Rituximab as adjuvant to XXXX and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation for aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

@entity1 @entity137 @entity706 @entity4812 @entity1892 @entity1398 @entity1349 @entity34
Based on the favorable safety profile and the independent activity of rituximab in @entity1892 , we evaluated its efficacy and @entity137 after @entity34 ( @entity34 ) and autologous hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). Thirty-five @entity1 with diffuse large cell (25 @entity1 ), mantle cell (3 @entity1 ), transformed (3 @entity1 ), or other (4 @entity1 ) subtypes of @entity1892 received @entity34 followed by a purged autologous graft. The rituximab schedule was 4 weekly infusions (375 mg/m(2)) starting at day 42 after HCT and, for @entity1 5 to 35, a second 4-week course 6 months after HCT. All planned therapy was completed in 29 @entity1 . With 30 months' median follow-up, the 2-year event-free survival (EFS) rate was 83% and the @entity1349 ( @entity1349 ) rate was 88%. For 21 @entity1 with relapsed or @entity706 , the EFS rate was 81% and the @entity1349 rate was 85%. Grades 3 to 4 @entity1398 occurred in 19 (54%) @entity1 . A prospective study of immune reconstitution included measurements of lymphocyte subsets, immunoglobulins, and response to vaccination. Serious infections were not observed despite delayed B-cell recovery in all @entity1 and suppressed immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels and low pneumococcus antibody titers in a subset. Rituximab after @entity34 and HCT is feasible, and these phase 2 data support the current US Intergroup phase 3 trial in recurrent/refractory @entity4812 .
