[A prospective multicenter study of rituximab combined with high-dose chemotherapy and autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for aggressive B-cell lymphoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the feasibility and efficacy of rituximab combined with high-dose chemotherapy supported by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in patients with aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).


METHODS
Twenty-eight patients with aggressive B-cell NHL (22 newly diagnosed, 6 relapsed) were enrolled in this study. The high-dose chemotherapy included CHOP regimen (CTX + ADM + VCR + PDN) for the newly diagnosed patients and DICE (DEX + IFO + DDP + VP-16) or EPOCH (VP-16 + PDN + VCR + CTX + ADM) for the relapsed patients. Each patient received infusion of rituximab at a dose of 375 mg/m(2) for four times, on D1 before and on D7 of peripheral blood stem cell mobilization, and on D1 before and D8 after stem cell reinfusion.


RESULTS
Complete remission was achieved in all patients after high dose chemotherapy and ASCT. At a median follow-up of 37 months, the estimated overall 4-year survival and progression-free survival rate for all patients were 75.0% and 70.3%, respectively, while both were 72.7% for the previously untreated patients. The therapy was generally well tolerated with few side-effects attributable to rituximab.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that adding rituximab to high-dose chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell transplantation is feasible and may be beneficial for patients with aggressive B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
Shi
Yuan-kai
YK
Department of Medical Oncology, Cancer Hospital (Institute), Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China. Syuankai@yahoo.com.cn
Yang
Sheng
S
Han
Xiao-hong
XH
Ma
Jun
J
Ren
Han-yun
HY
Cen
Xi-nan
XN
Zhou
Shu-yun
SY
Wang
Chun
C
Jiang
Wen-qi
WQ
Huang
Hui-qiang
HQ
Wang
Jian-ming
JM
Zhu
Jun
J
Chen
Hu
H
Han
Ming-zhe
MZ
Huang
He
H
Shen
Xiao-mei
XM
Liu
Peng
P
He
Xiao-hui
XH
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005047:Etoposide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D005334:Fever / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007069:Ifosfamide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D011239:Prednisolone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011241:Prednisone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab; D015996:Survival Rate; D014750:Vincristine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014839:Vomiting / Q000139:chemically induced; D055815:Young Adult
D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab; D014750:Vincristine; D005047:Etoposide; D003907:Dexamethasone; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011239:Prednisolone; D002945:Cisplatin; D007069:Ifosfamide; D011241:Prednisone