title: Impact of rituximab on incidence of and risk factors for central nervous system relapse in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
abstract: The impact of rituximab (R) on the incidence of central nervous system (CNS) relapse of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is unclear. We performed a meta-analysis to explore the risk factors and assess the association between R-chemotherapy (R-chemo) and CNS relapse. We searched MEDLINE, PubMed, EMBASE and OVID for eligible studies. Published group statistics were extracted from each study for analysis; individual patient data from each study were not accessed. Fixed- or random-effects models were used to estimate the odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). Eight studies were identified. The OR for R-chemo compared with identical chemotherapy was 0.70 (95% CI 0.54-0.91). Stage III/IV (OR 2.25, 95% CI 1.64-3.08), International Prognostic Index (IPI) > 1 (OR 2.62, 95% CI 1.59-4.33), performance status (PS) > 1 (OR 1.67, 95% CI 1.23-2.27), elevated lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (OR 2.23, 95% CI 1.54-3.22), bone marrow involvement (OR 2.85, 95% CI 1.99-4.07), more than one extranodal involvement (OR 2.61, 95% CI 1.93-3.54), presence of B symptoms (OR 1.87, 95% CI 1.37-2.56) and testicular involvement (OR 3.83, 95% CI 1.84-7.97) were associated with increased risks of CNS relapse. This meta-analysis demonstrated a lower incidence of CNS relapse of DLBCL in the rituximab era. The risk of CNS relapse can be assessed by stage, IPI, PS, LDH, presence of B symptoms, number of extranodal sites, bone marrow and testicular involvement.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Huashan Hospital, Shanghai Medical School, Fudan University , Shanghai , China.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Bobin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xiaoping
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016543:Central Nervous System Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011241:Prednisone / Q000627:therapeutic use; D012307:Risk Factors; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; C571759:R-CHOP protocol; D000069283:Rituximab; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone