title: The use of Yttrium-90 Ibritumomab Tiuxetan ((90)Y-IT) as a consolidation therapy in high-risk patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma ineligible for autologous stem-cell transplantation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Yttrium-90 Ibritumomab Tiuxetan ((90)Y-IT) as a consolidation therapy in the management of DLBCL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with primary refractory or high-risk DLBCL (n = 18), ineligible for autologous stem-cell transplantation, were included in a retrospective study performed at three centers by the Polish Lymphoma Research Group (PLRG). All patients (mean age 61, range 35-82) either didn't achieve a complete response or didn't complete the scheduled therapy due to its complications. Response rates (CR, PR, SD, PD) according to Cheson criteria, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and adverse effects of radioimmunotherapy were analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Consolidation radioimmunotherapy increased the CR rate from 38% (n = 7) to 82% (n = 15). One patient remained in PR, one patient remained in SD, while one patient remained in PD. During a median follow-up of five years, 11 patients (62%) were alive with no recurrence, 4 patients (22%) were alive with relapse while 3 patients (16%) died. There was no statistically significant difference in PFS between those in CR and those in PR before (90)Y-IT.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Radioimmunotherapy is an effective consolidation therapy for high risk/refractory DLBCL patients and worthy of further investigation in prospective trials.
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Wojciech
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jurczak
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Elżbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kisiel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sawczuk-Chabin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine, Warsaw, Poland.
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Centkowski
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Medical University, Gdansk, Poland.
authors.forename: Wanda
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Knopińska-Posłuszny
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology, Jagiellonian University Collegium Medicum, Krakow, Poland.
authors.forename: Omeir
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Khan
keywords: Yttrium-90 Ibritumomab Tiuxetan; consolidation; diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; radioimmunotherapy