Comparison of High-Dose Chemotherapy + Rituximab and CHOP + Rituximab in High-Risk Follicular Lymphoma

The place of intensified regimens with autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) is poorly defined in FL at diagnosis . Most data arise from studies performed in the pre-Rituximab age. According to these studies, ASCT improved overall survival versus standard salvage approaches in relapsed patients with a high proportion of patients achieving a durable molecular remission. Data at diagnosis are less clear. Three studies have been so far published with contradictory results. Two of these studies showed that intensive therapy ensures a better disease control although in one study a significant extra-mortality from secondary tumors was observed in the intensified arm. A third study found no advantage for patients treated intensively. These results led to the widespread notion that ASCT is not superior to conventional chemotherapy in unselected FL patients. Our previous non-randomized experience employing high dose sequential chemotherapy with a final TBI-free ASCT added some clues to these considerations. Our study employs an autografting procedure which is associated to fewer secondary tumors as it does not include total body irradiation. Moreover we have observed that the our regimen (named HDS) is particularly effective in high-risk patients, suggesting that this specific subgroup is the most appropriate setting for intensified regimens

The present multicenter open label randomized trial took advantage of these observations. In addition we have included Rituximab in both arms as the inclusion of this novel agent is expected to significantly modify the performance of available treatments. We have thus compared a Rituximab-supplemented version of HDS (R-HDS) regimen with six CHOP courses supplemented by an identical number of Rituximab courses. Aim of the study was verify if an intensified approach could be beneficial as first line treatment of high-risk FL patients in the Rituximab age.