Incidence and risk factors for central nervous system relapse in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: the impact of the addition of rituximab to CHOP chemotherapy.
BACKGROUND
The addition of rituximab to CHOP (R-CHOP; CHOP, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) chemotherapy improves outcome in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We evaluated the risk of central nervous system (CNS) relapse in the R-CHOP in a population-based cohort of patients with DLBCL.


METHODS
Patients with DLBCL diagnosed from 1 September 1999 to 14 January 2005 at the British Columbia Cancer Agency (BCCA) were identified. Patients were included if they were > or =16 years old with advanced stage or any stage with testicular involvement and were treated with CHOP (1999-2001) or R-CHOP (2001-2005) with curative intent.


RESULTS
Four hundred and thirty-five patients were identified; 126 (29%) were treated with CHOP and 309 (71%) with R-CHOP. With a median follow-up of 5.7 years, there were 31 CNS relapses in total with a trend to a reduced likelihood of CNS relapse in R-CHOP-treated patients (3-year risk 9.7% versus 6.4, P = 0.085). In multivariate analysis, the use of rituximab significantly reduced the risk of CNS relapse [hazard ratio (HR) 0.45, P = 0.034]; this benefit was more striking in patients who achieved a complete response (HR 0.18, P = 0.005).


CONCLUSIONS
The use of R-CHOP appears to reduce the overall risk of CNS relapse in patients with DLBCL particularly in patients who achieve a complete response.
Villa
D
D
Division of Medical Oncology, British Columbia Cancer Agency, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
Connors
J M
JM
Shenkier
T N
TN
Gascoyne
R D
RD
Sehn
L H
LH
Savage
K J
KJ
D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000556:secondary*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D011379:Prognosis; D012307:Risk Factors; D000069283:Rituximab; D015996:Survival Rate; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000069283:Rituximab; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone