Oncology Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Oncology, including details on cancer, surgery, chemotherapy, radiotherapy.

Maintenance rituximab following induction chemoimmunotherapy may prolong progression-free survival in mantle cell lymphoma: a pilot study from the Wisconsin Oncology Network.

Kahl B, Longo W, Eickhoff J, Zehnder J, Jones C, Blank J, McFarland T, Bottner W, Rezazedeh H, Werndli J, Bailey H

Department of Medicine, University of Wisconsin, Madison, WI.

BACKGROUND: There is no standard first line treatment for mantle cell lymphoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This was a multicenter phase II pilot study of rituximab and modified hyper-fractionated cyclophosphamide, vincristine doxorubicin, dexamethasone (modified R-hyperCVAD) administered every 28 days for four to six cycles followed by rituximab maintenance therapy consisting of four weekly doses every 6 months for 2 years. Unlike traditional hyperCVAD regimens, no methotrexate or cytarabine was administered. RESULTS: Of 22 patients, the overall response rate was 77% and the complete response rate was 64%. With a median follow-up time of 37 months in surviving patients, the median PFS was 37 months and the median OS was not reached. The achievement of a molecular remission did not correlate with improved outcome. The major toxicity was expected myelosuppression. Two patients died during induction treatment. There were no major adverse effects during maintenance therapy. CONCLUSION: In a multicenter trial, modified R-hyperCVAD was tolerable and effective induction therapy for untreated MCL. Maintenance rituximab appeared to prolong PFS without increasing toxicity.

Published 12 September 2006 in Ann Oncol, 17(9): 1418-23.
Full-text of this article is available online (may require subscription).

© 2005-2008 Oncology Research Today. All Rights Reserved.