School Anas Younes, MD Carlo M. Croce, MD Dana-Farber Cancer Institute Memorial Sloan Kettering The Ohio State University Cancer Center Brian K. Link, MD Comprehensive Cancer University of Iowa Center Andrew D. Zelenetz, MD, PhD Izidore Lossos, MD Myron S. Czuczman, MD Memorial Sloan Kettering Roswell Park Cancer Institute University of Miami Cancer Center Sylvester Comprehensive Riccardo Dalla-Favera, MD Cancer Center Members Emeritus Columbia University Herbert Irving Comprehensive Ari Melnick, MD Joseph R. Bertino, MD New York-Presbyterian Cancer Center Founding Chair Hospital UMDNJ-Robert Wood Sandeep Dave, MD, MS Weill Cornell Medical Center Johnson Medical School Duke University The Cancer Institute of Craig Moskowitz, MD New Jersey Kieron Dunleavy, MD Memorial Sloan Kettering National Cancer Institute Cancer Center Charles Coltman, MD San Antonio Cancer Institute Kojo S.J. Elenitoba-Johnson, Owen O’Connor, MD, PhD MD New York-Presbyterian Saul Rosenberg, MD University of Michigan Hospital, Columbia University Stanford University School of Medical School Medical Center Medicine

Foundation Update

News from the Field continued from page 8

Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. Current SAB Members and past SAB Chairs Bruce D. Cheson, MD of Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center and Richard I. Fisher, MD of Fox Chase Cancer Center contributed to both papers. The first paper, on which Dr. Cheson is corresponding author, offers an overview

Lymphoma Biobank continued from page 7

to be part of the Biobank. One area of interest is the impact of diet, lifestyle, exposures and body habitus (an individual’s build or physique) on prognosis in lymphoma. What are some of the long-term research goals for the Biobank? Our long-term vision is to have a rich

of the updated recommendations for initial patient evaluation, staging criteria, prognostic groups and treatment allocation, assessment of response after treatment, follow-up evaluations, and measurement of outcomes. As one of the key revisions suggested by the authors is to update guidance on the use of positron emission tomography- computed tomography (PET-CT), the second paper provides further details on the role

imaging technology, particularly PETCT, should play in staging and response assessment of lymphoma patients. The papers’ authors hope their recommendations will standardize clinical trial conduct and interpretation and improve therapies for lymphoma patients.

resource of tumor material, germline information (i.e. the inherited genetics of patients), epidemiologic data and clinical outcomes (how well patients with lymphoma do with their treatment) so that we can contribute to the exciting discoveries being made in lymphoma. We have many scientists and investigators at The University of Chicago who are interested in studying pharmacogenomics (i.e. how our genes interact with medications and drugs used to treat lymphoma), tumor

mutations, and the microenvironment of lymphomas. However, we also hope to grow the Biobank and to work with others around the country and around the world to better understand lymphoma biology, cause, and treatment.

For more Research News, visit lymphoma. org/researchnews. n

For more about Dr. Smith’s research, visit the Featured Researchers section of the LRF Website (lymphoma.org/researchers). n

SAVE THE DATE

How Will You Be Remembered? When creating or updating your estate plans, consider including a gift to the Lymphoma Research Foundation. Your legacy commitment will ensure a strong, secure future for LRF and its mission to eradicate lymphoma and serve those touched by this disease. For more information, please contact us at [email protected]

Update on Lymphoma from the 2014 American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting A CancerCare Connect Education Workshop presented by LRF and CancerCare December 17, 2014 1:30-2:30 PM EST Register at

lymphoma.org/teleconference

lymphoma.org

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Lymphoma Research Foundation 115 Broadway, Suite 1301 New York, NY 10006

NINETEENTH ANNUAL NORTH AMERICAN

Educational Forum on Lymphoma n n n n n

Disease-specific educational tracks Expert panel presentations New therapies and clinical trials Networking opportunities Special CLL Track

Register at lymphoma.org/EdForum

October 24-26, 2014

Manhattan Beach,California THE PREMIER EDUCATION AND NETWORKING FORUM FOR PEOPLE WITH LYMPHOMA AND THEIR LOVED ONES