[Efficacy of rituximab-containing regimens on indolent B-cell lymphoma--a report of 34 cases].
OBJECTIVE
The efficacy of rituximab given alone or in combination with chemotherapy on naive or relapsed indolent lymphoma is good. This study was to investigate the efficacy and safety of rituximab-containing regimens for patients with indolent B-cell lymphoma in China.


METHODS
From Mar. 1999 to Jan. 2005, 34 patients with indolent B-cell lymphoma received rituximab-containing regimens with a median of 5 cycles (ranged from 3 to 8 cycles). Of the 34 patients, 2 received rituximab alone, and 32 received rituximab-based regimens, which including CHOP (16 cases), FMD (5 cases), CHOPE (4 cases), EPOCH (2 cases), DICE (2 cases), DAHP (2 cases), and FN (1 case).


RESULTS
Of the 34 patients, 30 were evaluable for objective response. The overall response (OR) rate was 93.3%, and the complete response (CR) rate was 60.0%; the OR rate and CR rate of 22 evaluable naive patients were 95.4% and 66.7%, those of 18 evaluable follicular lymphoma patients were 88.9% and 66.7%. With a median follow-up of 17 months (4-68 months), the 1-year progression-freely survival rate was 85.3%. Myelosuppression was the major adverse event: 19 patients suffered from leukopenia with 4 cases of grade III-IV event, 5 suffered from thrombocytopenia with 4 cases of grade III-IV event, and 2 suffered from febrile neutropenia. Other adverse events included grade I-II nausea/vomiting, mild alopecia, and transient liver function abnormality. The infusional reaction of rituximab consisted of grade I-II rigor/febrile, skin rash, mild hypotension, and asymptomatic ventricular premature beat.


CONCLUSIONS
Rituximab-containing chemotherapeutic regimens are effective for indolent B-cell lymphoma with mild toxicity.
Xia
Zhong-Jun
ZJ
State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P. R. China. xiazhj@medmail.com.cn
Wang
Feng-Hua
FH
Huang
Hui-Qiang
HQ
Luo
Hui-Yan
HY
Li
Yu-Hong
YH
Lin
Tong-Yu
TY
Jiang
Wen-Qi
WQ
Guan
Zhong-Zhen
ZZ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005076:Exanthema / Q000139:chemically induced; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy; D007970:Leukopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab; D003294:Seizures, Febrile / Q000139:chemically induced; D013921:Thrombocytopenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D014750:Vincristine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone