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PI3K Inhibitors and Their Role as Novel Agents for Targeted Therapy in Lymphoma

  • Lymphoma (DO Persky, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Treatment Options in Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Opinion statement

Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitors represent a novel class of agents targeting the key cellular regulatory PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway involved in crucial functions such as cellular proliferation, cell cycle regulation, protein synthesis, and cell motility. This review starts with an overview of the PI3K pathway and the rationale for its targeting in lymphoma and potential on-target side effects of PI3K inhibition. With three agents now FDA approved for the treatment of relapsed and refractory (R/R) indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (iNHL), idelalisib, copanlisib, and duvelisib, we aim to review the pivotal trials leading to their approval as well as their clinical applications according to lymphoma subtypes. Important treatment-related adverse events are also reviewed and a perspective on the clinical role of these agents is provided, as well as some practical guidance on how to prevent, monitor, and manage potential adverse events in the clinic. PI3K inhibitors have an established role in the management of R/R iNHL, but their use and development are hampered by adverse events, particularly when used in combination with other anti-lymphoma therapies. Finally, this review highlights areas in need of more research in order to optimally use these agents in the care of patients with lymphoma.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lady Davis Institute, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, H3T 1E2, Canada

    Vladimir Sapon-Cousineau MD & Sarit Assouline MD, MSc

  2. Universite de Montreal, Montreal, Canada

    Sasha Sapon-Cousineau DEC

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  1. Vladimir Sapon-Cousineau MD
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Correspondence to Sarit Assouline MD, MSc.

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Vladimir Sapon-Cousineau declares that he has no conflict of interest.

Sasha Sapon-Cousineau declares that she has no conflict of interest.

Sarit Assouline has received speaker’s honoraria from Janssen and AbbVie, and has received compensation from Janssen, Roche Canada, and Pfizer for participation on advisory boards.

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Sapon-Cousineau, V., Sapon-Cousineau, S. & Assouline, S. PI3K Inhibitors and Their Role as Novel Agents for Targeted Therapy in Lymphoma. Curr. Treat. Options in Oncol. 21, 51 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11864-020-00746-8

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