CHOP-like chemotherapy plus rituximab versus CHOP-like chemotherapy alone in young patients with good-prognosis diffuse large-B-cell lymphoma: a randomised controlled trial by the MabThera International Trial (MInT) Group

Improved survival for non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients in New South Wales, Australia

“…However, the improved survival over time was seen for both older and younger patients (Figure 1), although it was less for those very old (75+ years). This is consistent with evidence from clinical trials: survival increased for both older (60-80 years) [23] and younger (18-60 years) patients [35] after the addition of rituximab to standard chemotherapy for aggressive B-cell lymphomas, the commonest NHL subtype.…”

“…However it only became available in 2003 and it was dispensed 1560 times in NSW in 2004 [6] so is unlikely to explain the improved survival in 2000-2004. Second, more NHL patients in NSW may have participated in clinical trials [35] which may in part have led to improved survival in the later period. Third, the introduction of highly active antiretroviral therapy in Australia around 1997 [36] may explain in part the improved survival in 2000-2004 [37].…”

Intensified chemotherapy with ACVBP plus rituximab versus standard CHOP plus rituximab for the treatment of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (LNH03-2B): an open-label randomised phase 3 trial

“…2,3 These favourable results have been confi rmed by three additional randomised trials in patients both younger and older than 60 years with diff use large B-cell lymphoma. [4][5][6] However, despite these signifi cant improve ments, some patients are refractory to initial treatment or can relapse after a complete response. In cases where the disease is refractory to immuno chemotherapy, the esti mate of progression-free survival at 3 years is only 23%, even with subsequent high-dose chemotherapy and autologous stem-cell trans plantation.…”

Quality of life during maintenance therapy with the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab in patients with B cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: results of a prospective randomized controlled trial

“…Effector mechanisms include complement-mediated cytotoxicity, antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity, and possibly direct induction of apoptosis [1,2]. In diffuse large B cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) and follicular lymphomas (FLs), several multicenter prospective randomized trials consistently demonstrated an improved outcome when R was added to chemotherapy [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]. In FL and DLBCL, it was attempted to further prolong response duration and survival by administering R during remission as maintenance therapy.…”