title: Phase 2 study of rituximab in newly diagnosed stage IA nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma: a report from the German Hodgkin Study Group.
abstract: Nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma (NLPHL) accounts for ∼ 5% of Hodgkin lymphoma cases. The disease is characterized by a strong CD20 expression on the malignant cells and a more indolent clinical course compared with classic HL. Anti-CD20 antibody treatment has shown clinical activity in relapsed NLPHL. In this phase 2 trial, we investigated rituximab in newly diagnosed stage IA NLPHL patients. Four weekly applications at 375 mg/m(2) were given. Among the 28 evaluable patients, overall response rate was 100%, 24 patients (85.7%) achieved complete remission, and 4 (14.3%) achieved partial remission. At a median follow-up of 43 months, overall survival was 100%; progression-free survival at 12, 24, and 36 months was 96.4%, 85.3%, and 81.4%, respectively. No grade 3 or 4 toxicity was observed. Although treatment results with rituximab appear inferior compared with radiotherapy and combined-modality approaches in early-stage patients, investigation of anti-CD20 antibody-based combinations in NLPHL is warranted. This study was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00346684.
authors.affiliation: First Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Cologne, Cologne, Germany.
authors.forename: Dennis A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Eichenauer
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fuchs
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pluetschow
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klimm
authors.forename: Teresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Halbsguth
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Böll
authors.forename: Bastian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: von Tresckow
authors.forename: Lucia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nogová
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Borchmann
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Engert
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab