Rituximab and the risk of transformation of follicular lymphoma: a retrospective pooled analysis

Publication date: Available online 4 July 2018Source: The Lancet HaematologyAuthor(s): Massimo Federico, María Dolores Caballero Barrigón, Luigi Marcheselli, Vittoria Tarantino, Martina Manni, Clementine Sarkozy, Sara Alonso-Álvarez, Marielle Wondergem, Guillaume Cartron, Armando Lopez-Guillermo, Djamila Issa, Franck Morschhauser, Miguel Alcoceba, Eva Kimby, Chiara Rusconi, Martine Chamuleau, Harald Holte, Sandra Lockmer, Silvia Montoto, Maria Gomes da SilvaSummaryBackgroundHistological transformation of follicular lymphoma to aggressive lymphoma is a serious event with a substantial effect on patient outcome. The aim of the Aristotle study was to assess the effect of rituximab on the risk of histological transformation and its outcome.Methods11 cooperative groups or institutions across Europe contributed data to this study. Eligible patients (≥18 years) had histologically confirmed follicular lymphoma grade 1, 2, or 3a, diagnosed between Jan 2, 1997, and Dec 20, 2013. Histological transformation was defined as a biopsy-proven aggressive lymphoma that occurred as a first event after first-line therapy. The primary endpoints were the cumulative hazard of histological transformation and survival after transformation.FindingsInformation was available for 10 001 patients with follicular lymphoma, 8116 of whom were eligible for analysis. 509 histological transformations were reported. After a median follow-up of 87 months (range 1–221; 2·5–97·5th percentile 5–160), ...
Source: The Lancet Haematology - Category: Hematology Source Type: research