Prephase rituximab/prednisone therapy and aging-related, proinflammatory cytokine milieu in older, vulnerable patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma Journal Article


Authors: Lin, R. J.; Owens, C. N.; Drill, E.; Iannotta, A.; Oliveros, M.; Schick, D. L.; Noy, A.; Gerecitano, J. F.; Drullinsky, P. R.; Caron, P. C.; Kumar, A.; Matasar, M. J.; Moskowitz, C.; Korc-Grodzicki, B.; Zelenetz, A. D.; Salles, G. A.; Hamlin, P. A.
Article Title: Prephase rituximab/prednisone therapy and aging-related, proinflammatory cytokine milieu in older, vulnerable patients with newly diagnosed diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Abstract: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) predominantly affects older adults with suboptimal therapeutic outcomes due to increased treatment-related mortality and toxicities in vulnerable patients, clinically defined by geriatric impairments such as functional limitation, multimorbidity, or cognitive deficits. In this prospective pilot study, we evaluated a rituximab/prednisone prephase treatment strategy in 33 older, vulnerable patients with newly diagnosed DLBCL, defined by either age ≥70 years or age 60-70 years with Karnofsky performance scale (KPS) <80. A single dose of rituximab 375 mg/m2 between 3-10 days and oral prednisone for at least 5 days prior to the first dose of chemoimmunotherapy was administered. All patients completed prephase treatment and all but one commenced anthracycline-based chemoimmunotherapy. Only one early cycle death occurred. Toxicity events, defined by either unplanned hospitalization, unplanned dose reduction/delay, or chemotherapy discontinuation, occurred in 22 patients (67%). Sixteen patients (48%) experienced grade 3 or higher non-hematologic toxicities and/or grade 4 or higher hematologic toxicities. With a median follow-up of 4.4 years, both 5-year progression-free survival and overall survival were at 81% (95% confidence interval: 69-96). Importantly, we found that phenotypic impairments in basic and instrumental activities of daily living, physical function, mobility, KPS, and Cancer and Aging Research Group chemotherapy toxicity risk score were significantly associated with senescence-associated, proinflammatory cytokine milieu which was readily reversed with prephase treatment, potentially explaining its clinical effectiveness. Prephase therapy with rituximab/prednisone should be considered for all older, vulnerable DLBCL patients prior to curative intent, anthracycline-based chemoimmunotherapy. This trial was registered as clinicaltrials gov. Identifier: NCT 89028394. 2022 Ferrata Storti Foundation
Keywords: treatment outcome; aged; middle aged; prednisone; doxorubicin; rituximab; antineoplastic agent; prospective study; prospective studies; antineoplastic combined chemotherapy protocols; cyclophosphamide; vincristine; pathology; cytokine; cytokines; pilot study; pilot projects; aging; daily life activity; lymphoma, large b-cell, diffuse; activities of daily living; diffuse large b cell lymphoma; humans; human
Journal Title: Haematologica
Volume: 107
Issue: 5
ISSN: 0390-6078
Publisher: Ferrata Storti Foundation  
Date Published: 2022-05-01
Start Page: 1144
End Page: 1152
Language: English
DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2021.278719
PUBMED: 34289656
PROVIDER: scopus
PMCID: PMC9052931
DOI/URL:
Notes: Article -- Export Date: 1 June 2022 -- Source: Scopus
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MSK Authors
  1. Craig Moskowitz
    407 Moskowitz
  2. Ariela Noy
    351 Noy
  3. Andrew D Zelenetz
    767 Zelenetz
  4. Paul Hamlin
    276 Hamlin
  5. Matthew J Matasar
    289 Matasar
  6. Philip C Caron
    90 Caron
  7. Anita Kumar
    180 Kumar
  8. Esther Naomi Drill
    93 Drill
  9. Colette Ngozi Owens
    66 Owens
  10. Richard Jirui Lin
    124 Lin
  11. Gilles Andre Salles
    269 Salles
  12. Dylan Louis Schick
    2 Schick