FCM Versus R-FCM Followed by R-Maintenance or Observation Only
Lymphoma, Follicular, Lymphoma, Low-Grade, Lymphoma, Intermediate-Grade
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Lymphoma, Follicular focused on measuring Drug Therapy, Maintenance, rituximab
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria patients with histologically proven stage III/IV centroblastic/centrocytic (FL), centrocytic (MCL)or lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma (LPIC). relapsed disease after initial chemotherapy or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation two-dimensionally measurable lesion outside a previously irradiated area (osteoblastic bone lesions, ascites, and pleural effusions are not evaluable) age > 18 years Karnofsky-index > 60 life expectancy of at least 3 months effective contraception in female premenopausal patients patient's written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: age < 18 years Karnofsky-index < 60 treatment with fludarabine or mitoxantrone within the preceding three months active auto-immune hemolytic anemia at the start of FCM chemotherapy participation in another clinical trial during the last 4 weeks participation in this study before previous treatment with murine antibodies concurrent diseases which exclude the administration of therapy as outlined by the study protocol non-compensated heart failure dilatative cardiomyopathy coronary heart disease with ST segment depression in ECG myocardial infarction during the last 6 months chronic lung disease with hypoxemia severe non-compensated hypertension severe non-compensated diabetes mellitus renal insufficiency (creatinine > 2.0 mg/dl), not related to lymphoma hepatic insufficiency with transaminase values greater than 3-fold of normal values and/or bilirubin levels > 2.0 mg/dl, not related to lymphoma clinical signs of cerebral dysfunction women during lactation or pregnancy or of childbearing potential not using a reliable contraceptive method severe psychiatric disease serological positivity for HBV, HCV, HIV previous organ transplantation other than autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation missing written informed consent or missing written consent for data protection
Sites / Locations
- German Low Grade Study Group (Glsg)
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Arm 4
Active Comparator
Experimental
Other
Other
FCM
R-FCM
Observation only
rituximab maintenance
All patients underwent a central randomization procedure. Randomization was done by a Computer program stratified for histology, Response to the preceding chemotherapy, and the number of previous chemotherapies using the method of permutuated blocks. The FCM combination comprised: 25 mg/m2 fludarabine per day iv over 30 minutes, days 1 to 3 200 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide per day as a 4-hour-infusion, days 1 to 3 8 mg/m2 mitoxantrone per day iv over 30 minutes, day 1 4 treatment Cycles á 4 weeks per cycle In patients with peripheral lymphocyte Counts more than 20.000/mm3 and/or a large Tumor mass (ie, bulky disease more than 10 cm) a cytoreductive pre-phase could be performed, comprising cyclophosphamide at a dose of 200 mg/m2 as a 1-hour-infusion over 3 to 5 days.
All patients underwent a central randomization procedure. Randomization was done by a Computer program stratified for histology, Response to the preceding chemotherapy, and the number of previous chemotherapies using the method of permutuated blocks. The R-FCM combination comprised: 375 mg/m2 rituximab on the day before the respective FCM course. 25 mg/m2 fludarabine per day iv over 30 minutes, days 1 to 3 200 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide per day as a 4-hour-infusion, days 1 to 3 8 mg/m2 mitoxantrone per day iv over 30 minutes, day 1 4 treatment Cycles á 4 weeks per cycle In patients with peripheral lymphocyte Counts more than 20.000/mm3 and/or a large Tumor mass (ie, bulky disease more than 10 cm) a cytoreductive pre-phase could be performed, comprising cyclophosphamide at a dose of 200 mg/m2 as a 1-hour-infusion over 3 to 5 days.
Patients achieving a complete or partial remission after FCM or R-FCM underwent a subsequent randomization for 2 courses of rituximab to be given 3 and 6 months after completion of salvage therapy versus observation only. This second randomization was stratified for the type of salvage therapy with FCM or R-FCM, the Response to this Treatment (CR or PR), and histology.
Patients achieving a complete or partial remission after FCM or R-FCM underwent a subsequent randomization for 2 courses of rituximab to be given 3 and 6 months after completion of salvage therapy versus observation only. Courses of rituximab consisted of 4 doses of 375 mg/m2 per day given at 4 consecutive weeks. This second randomization was stratified for the type of salvage therapy with FCM or R-FCM, the Response to this Treatment (CR or PR), and histology.