Biogen Idec has announced that new study data demonstrate that patients may benefit from earlier and consolidated use of Zevalin (ibritumomab tiuxetan) radioimmunotherapy in refractory and hard-to-treat cancers, including diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), mantle cell lymphoma, and follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

The Phase II study is exploring the feasibility and effectiveness of first line use of Zevalin and standard rituximab plus CHOP (R-CHOP) chemotherapy in older patients with high risk DLBCL, a disease that represents approximately one-third of all lymphomas and primarily impacts people over 60 years of age.

Patients received R-CHOP chemotherapy at standard doses for induction therapy. After hematologic recovery and R-CHOP restaging, patients were eligible for Zevalin, which was given six to nine weeks post R-CHOP.