title: A 4-weekly course of rituximab is safe and improves tumor control for patients with minimal residual disease persisting 3 months after autologous hematopoietic stem-cell transplantation: results of a prospective multicenter phase II study in patients with follicular lymphoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  This study explored the efficacy and safety of rituximab as treatment of clinical or molecular residual disease after autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT) in follicular lymphoma (FL).
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty patients with CD20+ FL and clinically (group A, n = 14) or clono-specific PCR-detectable (group B, n = 25) residual disease persisting 3 months after ASCT received rituximab 375 mg/m&sup2; once weekly for 4 weeks.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Response rate at day 50 was 36% [90% confidence interval (CI) 15-61] in group A (World Health Organization criteria) and 52% (90% CI 34-70) in group B (conversion PCR-undetectable status to undetectable status). The best response rate was 71% [nine complete responses (CRs) and one partial response] in group A and 76% in group B. At 36 months, all 10 responses persisted in group A, whereas 46% of patients in group B still had PCR-undetectable disease. Furthermore, 68% of patients in group B were still in clinical CR. Rituximab after ASCT was safe with few grade 3-4 toxic effects (15% patients), mainly acute reactions and infections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rituximab induced a high rate of durable CRs in patients with clinically detectable disease, as well as durable eradication of PCR-detectable disease in patients with FL after ASCT. Continued molecular responses assessed with a highly sensitive and clono-specific PCR technique were correlated with an excellent disease control.
authors: Department of Hematology, Claude Huriez University Hospital, Lille. Electronic address: f-morschhauser@chru-lille.fr.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Morschhauser
authors: Department of Hematology, Purpan Hospital, Toulouse.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Recher
authors: Department of Hematology, Bordeaux University Hospital, Bordeaux.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Milpied
authors: Department of Hematology, Michallon Hospital, Grenoble.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Gressin
authors: Department of Hematology/Oncology, Lyon Sud University Hospital, Pierre-Bénite.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Salles
authors: Department of Hematology, Saint-Louis University Hospital, Paris.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Brice
authors: Department of Hematology, Paoli Calmettes Institut, Marseille.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Vey
authors: Department of Hematology, Henri Mondor University Hospital, Creteil.
authors: C
authors: C
authors: Haioun
authors: Department of Hematology and Cellular Therapy, Bretonneau University Hospital, Tours.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Colombat
authors: Department of Nuclear Medicine, Lapeyronie Hospital, Montpellier.
authors: J F
authors: JF
authors: Rossi
authors: Department of Hematology, Jean Minjoz University Hospital, Besançon.
authors: E
authors: E
authors: Deconinck
authors: Department of Hematology, Roche, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France.
authors: F
authors: F
authors: Lazreg
authors: Department of Hematology, Roche, Neuilly-sur-Seine, France.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Bergougnoux
authors: Department of Hematology, Purpan Hospital, Toulouse.
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Delsol
authors: Department of Hematology, Purpan Hospital, Toulouse.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Attal
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab