Curing PMBCL Without Radiation Therapy

Nearly 100% of patients with primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma were cured with the dose-adjusted rituximab plus EPOCH regimen.

Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBCL) is a unique subtype of B-cell lymphoma that shares molecular and clinical features with nodular sclerosing Hodgkin lymphoma. In a prior phase II study (JW Oncol Hematol Jun 10 2008), patients with newly diagnosed, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma achieved high remission rates and durable responses after receiving EPOCH (etoposide, prednisone, vincristine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin) plus rituximab and filgrastim, a pharmacodynamic regimen in which scheduled dose-escalation is incorporated with each cycle based on nadir neutrophil counts.

Now, investigators have conducted a single-group, phase II, prospective study of this regimen in 51 patients with untreated PMBCL (median age, 30 years; 59% wo…

Reviewing Author

Michael E. Williams, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAbbVie; AstraZeneca; Beigene; Janssen; Pharmacyclics

Grant/Research SupportJanssen

Editorial BoardsAmerican Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Hematology Longitudinal Knowledge Approval Committee

Michael E. Williams, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardAbbVie; AstraZeneca; Beigene; Janssen; Pharmacyclics

Grant/Research SupportJanssen

Editorial BoardsAmerican Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) Hematology Longitudinal Knowledge Approval Committee