[Comparison of rituximab plus CHOP regimen and CHOP regimen alone for treatment of newly diagnosed patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma].

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE: CHOP regimen is the standard treatment for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, is effective in treating diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of rituximab plus CHOP and CHOP alone on newly diagnosed patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, and analyze their toxicities.

METHODS

A total of 72 newly diagnosed patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma were divided into 2 groups prospectively with concurrent control: 34 received CHOP plus rituximab (375 mg/m2, 2 days before each course) (combination group), 38 received CHOP alone. Each course lasted 3 weeks. All cases were evaluated after 6 courses.

RESULTS

The total response rate in combination group was 93.8% (30/32), among which complete remission was seen in 23 patients and partial remission was seen in 7 patientsû while the total response rate in CHOP group was 75.0% (27/36), among which complete remission was seen in 19 patients and partial remission was seen in 8 patients. The therapeutic efficacy was significantly better in combination group than in CHOP group (P<0.05). The 1-year progression-freely and overall survival rates were significantly higher in combination group than in CHOP group (81.2% vs. 52.8%, 93.8% vs. 75.0%, P<0.05). The major adverse events in combination group were infusion-related response which could be well tolerated, and hematological toxicities which were similar to those in CHOP group.

CONCLUSIONS

Rituximab increases the therapeutic efficacy of CHOP regimen on newly diagnosed patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, without a clinically significant increase in toxicity. Rituximab plus CHOP can be used as a first-line therapy of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.