Doubling rituximab in high‐risk patients with aggressive B‐cell lymphoma ‐results of the DENSE‐R‐MegaCHOEP trial

• DOI: 10.1111/bjh.15710
• Publication Date: 2018-12-06T02:12:33Z
• Authors: Birte Friedrichs; Maike Nickelsen; Marita Ziepert; Bettina Altmann; Mathias Haenel; Andreas Viardot; Christian Schmidt; Christian Ruebe; Markus Loeffler; Michael Pfreundschuh; Andreas Rosenwald; Bertram Glass; Georg Lenz; Norbert Schmitz
• Keywords: Concomitant; International Prognostic Index; Progression-free survival; Univariate analysis

Summary To further improve outcome in young high‐risk patients with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma ( DLBCL ) the number of rituximab (R) infusions was doubled combination standard CHOEP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, etoposide, vincristine, prednisone) chemotherapy. Seventy‐seven (aged 18–60 years) an age‐adjusted International Prognostic Index 2–3 received 12 × R (375 mg/m 2 on days 0, 1, 4, 8, 15, 22, 29, 43, 57, 71, 85 and 99 together eight cycles ‐14. Results were retrospectively compared to those receiving 6 8 ‐14 arm randomized R‐Mega trial. Two‐year overall survival OS 82% [95% confidence interval CI 73%–92%]; 2‐year event‐free EFS progression‐free PFS 69% (95% 59–80%) 76% 66%‐–6%), respectively. Comparing six doses revealed no differences (univariate/multivariate) (at years: vs. 71%), (76% 75%) (82% 85%), P = 0·766, 0·871 0·843, Doubling concomitant did not treatment outcomes. Nonetheless, who only combined remain excellent confirmed independent cohort patients.