Outcomes in patients with splenic marginal zone lymphoma and marginal zone lymphoma treated with rituximab with or without chemotherapy or chemotherapy alone.
BACKGROUND
The optimal management of patients with splenic marginal zone lymphoma/marginal zone lymphoma (SMZL) is controversial. The objective of this retrospective study was to compare the outcomes of patients with SMZL who received treatment with rituximab, rituximab plus chemotherapy, or chemotherapy alone.


METHODS
The Leukemia Service database was searched for patients with splenic lymphoma who were registered between May 1995 and October 2004. The indications for treatment were the same as those used for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia.


RESULTS
SMZL was confirmed in 70 patients. The median age was 64 years. The median number of CD20 molecules per cell was 69 x 10(3). Forty-three patients required systemic therapy; rituximab in 26 patients, chemotherapy plus rituximab in 6 patients, and chemotherapy alone in 11 patients. Ten additional patients underwent splenectomy, and 17 patients were in the observation group. The overall response rates were 88% with rituximab, 83% with rituximab plus chemotherapy, and 55% with chemotherapy alone; the 3-year survival rates were 95%, 100%, and 55%, respectively. The 3-year failure-free survival (FFS) rates were 86%, 100%, and 45% in the rituximab, rituximab plus chemotherapy, and chemotherapy alone groups, respectively. Rituximab treatments resulted in longer survival and FFS compared with chemotherapy. Rituximab alone resulted in disappearance of splenomegaly in 92% of patients and normalization of absolute lymphocyte counts. In univariate analysis, younger age and rituximab-based therapy were predictive of longer FFS.


CONCLUSIONS
Rituximab with or without chemotherapy was found to have major activity in patients with SMZL. These results may be associated with high levels of cellular CD20 antigen sites. Rituximab should be the treatment of choice, at least in older patients with SMZL who have comorbid diseases.
Tsimberidou
Apostolia M
AM
Department of Leukemia, Unit 428, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas77030, USA. atsimber@manderson.org
Catovsky
Daniel
D
Schlette
Ellen
E
O'Brien
Susan
S
Wierda
William G
WG
Kantarjian
Hagop
H
Garcia-Manero
Guillermo
G
Wen
Sijin
S
Do
Kim-Anh
KA
Lerner
Susan
S
Keating
Michael J
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000097:blood; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019992:Databases as Topic; D003710:Demography; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D013156:Splenectomy; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab