Efficacy of rituximab in gastric diffuse large B cell lymphoma patients

Table 1 Lugano staging of GI lymphomas

Stage I: tumor confined to GI tract

Stage II: tumor extending into abdomen from GI site

II 1 = local nodal involvement

II 2 = distant nodal involvement

Stage III: penetration of serosa to involve adjacent organs or tissue

Stage IV: disseminated extranodal involvement, or supradiaphragmatic nodal involvement

GI: Gastrointestinal.

Table 2 Clinicopathological characteristics of 60 patients affected by gastric DLBCL

Clinicopathological characteristics
Age (yr)
Median	58
Range	19-76
Sex
Male	42
Female	28
Performance status
ECOG 0	0 (65%) (39/60)
ECOG 1	1 (28.3%) (17/60)
ECOG 2	2 (3.3%) (17/60)
Primary gastric site
Body	18.3% (11/60)
Antrum	46.6% (28/60)
Fundus	10% (6/60)
Antrum-body	25% (15/60)
Metastatic sites
No	23.3% (14/60)
Node	55% (33/60)
Pulmonary	18.3% (11/60)
Bone	0% (0/60)
Liver	1.6% (1/60)
Spleen	0% (0/60)
Pleural effusion	1.6% (1/60)
Bio-humoral parameters
Lactate dehydrogenase (high level)	85.0% (51/60)
β2 microglobulin (high level)	60% (36/60)
Lugano staging system
I	28.3% (17/60)
II	46.6% (28/60)
III	16.6% (10/60)
IV	8.3% (5/60)
B symptoms	15% (9/60)

ECOG: European Cooperative Oncology Group; DLBCL: Diffuse large B cell lymphoma.

Table 3 Treatment response

Chemo-immunotherapy treatment
No. of patients
CHOP-like	30
CHOP-like and rituximab	30
Second or other lines	7.50%
No. of cycles
Median	6 (3-24)
mean	8.3 (3-24)
Results
Median follow-up	77 mo
CHOP-like	CR = 76.6%, DFS at 5 yr = 73.3%, OS = 63.3%
CHOP-like and rituximab	CR = 100%, DFS at 5 yr = 100%, OS = 100%

CHOP: Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone; CR: Complete response; DFS: Disease-free survival; OS: Overall survival.

Table 4 Toxicity n (%)

	CHOP-like			CHOP-like and rituximab
	G1	G2/3	G4	G1	G2/3	G4
Hematological
Hemoglobin level	6 (20)	6 (20)	1 (3.3)	7 (23.3)	6 (20)	1 (3.3)
Neutrophil count	8 (26.6)	12 (40)	10 (33.3)	9 (30)	12 (40)	11 (36.6)
Platelet count	4 (13.3)	3 (10)	2 (6.6)	3 (10)	2 (6.6)	1 (3.3)
Gastrointestinal
Nausea/vomiting	10 (33.3)	4 (13.3)	0 (0)	10 (33.3)	4 (13.3)	1 (3.3)
Diarrhea	3 (10)	2 (6.6)	0 (0)	3 (10)	1 (3.3)	0 (0)
Stomatitis	6 (20)	2 (6.6)	0 (0)	6 (20)	3 (10)	0 (0)
Constipation	3 (10)	1 (3.3)	0 (0)	3 (10)	1 (3.3)	0 (0)
Dysphagia	1 (3.3)	2 (6.6)	0 (0)	1 (3.3)	1 (3.3)	0 (0)
Pyrosis	5 (16.6)	4 (13.3)	0 (0)	6 (20)	3 (10)	0 (0)
Other
Fatigue	8 (26.6)	6 (20)	1 (3.3)	9 (30)	6 (20)	1 (3.3)
Alopecia	3 (10)	5 (16.6)	14 (46.6)	4 (13.3)	6 (20)	17 (56.6)
Fever	3 (10)	4 (13.3)	1 (3.3)	4 (13.3)	5 (16.6)	1 (3.3)
Allergic reaction	1 (3.3)	1 (3.3)	0 (0)	2 (6.6)	1 (3.3)	0 (0)
Pharyngitis rythema	0 (0)	0 (0)	0 (0)	1 (3.3)	0 (0)	0 (0)
Paresthesia	9 (30)	2 (6.6)	0 (0)	7 (23.3)	3 (10)	1 (3.3)
Arthromyalgia	1 (3.3)	1 (3.3)	0 (0)	1 (3.3)	1 (3.3)	0 (0)
Recurrent infections	6 (20)	4 (13.3)	1 (3.3)	7 (23.3)	5 (16.6)	1 (3.3)
Thrombosis	2 (6.6)	1 (3.3)	0 (0)	2 (6.6)	1 (3.3)	0 (0)
Cough	2 (6.6)	2 (6.6)	1 (3.3)	3 (10)	2 (6.6)	0 (0)
Pain	1 (3.3)	1 (3.3)	0 (0)	2 (6.6)	1 (3.3)	0 (0)