[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.