2006 Volume 43 Issue 2 Pages 236-240
Aim: We examined the efficacy and adverse effects of rituximab with CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristin, prednisone) or THP-COP (pirarubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristin, prednisone) in previously untreated old-old and extremely old patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL).
Methods: Subjects were 13 initial DLBCL patients consisting of 7 men and 8 women with a median age of 79 years (range 75-91 years). These patients received CHOP or THP-COP plus 375mg/m2 rituximab intravenously given on the day before each cycle. The dose was adjusted depending on the patient's age and associated complications. Administration was performed for 6 to 8 cycles, whenever possible.
Results: Seven patients (54%) achieved a complete response (CR), 4 (31%) achieved a partial response (PR), 2 (15%) failed to respond. The 2-year survival rates were 62%. The CR rate and survival rate were higher than in patients previously treated with CHOP alone in our hospital, but there was no statistically significant difference.
The most frequent adverse effect was bone marrow suppression, observed in 9 patients (69.2%). Adverse effects that seemed to be infusion reaction occurred in 4 patients (30.7%). These adverse effects related to infusion reaction disappeared by reducing or stopping rituximab. Four (30.7%) patients died and 3 of those died due to disease progression. One of those died 1.5 month after he began chemotherapy and the cause of death was unknown.
Conclusion: This result suggested that both CHOP and THP-COP combined with rituximab were safe and effective for old-old and extremely old patients.
