Gemcitabine, cisplatin and methylprednisolone (GEM-P) with or without Rituximab in relapsed and refractory patients with diffuse large B cell lymphoma (DLBCL)

A phase II study of gemcitabine, carboplatin, dexamethasone, and rituximab in patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma

This study evaluated the efficacy and safety of salvage chemotherapy with gemcitabine, carboplatin, dexamethasone, and rituximab (GCD ± R) for Japanese patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). A multicenter, phase II trial of GCD ± R administered every 3 weeks for up to 6 cycles was conducted. Rituximab was administered as a therapeutic strategy for CD20-positive lymphoma. The primary endpoint was the complete response (CR) rate. Secondary endpoints included the overall response (OR) rate, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), toxicity, and success rate of peripheral blood stem cell collection for eligible transplant patients. A total of 25 patients (median age 66 years) were evaluated, with a median follow-up period of 66.7 months. CR and OR rates were 28% and 52%, respectively. Median PFS and OS were 8.7 and 32.2 months, respectively. The major toxicity was myelosuppression, but the regimen was generally well-tolerated, with a low incidence of febrile neutropenia (20%) and no treatment-related deaths. Of the 6 patients who were eligible for autologous stem cell transplantation and underwent peripheral blood stem cell mobilization, the required number of CD34-positive cells was collected in 5 (83%). All 6 proceeded to transplantation and achieved successful engraftment without recurrence. The present results suggest that GCD ± R may be effective and well-tolerated in Japanese patients with relapsed or refractory NHL. However, further investigation is needed to confirm these results.

Effect of the addition of rituximab to salvage chemotherapy prior to autologous stem cell transplant in aggressive CD20+ lymphoma: a cohort comparison from the NCIC Clinical Trials Group Study LY.12<sup/>

The impact of the addition of rituximab to salvage chemotherapy prior to autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT) was evaluated in a retrospective subgroup analysis of NCIC CTG LY.12. Among 414 patients who relapsed following R-CHOP, 96 received salvage chemotherapy alone [R - cohort]; and 318 received rituximab with chemotherapy [R + cohort] following a protocol amendment. The R-cohort had a higher proportion of patients with PS ≥2 and relapse <1 year after R-CHOP. The response rate (45.6% vs. 25.0%, p = 0.0003), CR/CRu (15.7% vs. 4.2%, p = 0.003) and transplantation rate (51.9% vs. 31.3%, p = 0.0004) was higher in the R + cohort. Event-free (27% vs. 22%, p = 0.0954) and overall survival at four years (43% vs. 31%; p = 0.045) were greater in the R + cohort when the patients with best response SD/PD to R-CHOP were excluded. Addition of rituximab to salvage therapy before ASCT appears to improve the response rate, transplantation rate, and overall survival in patients with CD20+ lymphoma who responded to R-CHOP.

Rituximab, Gemcitabine, Cisplatin and Methylprednisolone (R-GEM-P) is an effective regimen in relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

BACKGROUND

Patients with relapsed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) have a poor prognosis. Gemcitabine, methylprednisolone, cisplatin +/- rituximab (GEM-P+/-R) is a salvage regimen with limited overlap in toxicity with first-line therapy and short duration of inpatient delivery.

METHODS

We assessed the efficacy and safety of GEM-P+/-R in a retrospective single-centre analysis including patients meeting criteria of ≥ 18 yr of age, histologically proven DLBCL, treated between 2001 and 2011 in second-line with gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) day 1, 8 and 15, methylprednisolone 1000 mg day 1-5, cisplatin 100 mg/m(2) day 15 (replaced with carboplatin AUC5 if contraindication/toxicity) +/- rituximab 375 mg/m(2) day 1 and 15, every 28 d.

RESULTS

Forty-five patients aged 25-74 received a median of three cycles of GEM-P+/-R; 64% received rituximab. In 44 evaluable patients receiving GEM-P+/-R, overall response rate (ORR) was 48%; in 28 evaluable patients treated with rituximab + GEM-P (R-GEM-P), ORR was 61%. With median follow-up of 50.5 months (95% CI: 28.3-72.7), 3-yr overall survival (OS) from start of GEM-P+/-R was 31.4% (95% CI: 16.5-46.3); in patients treated with R-GEM-P, 3-yr OS was 49.1% (95% CI: 28.7-69.5). Predominant grade ≥ 3 toxicities were haematological; thrombocytopenia 69%, neutropenia 60% and febrile neutropenia 7%.

CONCLUSION

R-GEM-P is a deliverable regimen with useful activity in second-line treatment of DLBCL. Our data suggest that rituximab should be given concurrently.

GEM-P chemotherapy is active in the treatment of relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma

Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a relatively chemosensitive malignancy. However, for those who relapse, high-dose chemotherapy with autologous stem cell transplant is the treatment of choice which relies on adequate disease control with salvage chemotherapy. Regimens commonly used often require inpatient administration and can be difficult to deliver due to toxicity. Gemcitabine and cisplatin have activity in HL, non-overlapping toxicity with first-line chemotherapeutics, and may be delivered in an outpatient setting. In this retrospective single-centre analysis, patients with relapsed or refractory HL treated with gemcitabine 1,000 mg/m(2) day (D)1, D8 and D15; methylprednisolone 1,000 mg D1-5; and cisplatin 100 mg/m(2) D15, every 28 days (GEM-P) were included. Demographic, survival, response and toxicity data were recorded. Forty-one eligible patients were identified: median age 27. One hundred and twenty-two cycles of GEM-P were administered in total (median 3 cycles; range 1-6). Twenty of 41 (48 %) patients received GEM-P as second-line treatment and 11/41 (27 %) as third-line therapy. Overall response rate (ORR) to GEM-P in the entire cohort was 80 % (complete response (CR) 37 %, partial response 44 %) with 14/15 CR confirmed as a metabolic CR on PET and ORR of 85 % in the 20 second-line patients. The most common grade 3/4 toxicities were haematological: neutropenia 54 % and thrombocytopenia 51 %. Median follow-up from the start of GEM-P was 4.5 years. Following GEM-P, 5-year progression-free survival was 46 % (95 % confidence interval (CI), 30-62 %) and 5-year overall survival was 59 % (95 % CI, 43-74 %). Fourteen of 41 patients proceeded directly to autologous transplant. GEM-P is a salvage chemotherapy with relatively high response rates, leading to successful transplantation in appropriate patients, in the treatment of relapsed or refractory HL.

Role of conventional salvage multiple-drug chemotherapy in relapsed and refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas

Autologous stem cell transplantation is the standard care for patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphomas. Of the patients who are sensitive to second-line chemotherapy, approximately 40-50% are likely to be cured using this approach. The optimal salvage regimen for pre-transplant debulking is controversial and these second-line chemotherapies are particularly important for patients who cannot undergo transplantation for various reasons including age, comorbidity and insufficient stem cell collection. Numerous reports regarding this topic are available. This study evaluated reports published in the last 5 years, focusing on conventional multiple-drug second-line chemotherapies (with or without rituximab), and disregarding single-agent investigational phase-II trials. Results are encouraging, particularly when considering that the more recent and less toxic combinations appear to be equivalent to or even more favourable than previous, more aggressive approaches. Previous results obtained using a combination of mitoxantrone, carboplatin, cytarabine and methylprednisolone, are further updated and included in this study. In conclusion, the most effective conventional chemotherapy currently available for patients with relapsed or refractory non-Hodgkin lymphomas obtains complete remission rates of up to 50-70%; the achievement of a complete remission is the most important factor associated with a better outcome. Although the addition of rituximab is beneficial and safe, it is more effective in patients who have previously not been exposed to this monoclonal antibody. The addition of cycles of salvage chemotherapy to those strictly required for mobilization of peripheral blood stem cells ultimately improves the response rate.

Phase II study of gemcitabine for treatment of patients with advanced stage marginal zone B-cell lymphoma: Consortium for Improving Survival of Lymphoma (CISL) trial

BACKGROUND

Therapeutic approaches to marginal zone B-cell lymphoma (MZL) continue to evolve. Localized MZL responds favorably to local treatments, including surgery and/or local radiation therapy. However, MZL manifests as a disseminated disease in one-third of the cases at diagnosis. Moreover, relapses involving distant sites after local therapy have been reported previously. Therefore, the search for effective forms of systemic therapy is a critical issue. We conducted this multi-center, phase II trial to assess the efficacy and safety of gemcitabine single chemotherapy for patients with stage III/IV MZL.

METHODS

Patients received gemcitabine 1250 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 of each cycle. The treatment was repeated every 3 weeks and continued for 6 cycles until disease progression, withdrawal due to toxicity, or withdrawal of consent.

RESULTS

Between Sep. 2006 and Sep. 2008, a total of 16 patients were enrolled (with informed consent) into this trial from 6 institutes in Korea. Among these patients, 4 patients dropped out without evaluation. The median age of the 12 (9 males, 3 females) evaluated patients was 62 (range 25-73) years. Seven patients (58%) evidenced involvement of extranodal sites. All patients received previous treatment for MZL. The patients received a total of 69 cycles of gemcitabine chemotherapy (range 3-6 [median 6] cycles/person). There were 2 PR (17%; 95% Confidence Interval [CI], 0.0-41%), 9 SD (75%), and 1 PD (8%). There were 8/69 cycles (12%) of grade 3/4 neutropenia. Non-hematologic toxicities were mild and tolerable. There were 5 cycles (8%) of delayed chemotherapy (median 1 week) owing to neutropenia. Dose reduction was required in 12 cycles. However, no treatment-related death occurred in this study. The median TTP was 10.2 months (95% CI, 5.3-15.1). As the response rate in stage I did not justify progressing to stage II (> or = 8/15), this study had to be discontinued, in accordance with the established protocols.

CONCLUSION

Gemcitabine as a single agent, in this dosage and at this schedule, evidenced minimal clinical activity in cases of advanced MZL.