Gemcitabine-oxaliplatin plus rituximab (R-GemOx) as first-line treatment in elderly patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: a single-arm, open-label, phase 2 trial

This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01670370.FindingsBetween Aug 22, 2012, and Dec 31, 2015, 60 patients were enrolled and included in the study. The median age of the patients was 75 years (IQR 70–80) and 27 (45%) patients had a poor performance status with an ECOG score of 2 or greater. 45 (75%) patients achieved an overall response at the end of the treatment, with 28 (47%) achieving a complete response. Common grade 3–4 adverse events were haematological toxicities (thrombocytopenia in five [8%] patients, anaemia in four [7%], and neutropenia in nine [15%]) and gastrointestinal complications (nausea in five [8%] patients, vomiting in three [5%], and diarrhoea in one [2%]). No treatment-related deaths were reported.InterpretationsThe R-GemOx regimen shows high efficacy and safety as a front-line treatment in an elderly patient subpopulation and might be a therapeutic option for management of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma in elderly patients.FundingNational Natural Science Foundation of China, Jiangsu Province's Medical Elite Programme, Project of National Key Clinical Specialty, National Science & Technology Pillar Program, Jiangsu Provincial Special Program of Medical, and National Science and Technology Major Project.
Source: The Lancet Haematology - Category: Hematology Source Type: research