Should Rituximab Be Used In Elderly Patients with Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma
Updated October 01, 2012.
Question: Should Rituximab Be Used In Elderly Patients with Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma
Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody that is used in the treatment of Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas. It is a part of standard treatment of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), the commonest type of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. However its role in some special situations and patient poplulations have been under study in trials.
A number of trials have recently published results on the efficacy and safety of Rituximab in elderly patients.
Answer:
At least three large trials have now convincingly proved that those above 60 years of age should receive Rituximab in addition to CHOP chemotherapy for Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma. The latest trial, part of a large multi-institutional study based in Germany and involving 1000 patients, demonstrated that using Rituximab + CHOP14 chemotherapy produced better response and survival while not adding significantly to toxicity of chemotherapy.
These results are quite similar to a previously published French Study, and an American trial from the Mayo Clinic. Rochester. Both demonstrated a definite improvement in remission duration and also survival with R-CHOP. The French trial showed an almost 40% improvement in survival. No additional toxicity was seen.
Without question, Rituximab is as much an integral part of treatment in older people with Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma, as it is for younger patients.
Question: Should Rituximab Be Used In Elderly Patients with Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma
Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody that is used in the treatment of Non-Hodgkin Lymphomas. It is a part of standard treatment of Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma (DLBCL), the commonest type of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma. However its role in some special situations and patient poplulations have been under study in trials.
A number of trials have recently published results on the efficacy and safety of Rituximab in elderly patients.
Answer:
At least three large trials have now convincingly proved that those above 60 years of age should receive Rituximab in addition to CHOP chemotherapy for Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma. The latest trial, part of a large multi-institutional study based in Germany and involving 1000 patients, demonstrated that using Rituximab + CHOP14 chemotherapy produced better response and survival while not adding significantly to toxicity of chemotherapy.
These results are quite similar to a previously published French Study, and an American trial from the Mayo Clinic. Rochester. Both demonstrated a definite improvement in remission duration and also survival with R-CHOP. The French trial showed an almost 40% improvement in survival. No additional toxicity was seen.
Without question, Rituximab is as much an integral part of treatment in older people with Diffuse Large B-cell Lymphoma, as it is for younger patients.