Efficacy of rituximab as consolidation of first – line CHOP regimen in patients with follicular lymphomas

Overview

Follicular lymphoma is the second most common type of lymphoma. First line treatment with chemotherapy can lead to the clinical remission in part of patients but other patients have residual disease. The aim was to evaluate the efficacy of monoclonal antibody anti CD20 – rituximab – as a consolidation therapy after induction treatment of CHOP in patients with newly diagnosed follicular NHL. 40 patients with residual lymphoma after CHOP regimen were treated with rituximab, either in monotherapy or in combination with salvage chemotherapy followed by high dose therapy with stem cell support. We assessed efficacy and tolerance of the treatment. In 28 patients (70 %) complete remission was achieved and no progression during treatment of rituximab was noticed. Toxicity of the treatment was minimal. These results are encouraging for patients who not achieve CR after initial treatment of CHOP regimen alone to extend lymphoma free period and improve their quality of life. But in September 2004 rituximab was approved for the first line treatment of patients with follicular lymphoma in the Czech republic.

Key words:
follicular lymphoma, rituximab, residual disease