Lymphoma

Receiving a diagnosis of stage IIIB diffuse large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma at age 26 at the start of COVID-19 meant that Steffi Ilagan had to sideline a lot of her plans. Her story illuminates the meaning of “T-W-I-C-E” when facing cancer.

In September 2021, the FDA approved Brukinsa oral capsules for adults with relapsed or refractory marginal-zone lymphoma. And in August, the FDA approved Brukinsa for adults with Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia, a rare, slow-growing type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

In June 2021, the FDA approved Rylaze (asparaginase erwinia chrysanthemi [recombinant]-rywn), an asparagine-specific enzyme, to be used as part of a multi-drug chemotherapy regimen for patients older than 1 month with acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoblastic lymphoma who are hypersensitive to asparaginase caused by E. coli infection.

In April 2021, the FDA approved Zynlonta (loncastuximab tesirine), the first CD19-directed antibody–drug conjugate, for the treatment of patients with relapsed or refractory large B-cell lymphoma.