Phase II study of Rituximab combined with THP-COP as first-line therapy for patients younger than 70 years with diffuse large B cell lymphoma.
BACKGROUND
We previously described the effectiveness of the THP-COP regimen comprising cyclophosphamide, pirarubicin (tetrahydropyranyl adriamycin; THP), vincristine and prednisolone in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). The anthracycline drug THP was apparently less cardiotoxic than doxorubicin. However, that study was completed before rituximab was introduced into clinical practice. We conducted a phase II study to determine the effectiveness of a regimen incorporating rituximab (R-THP-COP) against DLBCL.


METHODS
Six to 8 courses of the regimen were administered every 2 weeks in 48 patients who were younger than 70 years.


RESULTS
The complete remission rate was 92%, the 3-year overall survival rate was 83% and 3-year progression free survival rate was 74%. No deaths were associated with the treatment regimen.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that R-THP-COP regimen is very effective against DLBCL. The results of our study urge randomized trials of R-CHOP and R-THP-COP among patients with CD20+ DLBCL.
Hara
Takeshi
T
First Department of Internal Medicine, Gifu University Graduate School of Medicine, 1-1 Yanagido, Gifu 501-1194, Japan.
Tsurumi
Hisashi
H
Goto
Naoe
N
Kitagawa
Jun-ichi
J
Kanemura
Nobuhiro
N
Yoshikawa
Takeshi
T
Kasahara
Senji
S
Goto
Hideko
H
Fukuno
Kenji
K
Yamada
Toshiki
T
Sawada
Michio
M
Yasuda
Ichiro
I
Katsumura
Naoki
N
Takahashi
Takeshi
T
Takami
Tsuyoshi
T
Moriwaki
Hisataka
H
D000368:Aged; D000740:Anemia / Q000139:chemically induced; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009325:Nausea / Q000139:chemically induced; D009503:Neutropenia / Q000139:chemically induced; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects; D000069283:Rituximab; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects
D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000069283:Rituximab; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone; C027260:pirarubicin