Key clinical point: The addition of rituximab (R) to standard cyclophosphamide, doxorubicine, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) first-line therapy significantly prolongs failure-free survival (FFS), overall survival (OS), and the duration of response (DOR) in patients with previously untreated, advanced-stage mantle cell lymphoma (MCL).
Major finding: At a median follow-up of 13.4 years, the R-CHOP vs CHOP group had significantly longer median FFS (2.07 vs 1.36 years; adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0.62; P < .0001), OS (5.81 vs 4.84 years; aHR 0.78; P = .039), and DOR (2.08 vs 1.48 years; aHR 0.67; P = .0012). No clinically meaningful differences in late toxicities were observed between the groups.
Study details: This long-term pooled trials analysis of two prospective randomized trials included 385 adult patients with untreated advanced-stage MCL who were randomly assigned to receive CHOP (n = 201) or R-CHOP (n = 184).
Disclosures: This study did not receive any specific funding. Some authors declared serving as advisors, consultants, or board members for or receiving research funding, travel support, or honoraria from various sources.
Source: Fischer L et al on behalf of the German Lymphoma Alliance (GLA) and the German Low-Grade Lymphoma Study Group (GLSG). The addition of rituximab to chemotherapy improves overall survival in mantle cell lymphoma-A pooled trials analysis. Ann Hematol. 2023 (Aug 8). doi: 10.1007/s00277-023-05385-1