title: VNCOP-B plus rituximab in the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in the elderly.
abstract: The conventional treatment included CHOP and several age-adapted regimens, from first to third generation, designed and tested for their feasibility and efficacy in elderly patients. Recently, some trials demonstrated that CHOP-rituximab was superior to CHOP alone. Between February 2003 and November 2005, 24 untreated patients 60 years and older with DLBCL were treated with a combination therapy including cyclophosphamide, mitoxantrone, vincristine, etoposide, bleomycin, and prednisone (VNCOP-B) plus four rituximab administrations. Nineteen of the 24 patients (80%) obtained a CR, four achieved a PR, and the remaining patient had a disease progression. The overall response rate was 96%. Sixteen of the 19 complete responders remain in continuous CR at a median of 24 months (range 12-42). Three CRs relapsed within 12 months from the completion of treatment. Clinical and hematological toxicity was moderate. This regimen was effective in inducing a good remission rate with moderate toxic effects in elderly DLBCL patients.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Medical Oncology L. & A. Seràgnoli, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Mariapaola
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fina
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tani
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Stefoni
authors.forename: Gerardo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Musuraca
authors.forename: Enrica
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Marchi
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pellegrini
authors.forename: Lapo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Alinari
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Derenzini
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bacci
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pileri
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baccarani
authors.forename: Pier Luigi
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Zinzani
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D001761:Bleomycin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008942:Mitoxantrone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000069283:Rituximab; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D001761:Bleomycin; D000069283:Rituximab; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D008942:Mitoxantrone; D011241:Prednisone