MabThera plus chemotherapy first-line
MabThera in combination with chemotherapy is indicated for the first-line treatment of patients with stage III–IV follicular lymphoma (FL) based on data from four phase III studies comparing MabThera plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone.1–9 These studies showed significant improvements in response rates, time-dependent parameters, and OS for MabThera plus chemotherapy versus chemotherapy alone.
MabThera-based chemotherapy significantly improves OS
A meta-analysis of six phase III studies also confirmed that MabThera-based treatment significantly improves OS compared with non-MabThera-based treatment (hazard ratio for mortality=0.63, 95% confidence interval: 0.51–0.79; p<0.001).10
References
1. Marcus R, Imrie K, Belch A, et al. Blood 2005;105:1417–1423.
2. Marcus R, Solal-Celigny P, Imrie K, et al. Blood 2006;108:146a (Abstract 481).
3. Cunningham D, et al. Haematologica 2005;90 (Suppl. 2):274 (Abstract 0685).
4. Lewis G, Marcus R, Proctor S, et al. Blood 2006;108:107a (Abstract 345).
5. Hiddemann W, Forstpointer R, Dreyling M, et al. J Clin Oncol 2005;23(Suppl. 16 Pt I):566s (Abstract 6527).
6. Foussard C, Mounier N, Van Hoof A, et al. J Clin Oncol 2006;24(Suppl. 18 Pt I):424s (Abstract 7508)
7. Salles GA, Foussard C, Nicolas M, et al. Blood 2004;104:49a–50a (Abstract 160).
8. Hiddemann W, Knebba M, Dreyling M, et al. Blood 2005;106:3725–3732.
9. Herold M, Haas A, Srock S, et al. J Clin Oncol 2007;25:1986–1992.
10. Schulz H, Bohlius J, Skoetz N, et al. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2007, Issue 4. Art No: CD003805. DOI 10.1002/14651858. CD003805.pub2.
