Rituximab in Combination with Chop Improves Survival in Elderly Patients with Aggressive Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLCL) is the most frequently diagnosed subtype of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), and more than 50% of cases present in patients over 60 years of age. Although cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisone (CHOP) is currently regarded as the gold standard treatment for DLCL, less than half of the elderly patients treated are cured. Therefore, it is essential that new strategies are developed. Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that is directed against the B-cell–specific antigen CD20 that is expressed on 80% of NHLs. Pilot trials combining rituximab with CHOP have suggested an efficacy advantage in both indolent and aggressive Bcell NHL, with no significant impact on toxicity. The