Metronomic chemotherapy regimens and targeted therapies in non-Hodgkin lymphoma: The best of two worlds

Novel drugs are rapidly moving forward the treatment-paradigm of non-Hodgkin-lymphomas (NHLs). Notwithstanding, especially in aggressive subtypes, chemotherapy remains the pillar of treatment. Indeed, the combination of highly effective Maximum-Tolerated-Dose Chemotherapy (MTD-CHEMO) + “novel drugs”, has so far, fallen short from expectations, often because it caused excessive toxicity. Metronomic chemotherapy (mCHEMO), which is the frequent, long-term administration of low dose cytotoxic drugs, may allow more effective and tolerable combinations. mCHEMO pharmacodynamics, has been described as pleiotropic. In fact, it may have different cellular and molecular targets, when drugs or their schedules are modified. Although mCHEMO has been little explored in NHLs, pre-clinical studies - in lymphoma models - which addressed the activity of mCHEMO in combination with novel drugs, have shown very promising results. These included inhibitors of histone deacetylase, mTOR and PI3K/mTOR, as well as the immune checkpoint inhibitor anti-PD-L1. Moreover, a few impressive reports have recently shown all-oral mCHEMO schedules, with or without rituximab, can effectively shrink both B and T-cell aggressive NHLs. Indeed, these regimens allowed elderly-frail patients to achieve sustained remission, while toxicity proved manageable. In our opinion, all-oral mCHEMO, is an active, easy-to start, well-tolerated, and inexpensive therapeutic approach, which deserves further investigation. Most importantly, mCHEMO, holds promise to empower the activity of novel targeted therapies, without causing excessive toxicity.