Rituximab-ESHAP as a mobilization regimen for relapsed or refractory B-cell lymphomas: a comparison with ESHAP.
BACKGROUND
It has previously been shown that ESHAP was an effective mobilization regimen for patients with pretreated lymphoma. To extend these observations, the efficacy and feasibility of rituximab plus ESHAP regimen in CD20+ B-cell NHL were assessed.


METHODS
The mobilization efficacy and engraftment characteristics were compared in the 22 patients who received the rituximab plus ESHAP (R-ESHAP) with 33 historical controls who received ESHAP.


RESULTS
The two treatment groups were well matched in patient characteristics. In the R-ESHAP group, 62 pheresis procedures were performed. Apheresis procedures were started on median Day 16 (range, Days 13-18). The median number of collected CD34+ cells was 10.6 x 10(6) per kg (range, 4.9 x 10(6)-52.6 x 10(6)/kg). Nineteen (95%) patients achieved optimal peripheral blood hematopoietic progenitor cell (PBPC) collection, defined as at least 5 x 10(6) CD34+ cells per kg. There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to mobilization efficacy. Sixteen patients in the R-ESHAP group (73%) underwent autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell transplantation (APBPCT). The median time to absolute neutrophil count at least 0.5 x 10(9) per L was 10 days (range, 8-17 days), and the median time to a platelet count of at least 20 x 10(9) per L was 12 days (range, 7-27 days). Lymphocyte recovery was slower in the R-ESHAP group, but the rate of infectious complications was similar in the two groups. In the R-ESHAP group, the 2-year overall survival and progression-free survival after APBPCT were 63.2 and 57.4 percent, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Addition of rituximab to ESHAP chemotherapy did not have any adverse effects on PBPC mobilization. Further studies are needed, however, to determine whether addition of rituximab improves outcomes.
Kim
Min Kyoung
MK
Department of Internal Medicine, Diagnostic Laboratory Medicine, and Pathology, Asan Medical Center, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, 388-1 Pungnap-2-dong, Songpa-gu, Seoul 138-796, Korea.
Kim
Shin
S
Lee
Sung Sook
SS
Sym
Sun Jin
SJ
Lee
Dae Ho
DH
Kim
Sang We
SW
Jang
Seongsoo
S
Park
Chan Jeong
CJ
Chi
Hyun Sook
HS
Huh
Jooryung
J
Suh
Cheolwon
C
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D019650:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Mobilization; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008875:Middle Aged; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D000069283:Rituximab; D014184:Transplantation, Homologous
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D003561:Cytarabine; D000069283:Rituximab; D005047:Etoposide; D002945:Cisplatin; D008775:Methylprednisolone