Outpatient rituximab, ifosfamide, etoposide (R-IE) in patients older than 60 years with relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma who are not candidates for stem cell transplantation

Abstract

Patients with relapsed-refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (RR-DLBCL) ineligible for autologous stem cell transplantation (autoSCT) have poor survival. Thirty transplant-ineligible patients older than 60 years were administered rituximab 375 mg/m2 day 1, ifosfamide 1333 mg/m² days 1 to 3, and etoposide 80 mg/m² days 1 to 3 (R-IE) every 21 days for 6 cycles plus 2 doses of rituximab. Revised international prognostic index 3–4 was seen in 53% and prior rituximab exposure in 60%. The complete and overall response rates were 55% and 76%, respectively. Median progression free survival (PFS) and overall survival were 23 and 24 months, respectively. Patients relapsing within 12 months of prior treatment had a median PFS of 2.5 months compared to 23 months for those relapsing beyond 12 months. Grade 3–4 thrombocytopenia and neutropenia occurred in one and eight patients, respectively. R-IE is an effective, well tolerated regimen in RR-DLBCL patients not fit for autoSCT.

Keywords:

• Large cell lymphoma
• relapsed
• refractory

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by Roche Products Pty Limited and Amgen Pty Limited. This study was also supported by Amgen Australia Pty Ltd.