Module 4

Objectives

The Nurse Learning Module will provide an overview of some of the common treatments for lymphoma/CLL. We will describe how the landscape is evolving with the introduction of new therapies over recent years.

The module will also explore the nursing implications of how new therapies for lymphoma & CLL have changed patient care.

At the completion of module four participants will have an in-depth knowledge of some of the new therapies available for lymphoma/CLL patients.

  • The nurse will develop an understanding of how and why treatment decisions are made for lymphoma/CLL patients
  • Have an understanding about the different treatments available for lymphoma/CLL patients
  • Why are lymphoma/CLL patients treated with different types of therapies
  • Treatment management of aggressive vs indolent lymphoma
  • How do these therapies work?
  • Common side effects of newer therapies
  • Nursing implications of treating patients with new therapies other than chemotherapy

Module four presentations

Part 1: The evolving treatment landscape for lymphoma/CLL
Dr Katharine Lewis, Lymphoma Clinical/Research Fellow, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth

Katharine is a Haematology Clinical/Research Fellow from the UK, who is working at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and Linear from August 2018. She graduated from the University of Nottingham in the UK in 2007 and has since completed most of her post graduate training in Nottingham, which is a large, tertiary referral centre for both malignant and non-malignant haematology, including stem cell transplantation.

Her particular field of interest is lymphoma, and she is working as a Lymphoma Clinical/Research Fellow at Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital.

Part 2: Patient care in the era of new therapies for lymphoma/CLL
Helena Furdas, Lymphoma Clinical Nurse Consultant, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital, Perth.

Helena graduated from nursing at Curtin University in 2009 and shortly thereafter began her haematology experience in 2010 whilst working at Royal Perth Hospital on the Bone Marrow Transplant Unit. Since then she has continued to work in haematology and in 2015 transitioned with the State Centre for Allogeneic stem cell transplant to Fiona Stanley Hospital. Here she enjoyed working in the Cancer Centre providing care for patients to keep them well, happy and out of hospital.

As a new member of the Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital team Helena is excited to be the Lymphoma CNC and looks forward to helping patients navigate their journey through lymphoma.

Post assessment

To be eligible for a certificate of attendance, you need to complete a short assessment. The certificate will be emailed to you shortly after you have submitted the assessment.

Evaluation Survey

Please complete our short evaluation survey (if you haven’t done so already) to let us know if we met your expectations and ensure we meet your future learning needs.

Further reading and resources

New developments in immunotherapy for lymphoma

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6121050/

Rituximab

CHOP chemotherapy plus rituximab compared with CHOP alone in elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa011795

Frontline therapy with rituximab added to the combination of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisolone (CHOP) significantly improves the outcome for patients with advanced-stage follicular lymphoma compared with therapy with CHOP alone: results of a prospective randomised study of the German low-grade Lymphoma Study Group
https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/106/12/3725/109746/Frontline-therapy-with-rituximab-added-to-the

Obinutuzumab

Immunochemotherapy with Obinutuzumab or rituximab for previously untreated follicular lymphoma in the GALLIUM study: influence of chemotherapy on efficacy and safety

Brentuximab

Five-year PFS from the AETHERA trial of brentuximab vedotin for Hodgkin lymphoma at high risk of progression or relapse
https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/132/25/2639/39577/Five-year-PFS-from-the-AETHERA-trial-of

Pembrolizumab

Phase II study of the efficacy and safety of pembrolizumab for relapsed/refractory classical Hodgkin lymphoma

Ibrutinib

Targeting BTK with ibrutinib in relapsed or refractory mantle cell lymphoma
https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmoa1306220

How I treat patients with ibrutinib?
https://ashpublications.org/blood/article/131/4/379/38474/How-I-treat-CLL-patients-with-ibrutinib

Venetoclax

Venetoclax-rituximab in relapsed or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
https://www.nejm.org/doi/10.1056/NEJMoa1713976

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Contact Lymphoma Australia Today!

Please note: Lymphoma Australia staff are only able to reply to emails sent in English language.

For people living in Australia, we can offer a phone translation service. Have your nurse or English speaking relative call us to arrange this.

Useful Definitions

  • Refractory: This means the lymphoma does not get better with treatment. The treatment didn’t work as hoped.
  • Relapsed: This means the lymphoma came back after being gone for a while after treatment.
  • 2nd line treatment: This is the second treatment you get if the first one didn’t work (refractory) or if the lymphoma comes back (relapse).
  • 3rd line treatment: This is the third treatment you get if the second one didn’t work or the lymphoma comes back again.
  • Approved: Available in Australia and listed by the Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA).
  • Funded: Costs are covered for Australian citizens. This means if you have a Medicare card, you shouldn’t have to pay for the treatment.[WO7]

You need healthy T-cells to make CAR T-cells. For this reason, CAR T-cell therapy cannot be used if you have a T-cell lymphoma – yet.

For more information on CAR T-cells and T-cell lymphoma click here. 

Special Note: Although your T-cells are removed from your blood for CAR T-cell therapy, most of our T-cells live outside of our blood – in our lymph nodes, thymus, spleen and other organs.