A new generation of
anticancer agents called target drugs has been recently developed for the treatment of non-Hodgkin
lymphomas. Current recovery rates in these diseases are up to 70% with
immunotherapy based on the anti-CD20
monoclonal antibody combined with standard chemotherapeutics. However, there are still refractory or relapsed patients. Recently, several novel anti-
lymphoma agents have been developed. Choosing the most effective personalized
therapy still remains a crucial challenge in hematology. Areas covered: New drugs can specifically target malignant cells and inhibit
cancer cell growth, proliferation and survival by specific interactions with one or more target
proteins. Recent clinical studies have illustrated promising outcomes for novel drugs used as single agents and in combination with traditional
therapeutics. In this article, the authors discuss novel targeted
therapies with a promising outcome in NHL patients that are becoming integrated into treatment paradigms. Expert opinion: The development of new treatment options may help to avoid cytotoxic
chemotherapy entirely in some clinical settings. Multicenter studies should be continued to investigate small agents and pathways inhibitors as this will enable us to enhance not only the duration of the treatment response but also the quality of the extended survival.