Role of rituximab in the first-line therapy of high-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a retrospective analysis by the Polish Lymphoma Research Group

Polskie Archiwum Medycyny Wewnętrznej
Wojciech JurczakJan M Zaucha

Abstract

R-CHOP immunochemotherapy (rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone) is a standard first-line treatment for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). None of the randomized trials have proved a statistically significant overall survival (OS) benefit in high-risk subgroups according to the International Prognostic Index (IPI). We retrospectively investigated the role of adding rituximab to anthracycline-based chemotherapy in patients with high-risk DLBCL according to the IPI. A total of 371 patients with high-risk DLBCL treated at 15 Polish hematology centers were retrospectively analyzed in 2 distinct age groups: older than 60 years and 60 years old or younger. Response rates, OS, and progression-free survival (PFS) were compared and analyzed. The overall response rate (ORR) of high-risk DLBCL patients significantly improved in rituximabtreated patients compared with patients treated without rituximab (76.7% vs 95.6%; P <0.05). The R-CHOP immunochemotherapy prolonged survival in both older and younger subgroups. The 5-year projected OS and PFS in younger patients treated with rituximab vs chemotherapy alone were 42% vs 38% and 46% vs 27%, respectively (P <0.05), while the 5-year projected OS and PFS in old...Continue Reading

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

B-Cell Lymphoma

B-cell lymphomas include lymphomas that affect B cells. This subtype of cancer accounts for over 80% of non-Hodgkin lymphomas in the US. Here is the latest research.