Long-term follow up of the FL2000 study comparing CHVP-interferon to CHVP-interferon plus rituximab in follicular lymphoma.

Abstract

Anti-CD20-containing chemotherapy regimens have become the standard of care for patients with follicular lymphoma needing cytotoxic therapy. Four randomized trials demonstrated a clinical benefit for patients treated with rituximab. However, no long-term follow up (i.e. > 5 years) of these trials is yet available. Between May 2000 and May 2002, 358 newly diagnosed patients with high tumor burden follicular lymphoma were randomized to receive cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, etoposide and prednisolone plus interferon-α2a or a similar chemotherapy-based regimen plus rituximab, and outcome was up-dated. With a median follow up of 8.3 years, addition of rituximab remained significantly associated with prolonged event-free survival (primary end point) (P=0.0004) with a trend towards a benefit for overall survival (P=0.076). The Follicular Lymphoma International Prognostic Index score was strongly associated with outcome for both event-free and overall survival in univariate analysis and its prognostic value remained highly significant after adjusting for other significant covariates in multivariate models (P<0.0001 and P=0.001, respectively). Considering long-term toxicity, the addition of rituximab in the first-line setting was confirmed as safe with regards to development of secondary malignancies. Long-term follow up of patients with follicular lymphoma treated in the FL2000 study confirms the sustained clinical benefit of rituximab without long-term toxicity.

• Authors: Emmanuel Bachy, Roch Houot, Franck Morschhauser, Anne Sonet, Pauline Brice, Karim Belhadj, Guillaume Cartron, Bruno Audhuy, Christophe Fermé, Pierre Feugier, Catherine Sebban, Vincent Delwail, Hervé Maisonneuve, Steven Le Gouill, Sophie Lefort, Nicole Brousse, Charles Foussard, Gilles Salles, Groupe d'Etude des Lymphomes de l'Adulte (GELA)
• Journal: Haematologica (Haematologica) Vol. 98 Issue 7 Pg. 1107-14 (Jul 2013) ISSN: 1592-8721 [Electronic] Italy
• PMID: 23645690 (Publication Type: Comparative Study, Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
• Interferon-alpha
• Rituximab
• Doxorubicin
• Cyclophosphamide
• Teniposide
• Prednisone

Topics

• Adolescent
• Adult
• Aged
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived (administration & dosage)
• Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols (administration & dosage)
• Cohort Studies
• Cyclophosphamide (administration & dosage)
• Doxorubicin (administration & dosage)
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Interferon-alpha (administration & dosage)
• Lymphoma, Follicular (drug therapy, mortality)
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Prednisone (administration & dosage)
• Prospective Studies
• Rituximab
• Survival Rate (trends)
• Teniposide (administration & dosage)
• Time Factors
• Young Adult