Monoclonal antibodies are designed to specifically seek out and attach to target tumor cells. Once attached, the goal is that these antibodies will trigger the tumor cells to die. Results in the laboratory to predict the effect of antibody therapies on patients with ALCL have been encouraging.

SGN-30 is a monoclonal antibody targeted to CD30, which is expressed by ALCL cells. SGN-30 has been evaluated as a single agent in phase I and phase II clinical trials. Data have been reported demonstrating that SGN-30 is well tolerated and multiple objective antitumor responses have been observed.

SGN-30 is currently in two clinical trials in combination with chemotherapy for the treatment of both adult and pediatric systemic ALCL. The studies are being sponsored by the National Cancer Institute. Click on the links below to the clinicaltrials.gov web site to learn more about these clinical trials.

SGN-30 and Combination Chemotherapy in Treating Patients with Newly Diagnosed Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

Ifosfamide, Carboplatin, Etoposide, and SGN-30 in Treating Young Patients with Recurrent Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma

ABOUT CD30
ALCL cells are unusual in that they express a protein marker on their surface known as CD30. This marker only appears on a small number of other cell types in the body and thus provides a way to distinguish the tumor cells. This marker is widely used to diagnose ALCL. When the tumor is biopsied, the laboratory examining the biopsy will test for the presence of the CD30 coating the tumor cells. Only tumors showing evidence of CD30 will be confirmed as ALCL. The presence of CD30 as a characteristic marker of ALCL has encouraged research into a targeted treatment approach.