Statin-independent prognosis of patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma receiving rituximab plus CHOP therapy.
BACKGROUND
A recent laboratory study indicated that statins impaired the antitumor effects of rituximab by inducing conformational changes in CD20. Although these findings raised significant concerns about statin use during rituximab treatment, their clinical significance is unclear.


METHODS
We conducted a retrospective study investigating the effects of statins on the prognosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (RCHOP). Newly diagnosed DLBCL patients were analyzed (n = 256), including 35 patients taking statins.


RESULTS
The 3-year progression-free survival rates were 84% and 73% (P = 0.38), while the overall survival rates were 89% and 78% (P = 0.28) for those patients treated with and without statins, respectively. After adjusting for the International Prognostic Index and serum cholesterol level, statin use was not associated with prognosis.


CONCLUSIONS
These results indicate that statins do not influence the clinical prognosis of DLBCL treated with RCHOP. Further studies with larger numbers of patients are warranted to confirm the prognostic significance of statins for patients with DLBCL receiving rituximab-containing chemotherapy.
Ennishi
D
D
Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama; Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Cancer Institute Hospital, Tokyo.
Asai
H
H
Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Cancer Institute Hospital, Tokyo.
Maeda
Y
Y
Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama.
Shinagawa
K
K
Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama.
Ikeda
K
K
Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama.
Yokoyama
M
M
Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Cancer Institute Hospital, Tokyo.
Terui
Y
Y
Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Cancer Institute Hospital, Tokyo.
Takeuchi
K
K
Division of Pathology, The Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, Tokyo.
Yoshino
T
T
Department of Pathology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama.
Matsuo
K
K
Division of Epidemiology and Prevention, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Nagoya, Japan.
Hatake
K
K
Department of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Cancer Institute Hospital, Tokyo.
Tanimoto
M
M
Department of Hematology and Oncology, Okayama University Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Science, Okayama. Electronic address: tanimoto@md.okayama-u.acjp.
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 / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004336:Drug Antagonism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007167:Immunotherapy; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000401:mortality / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D016019:Survival Analysis; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055815:Young Adult
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019161:Hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA Reductase Inhibitors; D000069283:Rituximab; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone