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Prospective phase II trial of extended treatment with rituximab in patients with B-cell post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease

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GELTAMO (Grupo Español de Linfomas y Trasplantes de Médula Ósea)

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GELCAB (Grupo para el Estudio de los Linfomas Catalano-Balear)

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GOTEL (Grupo Oncológico para el Tratamiento y Estudio de los Linfomas)

# metadata.dc.description.abstract[].value
Background and Objectives The elective treatment of patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders is controversial. The purpose of this trial was to evaluate the efficacy of treatment with extended doses of rituximab adapted to the response in patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders after solid organ transplantation. Design and Methods This was a prospective, multicenter, phase 11 trial. Patients were treated with reduction of immunosuppression and four weekly infusions of rituximab. Those patients who did not achieve complete remission (CR) received a second course of four rituximab infusions. The primary end-point of the study was the CR rate. Results Thirty-eight patients were assesable. One episode of grade 4 neutropenia was the only severe adverse event observed. After the first course of rituximab, 13 (34.2%) patients achieved CR, 8 patients did not respond, and 17 patients achieved partial remission. Among those 17 patients, 12 could be treated with a second course of rituximab, and 10 (83.3%) achieved CR, yielding an intention-to-treat CR rate of 60.5%. Eight patients excluded from the trial because of absence of CR were treated with rituximab combined with chemotherapy, and six (75%) achieved CR. Event-free survival was 42% and overall survival was 47% at 27.5 months. Fourteen patients died, ten of progression of their post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder. Interpretation and Conclusions These results confirm that extended treatment with rituximab can obtain a high rate of CR in patients with post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders after solid organ transplantation without increasing toxicity, and should be recommended as initial therapy for these patients.

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cc-by-nc (c) Ferrata Storti Foundation, 2007

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Articles publicats en revistes (Ciències Clíniques)

# metadata.dc.title[].value
Prospective phase II trial of extended treatment with rituximab in patients with B-cell post-transplant lymphoproliferative disease