CHOP-rituximab with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin for the treatment of elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.
Thirty untreated patients, median age 69 years (range 60 - 75 years), with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (B-DLCL) were treated with a pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PL-doxorubicin) modified CHOP-rituximab regimen. PL-doxorubicin 30 mg/m2, was given in combination with standard dosage of prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, rituximab (according to CHOP-R regimen) every 21 days for six courses. Cardiac toxicity was evaluated by mean of echocardiography for left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) evaluations and serum troponin-I levels. Overall response and complete response rates were 76% and 59%. Projected two year event free survival and overall survival are 65.5% and 68.5%. No treatment-related mortality was documented. WHO grade III-IV neutropenia and thrombocytopenia were 86% and 3%. Extra-hematological III-IV toxicity was represented, respectively, by a single case of infection, mucositis, and bleeding. LVEF evaluations and the troponin levels did not show significant changes over the course of the treatment. One patient with a previous history of atrial fibrillation experienced a single episode of arrhythmia. None of the patients developed palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia. This regimen appears an active regimen for the treatment of elderly patients with B-DLCL. The replacement of conventional doxorubicin with PL-doxorubicin seems to be associated with a negligible incidence of extra-hematological toxicity, in particular cardiac and infectious complications.
Zaja
F
F
Division of Hematology, DIRM, University Hospital, Udine, Italy. francesco.zaja@med.uniud.it
Tomadini
V
V
Zaccaria
A
A
Lenoci
M
M
Battista
M
M
Molinari
A L
AL
Fabbri
A
A
Battista
R
R
Cabras
M G
MG
Gallamini
A
A
Fanin
R
R
D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000069283:Rituximab; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; C506643:liposomal doxorubicin; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; D000069283:Rituximab; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone