Rituximab maintenance therapy after autologous stem-cell transplantation in patients with relapsed CD20(+) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: final analysis of the collaborative trial in relapsed aggressive lymphoma.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

The standard treatment for relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is salvage chemotherapy followed by high-dose therapy and autologous stem-cell transplantation (ASCT). The impact of maintenance rituximab after ASCT is not known.

Patients and methods

In total, 477 patients with CD20(+) DLBCL who were in their first relapse or refractory to initial therapy were randomly assigned to one of two salvage regimens. After three cycles of salvage chemotherapy, the responding patients received high-dose chemotherapy followed by ASCT. Then, 242 patients were randomly assigned to either rituximab every 2 months for 1 year or observation.

Results

After ASCT, 122 patients received rituximab, and 120 patients were observed only. The median follow-up time was 44 mont

SUBMITTER: Gisselbrecht C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3646314 | biostudies-literature | 2012 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature