The addition of rituximab to anthracycline-based chemotherapy significantly improves outcome in 'Western' patients with intravascular large B-cell lymphoma

Br J Haematol. 2008 Oct;143(2):253-7. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2008.07338.x. Epub 2008 Aug 10.

Abstract

Some case reports and a Japanese series suggest benefit from the use of rituximab in patients with intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVL). Rituximab efficacy was evaluated in Western patients with IVL, comparing outcome of 10 patients treated with rituximab + chemotherapy (R-CT) and of 20 patients treated with chemotherapy alone (CT). There were no significant differences in patients' characteristics between the two subgroups. The addition of rituximab was associated with improved complete remission rate (90% vs. 50%; P = 0.04), event-free survival (3-year: 89% vs. 35%; P = 0.003) and overall survival (3-year: 89% vs. 38%; P = 0.01). In conclusion, rituximab may substantially change the dismal prognosis of IVL.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Multicenter Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Anthracyclines / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Immunologic Factors / therapeutic use*
  • Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prednisone / administration & dosage
  • Proportional Hazards Models
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Rituximab
  • Survival Rate
  • Vascular Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Vincristine / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Anthracyclines
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Immunologic Factors
  • Rituximab
  • Vincristine
  • Doxorubicin
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Prednisone

Supplementary concepts

  • CHOP protocol