Long-Term Followup of Patients with Follicular Lymphoma (FL) Treated with Two Years of Maintenance Rituximab: Response to Rituximab Retreatment at Progression.

Blood ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 108 (11) ◽  
pp. 4723-4723 ◽  
Author(s):  
John D. Hainsworth ◽  
Christina Meng ◽  
David R. Spigel ◽  
Eric L. Raefsky ◽  
John H. Barton ◽  
...  

Abstract Background: Maintenance treatment with rituximab prolongs progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with FL when administered following single agent rituximab, chemotherapy, or rituximab/chemotherapy combinations. However, the possible induction of lymphoma resistance by prolonged rituximab treatment has been a cause for concern. To address this issue, we obtained long-term followup on patients who had received 2 years of maintenance rituximab and had objective response or stable disease when treatment was discontinued. With a median followup of 7 years, we evaluated the subsequent course of these patients, with particular attention to: treatment administered at relapse, sensitivity to retreatment with rituximab at progression, and survival. Methods: Between March 1998 and August 2002, we treated a total of 106 patients in 2 sequential studies with single-agent rituximab, followed by rituximab maintenance therapy (repeated 4-week courses every 6 months for 2 years). In both studies (JCO20:4261, 2002; JCO23:1088JCO23:2005), rituximab maintenance was arbitrarily discontinued after 2 years. Fifty-eight of 106 patients (55%) in these 2 trials had objective response or stable disease following completion of 2 years of maintenance rituximab. Followup regarding the subsequent course and treatment was obtained in all 58 patients. Results: Nineteen of 58 patients (33%; 18% of all 106 patients treated) remain in continuous remission after a median followup of 7 years (range 4–8 years). Thirty-five patients progressed, while 4 patients died of intercurrent illnesses while in remission. Of the 35 patients who progressed, 24 patients received single-agent rituximab as the next therapy, while 2 patients received rituximab in combination with chemotherapy. Eight of 24 patients (33%) had objective responses to single-agent rituximab (CR 5, PR 3), 14 patients (58%) had stable disease, and 2 patients progressed. Six of the responding patients again received maintenance rituximab. Median PFS in the 22 responding/stable patients was 47 months (95% CI = 39–52 months) with 27% of patients progression-free at 5 years. Both patients receiving rituximab plus chemotherapy had complete remissions (durations 33, 64 months). Transformation to a more aggressive histology was not documented in any patient. The median survival of all 35 relapsing patients, measured from the time of relapse, is 63 months, (95% CI = 40-N.R.). Conclusions: The majority of patients who relapse after 2 years of maintenance rituximab therapy remain sensitive to rituximab. Retreatment with rituximab, either as a single agent or in combination with chemotherapy, is a reasonable therapeutic option at the time of progression. Further investigation of more prolonged rituximab maintenance schedules is indicated.

2002 ◽  
Vol 20 (20) ◽  
pp. 4261-4267 ◽  
Author(s):  
John D. Hainsworth ◽  
Sharlene Litchy ◽  
Howard A. Burris ◽  
Daniel C. Scullin ◽  
Steven W. Corso ◽  
...  

PURPOSE: To evaluate response to single-agent rituximab in patients with indolent non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) and no previous systemic therapy, and the feasibility, toxicity, and efficacy of maintenance rituximab, administered at 6-month intervals, in patients with objective response or stable disease after first-line rituximab therapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with indolent NHL (follicular or small lymphocytic subtypes) previously untreated with systemic therapy received rituximab 375 mg/m2 intravenously weekly for 4 weeks. Patients were restaged at week 6 for response; those with objective response or stable disease received maintenance rituximab courses (identical dose and schedule) at 6-month intervals. Maintenance was continued for a maximum of four rituximab courses or until progression. Between March 1998 and May 1999, 62 patients were entered onto this trial; minimum follow-up was 24 months. RESULTS: Sixty patients (97%) completed the first 4-week course of rituximab and were assessable for response. All have now completed rituximab therapy; 36 (58%) received four courses at 6-month intervals. The objective response rate at 6 weeks was 47%; 45% of patients had stable disease. With continued maintenance, final response rate increased to 73%, with 37% complete responses. Response was similar in patients with follicular versus small lymphocytic subtypes (76% v 70%, respectively). Median actuarial progression-free survival was 34 months. Two patients experienced grade 3/4 toxicity with the first dose; one patient was removed from treatment. No cumulative or additional toxicities were seen with maintenance courses. CONCLUSION: Rituximab is highly active and extremely well tolerated as first-line single-agent therapy for indolent NHL. First-line treatment with scheduled maintenance at 6-month intervals produces high overall and complete response rates and a longer progression-free survival (34 months) than has been reported with a standard 4-week treatment.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. e002057
Author(s):  
Yousef Zakharia ◽  
Robert R McWilliams ◽  
Olivier Rixe ◽  
Joseph Drabick ◽  
Montaser F Shaheen ◽  
...  

BackgroundThe indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) pathway is a key counter-regulatory mechanism that, in cancer, is exploited by tumors to evade antitumor immunity. Indoximod is a small-molecule IDO pathway inhibitor that reverses the immunosuppressive effects of low tryptophan (Trp) and high kynurenine (Kyn) that result from IDO activity. In this study, indoximod was used in combination with a checkpoint inhibitor (CPI) pembrolizumab for the treatment for advanced melanoma.MethodsPatients with advanced melanoma were enrolled in a single-arm phase II clinical trial evaluating the addition of indoximod to standard of care CPI approved for melanoma. Investigators administered their choice of CPI including pembrolizumab (P), nivolumab (N), or ipilimumab (I). Indoximod was administered continuously (1200 mg orally two times per day), with concurrent CPI dosed per US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved label.ResultsBetween July 2014 and July 2017, 131 patients were enrolled. (P) was used more frequently (n=114, 87%) per investigator’s choice. The efficacy evaluable population consisted of 89 patients from the phase II cohort with non-ocular melanoma who received indoximod combined with (P).The objective response rate (ORR) for the evaluable population was 51% with confirmed complete response of 20% and disease control rate of 70%. Median progression-free survival was 12.4 months (95% CI 6.4 to 24.9). The ORR for Programmed Death-Ligand 1 (PD-L1)-positive patients was 70% compared with 46% for PD-L1-negative patients. The combination was well tolerated, and side effects were similar to what was expected from single agent (P).ConclusionIn this study, the combination of indoximod and (P) was well tolerated and showed antitumor efficacy that is worth further evaluation in selected patients with advanced melanoma.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ophelie De Rycke ◽  
Thomas Walter ◽  
Marine Perrier ◽  
Olivia Hentic ◽  
Catherine Lombard-Bohas ◽  
...  

A rechallenge is common after initial efficacy of alkylating-based chemotherapy (ALK) in pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (PanNET). High MGMT expression seems associated with lower response to ALK. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of ALK rechallenge in PanNET. Secondly, to assess the evolution of MGMT expression under ALK. All consecutive patients with advanced PanNETs who received initial ALK (achieving tumor control) followed by a pause > 3 months, then an ALK rechallenge (ALK2) upon progression were retrospectively studied (Cohort A). Primary endpoint was progression-free survival under ALK2 (PFS2). The MGMT expression was retrospectively assessed by immunohistochemistry (H-score) in consecutive PanNET surgically resected following ALK (Cohort B). We foud that cohort A included 62 patients (median Ki67 8%), for which ALK1 followed by pause achieved an objective response rate of 55%, and a PFS1 of 23.7 months (95% IC, 19.8-27.6). ALK2 achieved no objective response, and stability in 62% of patients. The median PFS2 was 9.2 months (IC 95% 7.1-11.3). At multivariable analysis, a hormonal syndrome (p=0.032) and a pause longer than 12 months (p=0.041) were associated with a longer PFS2. In the cohort B (17 patients), the median MGMT H-score increased from 45 (IQR 18-105) before ALK, to 100 (IQR 56-180) after ALK (p=0.003). We conclude that after initial efficacy of ALK treatment, a pause followed by ALK rechallenge might be appropriate to prolong tumor control, improve quality of life and limit long-term adverse events. Increased MGMT expression under ALK might explain low efficacy of ALK rechallenge.


Blood ◽  
2012 ◽  
Vol 120 (13) ◽  
pp. 2650-2657 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hervé Ghesquières ◽  
Guillaume Cartron ◽  
John Francis Seymour ◽  
Marie-Hélène Delfau-Larue ◽  
Fritz Offner ◽  
...  

Abstract In patients with follicular lymphoma treated with single-agent rituximab, single nucleotide polymorphisms in the FCGR3A gene are known to influence response and progression-free survival. The prognostic role of FCGR3A and FCGR2A polymorphisms in patients with follicular lymphoma treated with rituximab and chemotherapy combination remains controversial and has not been evaluated in the context of rituximab maintenance. FCGR3A and FCGR2A single nucleotide polymorphisms were evaluated in, respectively, 460 and 455 patients treated in the PRIMA study to investigate whether these were associated with response rate and patient outcome after rituximab chemotherapy induction and 2-year rituximab maintenance. In this representative patient cohort, complete and unconfirmed complete responses after rituximab chemotherapy were observed in 65%, 67%, 66% (P = .86) and 60%, 72%, 66% (P = .21) of FCGR3A VV, VF, FF and FCGR2A HH, HR, RR carriers, respectively. After 2 years of rituximab maintenance (or observation), response rates did not differ among the different genotypes. Progression-free survival measured from either treatment initiation or randomization to observation or maintenance was not influenced by these polymorphisms. These data indicate that FCGR3A and FCGR2A polymorphisms do not influence response rate and outcome when rituximab is combined with chemotherapy or used as maintenance treatment. The PRIMA study is registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as NCT00140582.


2020 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 248-256 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hanneke C. Kluin-Nelemans ◽  
Eva Hoster ◽  
Olivier Hermine ◽  
Jan Walewski ◽  
Christian H. Geisler ◽  
...  

PURPOSE In an update of the randomized, open-label, phase III European Mantle Cell Lymphoma (MCL) Elderly trial (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT00209209 ), published in 2012, we aimed to confirm results on long-term outcome focusing on efficacy and safety of long-term use of rituximab maintenance. PATIENTS AND METHODS Five hundred sixty patients with newly diagnosed MCL underwent a first random assignment between rituximab, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CHOP) and rituximab, fludarabine, and cyclophosphamide (R-FC) induction, followed by a second random assignment in 316 responders between rituximab and interferon alfa maintenance, to be continued until progression. We compared progression-free survival from the second randomization and overall survival (OS) from the first or second randomizations. RESULTS After a median follow-up time of 7.6 years, the previously described difference in OS between the induction arms persisted (median, 6.4 years after R-CHOP [n = 280] v 3.9 years after R-FC [n = 280]; P = .0054). Patients responding to R-CHOP had median progression-free survival and OS times of 5.4 and 9.8 years, respectively, when randomly assigned to rituximab (n = 87), compared with 1.9 years ( P < .001) and 7.1 years ( P = .0026), respectively, when randomly assigned to interferon alfa (n = 97). In 58% and 32% of patients treated with R-CHOP, rituximab maintenance was still ongoing 2 and 5 years from start of maintenance, respectively. After R-FC, rituximab maintenance was associated with an unexpectedly high cumulative incidence of death in remission (22% at 5 years). Toxicity of rituximab maintenance was low after R-CHOP (grade 3-4 leukopenia or infection < 5%) but more prominent in patients on rituximab maintenance after R-FC, in whom grade 3-4 leukopenia (up to 40%) and infections were frequent (up to 15%). CONCLUSION The excellent results of R-CHOP followed by rituximab maintenance until progression for older patients with MCL persisted in a mature follow-up. Prolongation of rituximab maintenance beyond 2 years is effective and safe.


2020 ◽  
Vol 105 (8) ◽  
pp. 2642-2653 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isabel Weigand ◽  
Barbara Altieri ◽  
Amanda M F Lacombe ◽  
Vittoria Basile ◽  
Stefan Kircher ◽  
...  

Abstract Context Objective response rate to mitotane in advanced adrenocortical carcinoma (ACC) is approximately 20%, and adverse drug effects are frequent. To date, there is no marker established that predicts treatment response. Mitotane has been shown to inhibit sterol-O-acyl transferase 1 (SOAT1), which leads to endoplasmic reticulum stress and cell death in ACC cells. Objective To investigate SOAT1 protein expression as a marker of treatment response to mitotane. Patients A total of 231 ACC patients treated with single-agent mitotane as adjuvant (n = 158) or advanced disease therapy (n = 73) from 12 ENSAT centers were included. SOAT1 protein expression was determined by immunohistochemistry on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens. Setting Retrospective study at 12 ACC referral centers. Main outcome measure Recurrence-free survival (RFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and disease-specific survival (DSS). Results Sixty-one of 135 patients (45%) with adjuvant mitotane treatment had recurrences and 45/68 patients (66%) with mitotane treatment for advanced disease had progressive disease. After multivariate adjustment for sex, age, hormone secretion, tumor stage, and Ki67 index, RFS (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.07; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.61-1.85; P = 0.82), and DSS (HR = 1.30; 95% CI, 0.58-2.93; P = 0.53) in adjuvantly treated ACC patients did not differ significantly between tumors with high and low SOAT1 expression. Similarly, in the advanced stage setting, PFS (HR = 1.34; 95% CI, 0.63-2.84; P = 0.45) and DSS (HR = 0.72; 95% CI, 0.31-1.70; P = 0.45) were comparable and response rates not significantly different. Conclusions SOAT1 expression was not correlated with clinical endpoints RFS, PFS, and DSS in ACC patients with mitotane monotherapy. Other factors appear to be relevant for mitotane treatment response and ACC patient survival.


2012 ◽  
Vol 30 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 503-503
Author(s):  
Sun Young Kim ◽  
Mi Song I Jang ◽  
Hyun Mi Kim ◽  
Ji Yeon Baek ◽  
Yong Sang Hong ◽  
...  

503 Background: The three-drug regimen with oxaliplatin, irinotecan and fluoropyrimidine is an effective therapeutic option for patients with mCRC, but is associated with high rate of toxicity. Pharmacogenetic profile might be helpful for selection of proper patients for this intensive regimen. Methods: Forty-two patients were enrolled to our phase II trial and were given irinotecan 150mg/m2 plus oxaliplatin 85mg/m2 on D1 and S-1 80mg/m2/day on D1-14 every 21 days as their front-line therapy for mCRC. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood, where the presence of germline polymorphisms of UGT including UGT1A1*6, UGT1A1*28, UGT1A1*60, UGT1A6*2, and UGT1A7*3 were tested. Results: Patients with UGT1A1*6 allele had a tendency of more frequent grade 2-3 vomiting (p = 0.06) compared to those without UGT1A1*6. The presence of a haplotype containing UGT1A6*2 and UGT1A7*3 was associated with grade 2-3 vomiting (p = 0.014) and grade 2-3 diarrhea (p = 0.063). Higher objective response rate (18/20, 90%) was noted in patients without UGT1A*60 compared to those with UGT1A1*60 (11/22, 50%; p = 0.008). The absence of UGT1A1*60 was also associated with marginally improved progression-free survival (10.3 mo v 7.7 mo, p = 0.081) and overall survival (26.8 mo v 15.1 mo, p= 0.044) compared to the presence of the variant allele. Conclusions: UGT1A1*6 and a haplotype containing UGT1A6*2 and UGT1A7*3 may be associated with irinotecan-related gastrointestinal toxicities. Phenotypic association of UGT1A1*60 and efficacy of the three-drug regimen requires further investigation.


2018 ◽  
Vol 36 (4_suppl) ◽  
pp. 450-450
Author(s):  
Nicha Wongjarupong ◽  
Mohamed Abdelrahim Muddathir Hassan ◽  
Cristobal T. Sanhueza ◽  
Mindy L. Hartgers ◽  
Fatima Hassan ◽  
...  

450 Background: The standard treatment for patients with gallbladder cancer is a combination of gemcitabine and cisplatin based on ABC-02 trial. However, there are no guidelines regarding treatment after first-line therapy. We retrospectively analyzed the efficacy and overall survival of different second-line regimens. Methods: We identified 203 patients with advanced gallbladder cancer who received palliative treatment between January 2000 and December 2015 at Mayo Clinic, Rochester. RECIST criteria was used to assess response. Results: 68 patients received second-line chemotherapy. Median age was 63 years (range: 32-86) and majority were males (60.6%). The median time from the diagnosis to the start of the second line chemotherapy was 8 (1-120) months. The most common used second-line chemotherapy were FOLFOX (14), gemcitabine alone (10), single agent fluoropyrimidine (11), gemcitabine with capecitabine (5), and capecitabine with oxaliplatin (4). There were 30 patients that received 5-fluorouracil based regimens, 20 patients received gemcitabine-based regimen, 3 patients received taxane-based regimen, and 15 patients received other types of chemotherapy. Median progression free survival and overall survival was 2.1 (1.8-2.7) and 16.7 (13.2-21.3) months respectively. There were 10 (52%), 11 (37%), 2 (67%), 5 (33%) with partial response and stable disease in 5-fluorouracil-based, gemcitabine-based, taxane-based, and others, respectively. There were no difference in PFS, with median PFS of 2.5, 2.0, 2.8 and 2.3 months, respectively (p=0.43). The overall survival were 15.7 (8.9-40.2), 15.0 (10.7-21.3), 40.3 (22.0-47.0), and 20.4 (9.2-30.7) months, respectively (p=0.83). There were 27 patients that received single agent chemotherapy and 41 patients that received combined regimen. There were 17 (42%) patients and 13 (48%) patients with partial response or stable disease in single and combined regimen. There were no differences in progression free survival and overall survival between single and multi agent chemotherapy. Conclusions: In this largest single institution study, second-line chemotherapy regimens for gallbladder cancer provided benefit in select patients and there is an urgent need to develop more active therapeutic regimens.


2021 ◽  
Vol 162 (36) ◽  
pp. 1451-1458
Author(s):  
Apor Hardi ◽  
Gergely Varga ◽  
Zsolt Nagy ◽  
Szabolcs Kosztolányi ◽  
László Váróczy ◽  
...  

Összefoglaló. Bevezetés: A myeloma multiplex mindmáig alapvetően gyógyíthatatlan betegség, ezért nagy klinikai jelentőségük van az eredményes mentő kezeléseknek. A szájon át adható első proteaszómagátlóval, az ixazomibbal kiegészített lenalidomid-dexametazon terápia jól tolerálható, csak orális szerekből álló kombináció, mely hazánkban 2015 áprilisától kezdődően a „Named Patient Program” keretén belül vált elérhetővé relabált, refrakter myeloma multiplexes betegek kezelésére. Célkitűzés: Kutatásunk célja az ixazomib-lenalidomid-dexametazon kezelés mellett a hosszú távon progressziómentes túlélők célzott vizsgálata. Módszer: A program keretében összesen 7 centrumban 80 visszaeső beteg részesült e triplet kezelésben, adataikat retrospektíven elemeztük. Leíró statisztikai és Kaplan–Meier-analízist végeztünk. Eredmények: A betegek nagyobb hányada reagált: 63,75%-os válaszarány mellett 14 (17,5%) betegnél nem volt terápiás válasz/stabil betegség alakult ki, és 15-nél (18,75%) a betegség a kezelés mellett is progrediált. A progressziómentes túlélés a teljes betegcsoportban 10,6 hónapnak adódott, ugyanakkor 16 beteg (18,75%) két éven túl progressziómentesnek bizonyult, sőt közülük 11-nél a betegség még 3 év után sem progrediált. Tanulmányunkban a fenti, hosszú távú túlélő betegcsoport tulajdonságait tárjuk fel. Megbeszélés: A folyamatos terápia a myeloma multiplex kezelésében meghatározóvá vált. Ezért fontos ismernünk, hogy kik lehetnek azok a betegek, akik különösen sokat profitálnak egy bizonyos terápiából. A hosszú távon progressziómentes túlélők között az immunglobulin-nehézláncot érintő transzlokációk vagy triszómiák közül (trend szintjén) az utóbbiak kedvezőbb progressziómentes túléléssel bírtak, de progressziómentes platót mindkét betegcsoportban észleltünk. A betegség tumortömegét mérő nemzetközi stádiumbeosztás (ISS) nem jelezte előre a hosszú túlélést. Gyógyszerelhagyáshoz vezető mellékhatást a hosszú távú túlélő csoportban egyet sem regisztráltunk; az észlelt mellékhatások nagy része enyhe volt. Következtetések: Munkánk során az ixazomib-lenalidomid-dexametazon kombinációt effektívnek és biztonságosnak találtuk relabált, refrakter myeloma multiplex kezelésére, mely a betegek mintegy hatodánál több éven át eredményesen alkalmazható. Cikkünkkel a hazai beteganyagon szerzett tapasztalatainkat szeretnénk megosztani a COVID–19-világjárvány alatt különösen aktuálissá vált, tisztán orális terápiás lehetőségről. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(36): 1451–1458. Summary. Introduction: Despite great advances in therapy, multiple myeloma is still a largely incurable disease, therefore the importance of salvage therapies is paramount. The first oral proteasome inhibitor ixazomib in combination with lenalidomide-dexamethasone is a tolerable, orally administered regime, which has become available for Hungarian relapsed, refractory multiple myeloma patients from April 2015 in the Named Patient Program. Objective: Our goal was to investigate the long-time progression-free surviving patient population treated with the ixazomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone triplet. Method: We retrospectively studied a total of 80 patients from 7 centers who received the triplet combination. Survival analyses were performed. Results: Two-third of the patients responded: the overall response rate was 63.75%. 14 patients (17.5%) did not respond/had stable disease and 15 patients (18.75%) outright progressed upon therapy. Although progression-free survival was only 10.6 months for the entire patient cohort, the disease in a subgroup of 16 patients did not progress within two years. In fact, 11 of them were still in sustained remission after 3 years of therapy. Our goal was to analyze the characteristics of this subgroup. Discussion: The idea of long-term therapy of multiple myeloma is gaining widespread acceptance. Therefore it is important to know which patients may benefit the most from certain therapies. Among these 16 long-term responder patients, reciprocal translocation of the immunoglobulin heavy chain seemed to lack an adverse impact on progression-free survival; comparable to trisomies, both curves had a progression-free plateau. The International Staging System (ISS) score at the start of therapy did not predict long-term survivorship. Most of the side effects in this subgroup were mild, manageable, none led to therapy discontinuation. Conclusion: Ixazomib-lenalidomide-dexamethasone was confirmed to be an effective and safe combination for relapsed, refractory multiple myeloma, and one-sixth of the treated patients were able to receive it for several years, effectively. This fully oral therapeutic option is at its best during the present COVID–19 pandemic. Orv Hetil. 2021; 162(36): 1451–1458.


2016 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 495-500 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Taverna ◽  
Giovanni Martinelli ◽  
Felicitas Hitz ◽  
Walter Mingrone ◽  
Thomas Pabst ◽  
...  

Purpose Rituximab maintenance therapy has been shown to improve progression-free survival in patients with follicular lymphoma; however, the optimal duration of maintenance treatment remains unknown. Patients and Methods Two hundred seventy patients with untreated, relapsed, stable, or chemotherapy-resistant follicular lymphoma were treated with four doses of rituximab monotherapy in weekly intervals (375 mg/m2). Patients achieving at least a partial response were randomly assigned to receive maintenance therapy with one infusion of rituximab every 2 months, either on a short-term schedule (four administrations) or a long-term schedule (maximum of 5 years or until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity). The primary end point was event-free survival (EFS). Progression-free survival, overall survival (OS), and toxicity were secondary end points. Comparisons between the two arms were performed using the log-rank test for survival end points. Results One hundred sixty-five patients were randomly assigned to the short-term (n = 82) or long-term (n = 83) maintenance arms. Because of the low event rate, the final analysis was performed after 95 events had occurred, which was before the targeted event number of 99 had been reached. At a median follow-up period of 6.4 years, the median EFS was 3.4 years (95% CI, 2.1 to 5.3) in the short-term arm and 5.3 years (95% CI, 3.5 to not available) in the long-term arm (P = .14). Patients in the long-term arm experienced more adverse effects than did those in the short-term arm, with 76% v 50% of patients with at least one adverse event (P < .001), five versus one patient with grade 3 and 4 infections, and three versus zero patients discontinuing treatment because of unacceptable toxicity, respectively. There was no difference in OS between the two groups. Conclusion Long-term rituximab maintenance therapy does not improve EFS, which was the primary end point of this trial, or OS, and was associated with increased toxicity.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document