Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, methotrexate, bleomicin and prednisone plus rituximab in untreated young patients with low-risk (age-adjusted international prognostic index 0-1) diffuse large B-cell lymphoma

Young patients (aged 1860 years) with good-prognosis diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) [0 and 1 risk factor according to age-adjusted international prognostic index (aa-IPI)] are distinguished from patients with poor-prognosis. Six cycles of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone (CHOP) in combination with rituximab achieved best results in young patients with low-risk DLBCL. We retrospectively analyzed the data of 82 patients (1860 years) with untreated aa-IPI 01 DLBCL, from six Italian institutions, who underwent, between January 2002 and January 2007, rituximab-cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, methotrexate, bleomicin and prednisone (R-MACOP-B) therapy followed, in patients with bulky presentation, by 3036 Gy involved-field radiation therapy (34 patients). An overall response rate was noted in 77 out of 82 (94) patients (75 patients had a complete response (91), 2 patients had a partial response). With a median follow-up of 46 months, 7-year progression-free and overall survival were estimated to be 91 and 94, respectively. R-MACOP-B regimen followed by involved-field radiation on bulky presentation is safe and very effective in the treatment of young patients with low-risk DLBCL.