1. Radiotherapy plus rituximab as first-line regimen for localized follicular lymphoma.
- Author
-
Cencini E, Puccini B, Rigacci L, Fabbri A, Kovalchuk S, Mannelli L, Benelli G, Carfagno T, Simontacchi G, Bocchia M, and Bosi A
- Subjects
- Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological administration & dosage, Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological adverse effects, Chemoradiotherapy, Female, Humans, Lymphoma, Follicular mortality, Male, Middle Aged, Neoplasm Grading, Neoplasm Staging, Retrospective Studies, Rituximab administration & dosage, Rituximab adverse effects, Survival Analysis, Treatment Outcome, Young Adult, Antineoplastic Agents, Immunological therapeutic use, Lymphoma, Follicular pathology, Lymphoma, Follicular therapy, Radiotherapy methods, Rituximab therapeutic use
- Abstract
Early-stage follicular lymphoma (FL) can be cured with involved-field radiotherapy (IF-RT); however, many patients relapse in non-irradiated areas. A combined association with chemotherapy could increase treatment efficacy, but toxic effects could be unacceptable. In vitro synergistic effect between rituximab (R) and RT has been observed, but clinical data are limited. We retrospectively analyzed 41 early-stage FL patients receiving R and IF-RT as first-line treatment. We administered R 375mg/m
2 weekly for four courses, before or after IF-RT (median dose 24 Gy). Primary outcome was PFS, secondary endpoints were CR rate, OS and safety. All patients achieved CR, after a median follow-up of 46 months only three patients relapsed after 18, 26 and 42 months; estimated 5-year PFS was 90%. We suggest R in association with IF-RT could represent a feasible first-line treatment option for early-stage FL and could increase efficacy without additional toxicity compared to available data about RT alone.- Published
- 2018
- Full Text
- View/download PDF