BACKGROUND:: Recent experience has suggested that there has been a stepwise improvement in the survival outcomes of patients who have follicular lymphoma with the introduction of new treatment options. In the current study, the authors report the results of 2 subsequent phase 2 trials of 238 previously untreated patients. METHODS:: In a trial of bleomycin, epidoxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (BACOP) plus fludarabine, mitoxantrone, and dexamethasone (FND), 144 patients received 2 BACOP treatments followed by 4 FND treatments. In a trial of BACOP plus fludarabine and rituximab (FR), 94 patients received 3 BACOP treatments followed by 4 FR treatments. RESULTS:: The complete remission (CR) rate for BACOP/FND was 62\%. After a median follow-up of 60 months, the failure-free survival (FFS) and overall survival (OS) rates at 4 years were 53\% and 77\%, respectively. The CR rate for BACOP/FR was 79\%. After a median follow-up of 36 months, the FFS and OS rates at 4 years were 56\% and 97\%, respectively, which were significant compared with the CR and OS rates achieved with BACOP/FND. Twenty-five of 42 bcl-2-positive patients attained a molecularly negative CR and had improved FFS. No significant differences were observed between the 2 trials in the percentage of infections or neutropenia. CONCLUSIONS:: The CR and OS rates achieved with BACOP/FR were better, and overall toxicity did not increase. Furthermore, patients who received rituximab had a better FFS compared with patients who received chemotherapy alone. Finally, although conclusions between nonrandomized groups may depend on differences in observed and unobserved prognostic features, the current results suggested that the addition of rituximab to anthracycline-fludarabine-containing regimens have a favorable effect on the prognosis of patients with advanced follicular lymphoma. Cancer 2009. (c) 2009 American Cancer Society.

Anthracycline-fludarabine-containing regimens with or without rituximab in the treatment of patients with advanced follicular lymphoma / Luminari, Stefano; Marcheselli, Luigi; Sacchi, Stefano; Pozzi, Samantha; Bari, Alessia; F., Ilariucci; C., Stelitano; F., Angrilli; A., Lazzaro; L., Baldini. - In: CANCER. - ISSN 0008-543X. - STAMPA. - 115:9(2009), pp. 1906-1913. [10.1002/cncr.24222]

Anthracycline-fludarabine-containing regimens with or without rituximab in the treatment of patients with advanced follicular lymphoma.

LUMINARI, Stefano;MARCHESELLI, Luigi;SACCHI, Stefano;POZZI, Samantha;BARI, Alessia;
2009

Abstract

BACKGROUND:: Recent experience has suggested that there has been a stepwise improvement in the survival outcomes of patients who have follicular lymphoma with the introduction of new treatment options. In the current study, the authors report the results of 2 subsequent phase 2 trials of 238 previously untreated patients. METHODS:: In a trial of bleomycin, epidoxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (BACOP) plus fludarabine, mitoxantrone, and dexamethasone (FND), 144 patients received 2 BACOP treatments followed by 4 FND treatments. In a trial of BACOP plus fludarabine and rituximab (FR), 94 patients received 3 BACOP treatments followed by 4 FR treatments. RESULTS:: The complete remission (CR) rate for BACOP/FND was 62\%. After a median follow-up of 60 months, the failure-free survival (FFS) and overall survival (OS) rates at 4 years were 53\% and 77\%, respectively. The CR rate for BACOP/FR was 79\%. After a median follow-up of 36 months, the FFS and OS rates at 4 years were 56\% and 97\%, respectively, which were significant compared with the CR and OS rates achieved with BACOP/FND. Twenty-five of 42 bcl-2-positive patients attained a molecularly negative CR and had improved FFS. No significant differences were observed between the 2 trials in the percentage of infections or neutropenia. CONCLUSIONS:: The CR and OS rates achieved with BACOP/FR were better, and overall toxicity did not increase. Furthermore, patients who received rituximab had a better FFS compared with patients who received chemotherapy alone. Finally, although conclusions between nonrandomized groups may depend on differences in observed and unobserved prognostic features, the current results suggested that the addition of rituximab to anthracycline-fludarabine-containing regimens have a favorable effect on the prognosis of patients with advanced follicular lymphoma. Cancer 2009. (c) 2009 American Cancer Society.
2009
115
9
1906
1913
Anthracycline-fludarabine-containing regimens with or without rituximab in the treatment of patients with advanced follicular lymphoma / Luminari, Stefano; Marcheselli, Luigi; Sacchi, Stefano; Pozzi, Samantha; Bari, Alessia; F., Ilariucci; C., Stelitano; F., Angrilli; A., Lazzaro; L., Baldini. - In: CANCER. - ISSN 0008-543X. - STAMPA. - 115:9(2009), pp. 1906-1913. [10.1002/cncr.24222]
Luminari, Stefano; Marcheselli, Luigi; Sacchi, Stefano; Pozzi, Samantha; Bari, Alessia; F., Ilariucci; C., Stelitano; F., Angrilli; A., Lazzaro; L., Baldini
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
luminari et al cancer.pdf

Solo gestori archivio

Tipologia: Versione pubblicata dall'editore
Dimensione 152.78 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
152.78 kB Adobe PDF   Visualizza/Apri   Richiedi una copia
Pubblicazioni consigliate

Licenza Creative Commons
I metadati presenti in IRIS UNIMORE sono rilasciati con licenza Creative Commons CC0 1.0 Universal, mentre i file delle pubblicazioni sono rilasciati con licenza Attribuzione 4.0 Internazionale (CC BY 4.0), salvo diversa indicazione.
In caso di violazione di copyright, contattare Supporto Iris

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11380/617383
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 1
  • Scopus 5
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 5
social impact