Phase II study of intensified rituximab induction and maintenance for low grade B cell lymphoma. Issue 12 (2nd December 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Nagai, Hirokazu; Shimomura, Takeshi; Takeuchi, Makoto; Hanada, Shuichi; Komeno, Takuya; Sunami, Kazutaka; Hidaka, Michihiro; Yano, Takahiro; Kitano, Kiyoshi; Yoshida, Isao; Inoue, Nobumasa; Saito, Akiko; Horibe, Keizo; Motitani, Suzuko; Ichihara, Shu; Watanabe, Tomoyuki; Sawamura, Morio
• Is Part Of: Leukemia & lymphoma. Volume 58:Issue 12(2017)
• Page Start: 2845
• Page End: 2851
• Publication Date: 2017-12-02
• Subjects: Low grade B cell lymphoma -- rituximab -- induction -- maintenance; Leukemia -- Periodicals; Lymphomas -- Periodicals; 616.99419
• DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2017.1319054
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1042-8194

Abstract

Abstract: Rituximab has markedly improved the outcomes of B cell lymphoma, and its maintenance has been shown to be beneficial in low grade B cell lymphoma (LGBCL). We conducted a multicenter, phase II trial of intensive rituximab induction and maintenance therapy for LGBCL to optimize the rituximab monotherapy. Patients with newly diagnosed or rituximab naïve relapsed LGBCL received 8 weekly rituximab as induction, then continued maintenance therapy with rituximab for 4 weeks at 6-month intervals. The primary endpoint was the overall response rate (ORR). Forty-five patients were enrolled from 2005 to 2009 and 36 were eligible. The ORR was 83.3% (30/36) with a complete response rate of 72.2% (26/36). The 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) was 76.7% with a median follow-up of 43.0 months. Five grade three toxicities were observed (no grade 4). Our findings suggest that this regimen demonstrates high activity with durable PFS and minimal toxicity in LGBCL patients.