title: Retrospective analysis of intravascular large B-cell lymphoma treated with rituximab-containing chemotherapy as reported by the IVL study group in Japan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the safety and efficacy of rituximab-containing chemotherapies for intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL).
  
  
  METHODS
  We retrospectively analyzed 106 patients (59 men, 47 women) with IVLBCL who received chemotherapy either with rituximab (R-chemotherapy, n = 49) or without rituximab (chemotherapy, n = 57) between 1994 and 2007 in Japan. The median patient age was 67 years (range, 34 to 84 years). The International Prognostic Index was high-intermediate/high in 97% of patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The complete response rate was higher for patients in the R-chemotherapy group (82%) than for those in the chemotherapy group (51%; P = .001). The median duration of follow-up for surviving patients was 18 months (range, 1 to 95 months). Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) rates at 2 years after diagnosis were significantly higher for patients in the R-chemotherapy group (PFS, 56%; OS, 66%) than for patients in the chemotherapy group (PFS, 27% with P = .001; OS, 46% with P = 0.01). Multivariate analysis revealed that the use of rituximab was favorably associated with PFS (hazard ratio [HR], 0.45; 95% CI, 0.25 to 0.80; P = .006) and OS (HR, 0.42; 95% CI, 0.21 to 0.85; P = .016). Treatment-related death was observed in three patients (6%) who received R-chemotherapy and in five patients (9%) who received chemotherapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest improved clinical outcomes for patients with IVLBCL in the rituximab era. Future prospective studies of rituximab-containing chemotherapies are warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology and Oncology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya 466-8550 Japan. kinosita@med.nagoya-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazuyuki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Shimada
authors.forename: Kosei
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Matsue
authors.forename: Kazuhito
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Takuhei
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Murase
authors.forename: Naoaki
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ichikawa
authors.forename: Masataka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Nozomi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Niitsu
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kosugi
authors.forename: Norifumi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tsukamoto
authors.forename: Hiroshi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Miwa
authors.forename: Hideki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Asaoku
authors.forename: Ako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kikuchi
authors.forename: Morio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Yoshio
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Saburi
authors.forename: Yasufumi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Masaki
authors.forename: Motoko
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Tomoki
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Naoe
authors.forename: Tomohiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kinoshita
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000069283:Rituximab