Developing radioimmunotherapy into clinical practice- more targeted radiotherapy for lymphoma

Public summary

Our research pioneered the development of a more targeted radiotherapy for lymphoma (called Radioimmunotherapy), which uses the concept of “predosing” with multiple doses of “cold” unlabelled antibody to improve the tumour targeting of the “hot” or radiolabelled antibody that delivers the radiotherapy. In clinical trials we showed that giving four weekly infusions of antibody resulted in a 60% increase in radiotherapy dose in the tumours of non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients, with no increase in adverse effects.

We developed two other radioimmunotherapy agents - 131Iodine Tositumomab (Bexxar) and 90Yttrium ibritumomab – and led the first in the world international phase II trial, using two doses of 90Yttrium Ibritumomab as an initial treatment in follicular NHL. This showed fewer side effects (with same response rate).

We also showed the improved outcomes of predosing in a Phase I/IIa study of 177Lutetium-lilotomab satetraxetan (Betalutin) in NHL in patients whose cancer had recurred or was unresponsive to treatment. This study confirmed that predosing with cold antibody amproved the effectiveness of the radioimmunotherapy whilst reducing the side effects of treatment, with an overall response rate of 67%. The drug was fast-tracked as a treatment approach by US FDA in 2019.

Impact date	2009
Category of impact	Health and wellbeing
Impact level	Benefit