Front-Line High-Dose Chemotherapy (HDT) Combined with Rituximab for Adults with Aggressive Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) : Goelams 074 Trial.

Background: The beneficial effect of adding rituximab to CHOP has been shown for elderly patients with DLBCL (Coiffier et al, N.E.J.M 2002). We have shown that HDT with autologous stem cell transplantation is superior to CHOP in young adults with DLCL ( Milpied et al GOELAMS 072 trial, N.E.J.M 2004). The feasibility of adding rituximab to front-line HDT remains to be established.

Methods: A prospective pilot trial was proposed to patients with DLBCL, with intermediate-high or high adjusted IPI, up to the age of 60 y.o. This program consisted of 2 courses of high-dose CHOP-like regimen, 15 days apart, with rituximab (375/mg/m²) on day 1 of each course, followed by rituximab on d 22, harvest of G-CSF mobilised peripheral blood stem cells on d 28,29, then rituximab on d 36 followed by a course of high-dose methotrexate with cytarabin. For patients who achieved at least a PR after these 3 courses, a BEAM regimen started on d 66 to 80 followed by the infusion of stem cells.

Results: Between 04/2002 and 05/2003, 42 pts gave their informed consent and were included in that trial. Median age was 50 y.o (18–60 y.o), 23 had WHO PS ≥ 2, the LDH level was >N in 41 pts and 38 had stage III or IV disease. The age-adjusted IPI was intermediate-high in 23 and high in 19 pts. The program was completed in 30 pts (71%), 3 pts died of toxicity before the BEAM regimen, 8 pts failed to achieve at least a PR after the first 3 courses and 1 refused the autologous transplant. On an intent-to-treat basis, the response rate at the end of the treatment was CR/Cru=64%, PR=7%, less than PR or progression= 22% and toxic death=7%. No toxic death was directly attributable to the addition of rituximab. With a median FU of 19 m, the KM 2y probability of OS and EFS are 79% and 59% respectively, these figures compare to those achieved without rituximab in the previous trial as shown on the table:

Conclusion : The addition of 4 doses of rituximab to this HDT program is feasible with no unexpected toxicity, allows the harvesting of sufficient numbers of stem cells to support an autologous transplant with a BEAM regimen in responding patients. This treatment is now being randomly prospectively compared with CHOP-14-rituximab in youg adults with DLBCL (Goelams 075 trial).Supported in part by Roche which kindly provided rituximab for that trial and by DRC Nantes programme N°:02/2N 2002.