Results of a randomized trial comparing high-dose chemotherapy plus Auto-SCT and R-FC in CLL at diagnosis.

The importance of early therapy intensification in B-cell CLL (B-CLL) patients remains to be defined. Even though several studies have been published, no randomized trials comparing directly autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) and the accepted conventional therapy (that is, rituximab, fludarabine and CY; R-FC) have been reported so far. To assess the benefit of a first-line aggressive therapy, we designed a multicenter, randomized, phase 3 trial comparing R-FC and high-dose chemotherapy supported by ASCT in patients under 65 years of age, with stage B(II) or C B-CLL. Primary end point was CR: 96 patients were enrolled (48 in each arm). On an intent-to-treat basis, the CR rates in the ASCT and R-FC arms were 62.5% and 58%, respectively. After 5 years of follow-up, PFS was 60.4% in the ASCT arm and 65.1% in the R-FC arm, time to progression 65.8 and 70.5%, and overall survival 88% vs 88.1%, respectively. Our trial demonstrates, for the first time in a randomized manner, that frontline ASCT does not translate into a survival advantage when compared with benchmark chemoimmunotherapy in B-CLL patients; the possibility of its clinical benefit in certain subgroups remains uncertain.

Clinical activity of bortezomib in relapsed/refractory MALT lymphomas: results of a phase II study of the International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group (IELSG).

BACKGROUND: The nuclear factor-kappa B activation in mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma pathogenesis provided the rationale for the evaluation of bortezomib in this malignancy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Thirty-two patients with relapsed/refractory MALT lymphoma were enrolled. Thirty-one patients received bortezomib 1.3 mg/m(2) i.v., on days 1, 4, 8, and 11, for up to six 21-day cycles. RESULTS: Median age was 63 years (range, 37-82 years). Median number of prior therapies was 2 (range, 1-4). Nine patients had Ann Arbor stage I, 7 patients had stage II, and 16 patients had stage IV. Primary lymphoma localization was the stomach in 14 patients; multiple extranodal sites were present in 10 patients. Among the 29 patients assessable for response, the overall response rate was 48% [95% confidence interval (CI) 29% to 67%], with 9 complete and 5 partial responses. Nine patients experienced stable disease and six had disease progression during therapy. The most relevant adverse events were fatigue, thrombocytopenia, neutropenia, and peripheral neuropathy. After a median follow-up of 24 months, the median duration of response was not reached yet. Five deaths were reported, in two patients due to disease progression. CONCLUSION: Bortezomib is active in relapsed MALT lymphomas. Further investigations to identify optimal bortezomib dose, schedule, and combination regimens are needed since the frequent detection of dose-limiting peripheral neuropathy.

Absorbed dose and biologically effective dose in patients with high-risk non-Hodgkin's lymphoma treated with high-activity myeloablative 90Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin).

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to carry out two different dose estimation approaches in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) treated with a myeloablative amount of (90)Y-labelled ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin(R)) in an open-label dose escalation study. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with relapsed/refractory or de novo high-risk NHL receiving one myeloablative dose of (90)Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan followed by tandem stem cell reinfusion were evaluated for dose estimate. The injected activity was 30 MBq/kg in 12 patients and 45 MBq/kg in 15 patients. Dose estimation was performed 1 week prior to (90)Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan by injection of (111)In-ibritumomab tiuxetan (median activity: 200 MBq). The absorbed dose (D) and the biologically effective dose (BED) were calculated. RESULTS: The absorbed doses per unit activity (Gy/GBq) were [median (range)]: heart wall 4.6 (2.5-9.7), kidneys 5.1 (2.8-10.5), liver 6.1 (3.9-10.4), lungs 2.9 (1.5-6.8), red marrow 1.0 (0.5-1.7), spleen 7.0 (1.5-14.4) and testes 4.9 (2.9-16.7). The absorbed dose (Gy) for the 15 patients treated with 45 MBq/kg were: heart wall 17.0 (8.7-25.4), kidneys 17.1 (7.9-22.4), liver 20.8 (15.4-28.3), lungs 8.1 (5.4-11.4), red marrow 3.1 (2.0-4.0), spleen 26.2 (17.0-35.6) and testes 17.3 (9.0-28.4). At the highest activities the acute haematological toxicity was mild or moderate and of very short duration, and it was independent of the red marrow absorbed dose. No secondary malignancy or treatment-related myelodysplastic syndrome was observed. No non-haematological toxicity (liver, kidney, lung) was observed during a follow-up period of 24-48 months. CONCLUSION: The use of 45 MBq/kg of (90)Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan in association with stem cell autografting resulted in patients being free of toxicity in non-haematological organs. These clinical findings were in complete agreement with our dose estimations, considering both organ doses and BED values.

Primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma of the breast: prognostic factors and outcomes of a study by the International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group.

BACKGROUND: Primary diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) of breast is rare. We aimed to define clinical features, prognostic factors, patterns of failure, and treatment outcomes. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A retrospective international study of 204 eligible patients presenting to the International Extranodal Lymphoma Study Group-affiliated institutions from 1980 to 2003. RESULTS: Median age was 64 years, with 95% of patients presenting with unilateral disease. Median overall survival (OS) was 8.0 years, and median progression-free survival 5.5 years. In multifactor analysis, favourable International Prognostic Index score, anthracycline-containing chemotherapy, and radiotherapy (RT) were significantly associated with longer OS (each P < or = 0.03). There was no benefit from mastectomy, as opposed to biopsy or lumpectomy only. At a median follow-up time of 5.5 years, 37% of patients had progressed--16% in the same or contralateral breast, 5% in the central nervous system, and 14% in other extranodal sites. CONCLUSIONS: The combination of limited surgery, anthracycline-containing chemotherapy, and involved-field RT produced the best outcome in the pre-rituximab era. A prospective trial on the basis of these results should be pursued to confirm these observations and to determine whether the impact of rituximab on the patterns of relapse and outcome parallels that of DLBCL presenting at other sites.

Prolonged survival in poor-risk diffuse large B-cell lymphoma following front-line treatment with rituximab-supplemented, early-intensified chemotherapy with multiple autologous hematopoietic stem cell support: a multicenter study by GITIL (Gruppo Italiano Terapie Innovative nei Linfomi).

A prospective multicenter program was performed to evaluate the combination of rituximab and high-dose (hd) sequential chemotherapy delivered with multiple autologous peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) support (R-HDS-maps regimen) in previously untreated patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLB-CL) and age-adjusted International Prognostic Score (aaIPI) score 2-3. R-HDS-maps includes: (i) three APO courses; (ii) sequential administration of hd-cyclophosphamide (CY), hd-Ara-C, both supplemented with rituximab, hd-etoposide/cisplatin, PBPC harvests, following hd-CY and hd-Ara-C; (iii) hd-mitoxantrone (hd-Mito)/L-Pam + 2 further rituximab doses; (iv) involved-field radiotherapy. PBPC rescue was scheduled following Ara-C, etoposide/cisplatin and Mito/L-Pam. Between 1999 and 2004, 112 consecutive patients aged <65 years (74 score 2, 38 score 3) entered the study protocol. There were five early and two late toxic deaths. Overall 90 patients (80%) reached clinical remission (CR); at a median 48 months follow-up, 87 (78%) patients are alive, 82 (73%) in continuous CR, with 4 year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival (EFS) projections of 76% (CI 68-85%) and 73% (CI 64-81%), respectively. There were no significant differences in OS and EFS between subgroups with Germinal-Center and Activated B-cell phenotype. Thus, life expectancy of younger patients with aaIPI 2-3 DLB-CL is improved with the early administration of rituximab-supplemented intensive chemotherapy compared with the poor outcome following conventional chemotherapy.

High-dose ifosfamide and vinorelbine as salvage therapy for relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's disease.

In an effort to improve results in patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's disease (HD), an intensive regimen combining vinorelbine (25 mg/m2 i.v. days 1 and 5) and high-doses of ifosfamide (3000 mg/m2/d, days 1-4 by continuous infusion) with mesna uroprotection and G-CSF support was designed. Forty-seven patients were treated; 14 had failure to initial induction therapy and 33 had disease relapsed from an initial response. The response rate was 83%, with 21 complete (45%, CR) and 18 partial remissions (38%, PR). Partial response was achieved after a median of two cycles (range 1-3) and CR after a median of six cycles (range 2-10). At the end of ifosfamide and vinorelbine, 10 patients in CR, one in PR, and one with stable disease also received radiotherapy to nodal sites of relapse. Eleven patients who had undergone peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) harvesting following ifosfamide-vinorelbine proceeded to receive high-dose chemotherapy (HDCT) and PBSC transplantation. The main toxic effect was grade III-IV neutropenia, documented in 65% of cycles with a median duration of 4 days, and non-haematological toxicity was mild. The combination of high-doses of ifosfamide and vinorelbine was well tolerated and an active regimen in treatment of patients with relapsed and refractory HD. It was not only useful as salvage therapy with or without consolidative radiotherapy but it also was a valuable induction regimen before high-dose intensification therapy followed by PBSC reinfusion in patients eligible for this approach.

Successful in vivo purging of CD34-containing peripheral blood harvests in mantle cell and indolent lymphoma: evidence for a role of both chemotherapy and rituximab infusion.

Elimination of tumor cells ("purging") from hematopoietic stem cell products is a major goal of bone marrow-supported high-dose cancer chemotherapy. We developed an in vivo purging method capable of providing tumor-free stem cell products from most patients with mantle cell or follicular lymphoma and bone marrow involvement. In a prospective study, 15 patients with CD20(+) mantle cell or follicular lymphoma, bone marrow involvement, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-detectable molecular rearrangement received 2 cycles of intensive chemotherapy, each of which was followed by infusion of a growth factor and 2 doses of the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab. The role of rituximab was established by comparison with 10 control patients prospectively treated with an identical chemotherapy regimen but no rituximab. The CD34(+) cells harvested from the patients who received both chemotherapy and rituximab were PCR-negative in 93% of cases (versus 40% of controls; P =.007). Aside from providing PCR-negative harvests, the chemoimmunotherapy treatment produced complete clinical and molecular remission in all 14 evaluable patients, including all 6 with mantle cell lymphoma (versus 70% of controls). In vivo purging of hematopoietic progenitor cells can be successfully accomplished in most patients with CD20(+) lymphoma, including mantle cell lymphoma. The results depended on the activity of both chemotherapy and rituximab infusion and provide the proof of principle that in vivo purging is feasible and possibly superior to currently available ex vivo techniques. The high short-term complete-response rate observed suggests the presence of a more-than-additive antilymphoma effect of the chemoimmunotherapy combination used.

Gemcitabine in the treatment of refractory Hodgkin's disease: results of a multicenter phase II study.

PURPOSE: To explore the use of gemcitabine for the treatment of patients with relapsing or refractory Hodgkin's disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Eligible patients had measurable disease and more than one previous chemotherapy regimen. Patients previously treated with high-dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow or peripheral stem-cell support were not included. Gemcitabine, 1,250 mg/m(2), was administered as a 30-minute intravenous infusion on days 1, 8, and 15 of each 28-day cycle of therapy. The dosing schedule remained fixed, and any dose of gemcitabine that could not be given on time was omitted. Patients who had not experienced any hematologic or nonhematologic toxicity after one complete cycle of therapy were permitted to have subsequent doses increased by 20%: that is, from 1, 250 mg/m(2) to 1,500 mg/m(2). RESULTS: Of the 23 enrolled patients, 22 were assessable for response; all 23 patients were included in the efficacy analysis. Disease status for two patients (9%) reached a state of complete remission, and seven patients (30%) achieved a partial response, for an overall response rate of 39% (95% confidence interval, 19.7% to 61.5%). The likelihood of achieving a response was not influenced by a patients' main pretreatment characteristics or by their response to their last prior chemotherapy. The median duration of response was 6.7 months (range, 2 to 33+ months), and the median overall survival time was 10.7 months (range, 4 to 34.7+ months). In general, toxicities were mild; no treatment-related deaths occurred, and only one life-threatening adverse event was reported for this study. CONCLUSION: Gemcitabine was shown to be active in heavily pretreated patients with Hodgkin's disease, producing a response rate of 39%. Additionally, drug-related toxicities were mild, which thus suggests the possible inclusion of gemcitabine in an earlier phase of treatment.

Long-term results of an intensive regimen: VEBEP plus involved-field radiotherapy in advanced Hodgkin's disease.

PURPOSE: This pilot study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of a new intensive drug regimen, combined with involved-nodal-field radiotherapy, in advanced Hodgkin's disease not treated by chemotherapy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From September 1990 to March 1993, 73 evaluable patients with newly diagnosed stage IIB, III (A and B), and IV (A and B) Hodgkin's disease or who were relapsing after primary subtotal or total nodal irradiation were treated with eight cycles of etoposide, epirubicin, bleomycin, cyclophosphamide, and prednisolone (VEBEP) followed by radiotherapy (30-36 Gy) to the nodal site or sites of pretreatment disease. The median duration of follow-up was 68 months. RESULTS: The complete remission rate was 94% (95% CI: 86-98). At 6 years, freedom from progression and overall survival rates were 78% (95% CI: 68-88) and 82% (95% CI: 73-91), respectively. There was one episode of fatal sepsis after bone marrow aplasia that occurred after VEBEP and extended-field irradiation. Hematologic toxicity during chemotherapy was acceptable; without the support of growth factors, grade IV leukopenia and grade IV neutropenia, as determined within cycles, occurred in 38% and 85% of patients, respectively, but was reversible in the vast majority of patients by the day of treatment recycle. No episodes of epidoxorubicin-related cardiomyopathy or symptomatic pulmonary toxicity were documented. Overt and/or subclinical hypothyroidism occurred in 38% of cases. Gonadal damage was evident in the large majority of male patients but reversible in half of them, whereas permanent sterility was observed in females at least 35 years of age. No secondary leukemia has been so far detected. DISCUSSION: VEBEP followed by involved-nodal-field radiotherapy is an effective treatment for chemotherapy-naive Hodgkin's disease and is associated to acceptable rates of acute and intermediate-term toxicity. This intensive regimen, which does not routinely require the support of hematopoietic growth factors and can be delivered in an outpatient setting, warrants a prospective comparison in a randomized trial versus one of the more effective standard-combination regimens.

Ifosfamide and vinorelbine: an active regimen for patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's disease.

Twenty-six patients with relapsed or refractory Hodgkin's disease (HD) were treated with an intensive salvage regimen combining ifosfamide (3000 mg/m2/d, days 1-4 through continuous intravenous infusion) and vinorelbine (25 mg/m2, i.v. days 1 and 5) with mesna uroprotection and G-CSF support. Courses were given at 3-week intervals. Ten patients achieved a complete and 10 patients a partial response, yielding an overall response rate of 77%. The main toxic effect was neutropenia and the combination was well tolerated.

Gallium-67 scintigraphy evaluation of therapy in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

UNLABELLED: Patients with diffuse large cell lymphoma may achieve complete remission (CR) after chemotherapy, and the time to reach CR may be predictive of treatment outcome. Partial remission, or recurrence from CR, is associated with poor survival. Gallium-67 imaging has proven to be useful in evaluating lymphoma patients. In tumor models, this radiotracer is an indicator of tumor viability. Gallium-67 uptake is seen only in avid and viable lymphoma tissue, not in fibrotic or necrotic tissue. In this study, we prospectively assessed the ability of this radiotracer to define residual disease. In addition, we evaluated the possibility of predicting the clinical outcome in patients with diffuse cell lymphoma on the basis of scan positivity during chemotherapy. METHODS: Thirty-three consecutive patients with histologically proven diffuse large cell lymphoma were investigated with 67Ga scintigraphy 48-72 hr after injection of 185-259 MBq 67Ga-citrate for staging and during follow-up after four to six cycles of intensive chemotherapy. Patients were monitored for a mean of 56.0 mo (range 7-90 mo), and they were restaged using physical examination, CT and all necessary imaging modalities. RESULTS: Patients were divided into two groups according to the positivity or negativity of 67Ga scan after four to six cycles of chemotherapy. Of the 33 patients studied, 14 (42.4%) showed persistent abnormal uptake of 67Ga-citrate after four to six cycles of chemotherapy. In this group, 9 patients (64.2%) died of lymphoma at a mean of 24.3 mo from presentation with the diagnosis (range 7-71 mo). Four patients had no evidence of disease at an average of 71.7 mo after diagnosis, and 1 patient was considered to be in partial remission. In the second group of 19 67Ga-negative patients, after four to six cycles of chemotherapy, 4 died and 15 are alive and considered to be in CR. A statistical analysis of the association between 67Ga scan results after four to six cycles of chemotherapy and survival was performed using the log-rank test; there was a statistically significant association between scan results and survival (p=0.00125). CONCLUSION: We conclude that 67Ga scintigraphy is an excellent predictor of residual tumor viability in lymphoma patients and that persistent positivity of the scan predicts poor outcome and may justify a change in treatment.

Soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R) in Hodgkin's disease: outcome and clinical implications.

The aim of this study was to assess the prognostic role of soluble interleukin-2 receptors (sIL-2R) in Hodgkin's disease (HD) both in the achievement of complete remission (CR) and in predicting disease relapse. Between August 1988 and June 1993 sIL-2R serum levels were measured in 174 untreated patients; in 137 of them evaluation was repeated at the end of treatment and in 132 also during the follow-up. Baseline sIL-2R levels (mean+/-standard error) were significantly higher in patients than in 65 healthy control subjects (1842+/-129 U ml(-1) vs 420+/-10 U ml(-10, P< 0.0001). At the end of treatment 135 out of 137 evaluated patients achieved complete response (CR) and their mean sIL-2R serum levels were significantly lower than those at diagnosis (635+/-19 U ml(-1) vs 1795+/-122 U ml(-1), P=0.0001). After a median follow-up of 5 years, sIL-2R remained low in 114 patients in continuous CR, while they increased in 9 out of 12 patients (75%) who relapsed. However, a temporary increase was also observed in six patients (5%) still in CR. Treatment outcome in terms of freedom from progression was linearly related to sIL-2R levels. Our study confirms that patients with untreated HD have increased baseline levels of sIL-2R compared with healthy subjects and that their pretreatment values may be an indication of disease outcome similar to other conventional prognostic factors, such as number of involved sites, presence of B symptoms and extranodal extent.