Improved survival for patients with large B-cell lymphoma after introduction of rituximab.
BACKGROUND
To determine whether the reported increase in survival of patients with diffuse large B-cell malignant lymphoma (DLBCL) after the introduction of rituximab is also seen in a non-academic hospital in the Netherlands. A retrospective study.


METHODS
A dataset was made containing all newly diagnosed patients with DLBCL in a period of 2.5 years before until 2.5 years after introduction of rituximab in the standard treatment. Total follow-up time was 6.5 years with a minimal follow-up of 18 months.


RESULTS
The study population consisted of 65 patients; 32 in the prerituximab group (median follow-up time 60 months) and 33 in the postrituximab group (median follow-up time 29 months). Progression-free survival increased significantly in the postrituximab group (hazard ratio 0.31; 95% CI 0.12 to 0.78; p=0.013; log rank p=0.008). The overall survival also showed a significant increase (p=0.048). The 18-month progression-free survival increased from 59.4 to 81.8%; the overall survival at 18 months showed an increase from 65.5 to 81.8%.


CONCLUSIONS
The introduction of rituximab in the treatment of DLB CL with CHOP chemotherapy has resulted in a significantly better prognosis for patients with DLBCL, treated in the Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis in Delft.
Rodenburg
E M
EM
Department of Internal Medicine, Reinier de Graaf Gasthuis Delft, Delft, the Netherlands. elinerodenburg@gmail.com
Maartense
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Posthuma
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EF
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D016208:Databases, Factual; D018450:Disease Progression; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D013997:Time Factors; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone