Use of bortezomib plus rituximab to treat patients with relapsed follicular lymphoma

This study looked at the effectiveness of bortezomib plus rituximab for treating patients with relapsed follicular lymphoma. The study concluded that bortezomib plus rituximab is a safe and effective treatment for patients with relapsed follicular lymphoma. 

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is a common type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. FL is often slow growing, but many patients will relapse. Current research focuses on increasing survival and reducing side effects from traditional chemotherapy. Bortezomib and rituximab are fairly new treatments for FL. Both attack different parts of the cancer cell, causing the cell to die.

More research is needed to confirm that bortezomib plus rituximab (BR) are safe when combined and are effective at treating relapsed FL. 

45 patients participated in this study. Patients received 6 cycles of BR. Bortezomib was given on days 1, 4, 8, and 11 on a 21-day cycle. Rituximab was given on day 1 of cycles 3, 4, 5, and 6. Rituximab maintenance was given 3 and 6 weeks after the end of treatment. The average length of follow up was 52 months.

47% of patients achieved a complete response (no detectable cancer). 18% of patients achieved a partial response (reduction in tumor size and/or amount). One patient had stable disease (no change in tumor size and/or amount). 24% of patients had progressive disease (increase in tumor size and/or amount).

The average progression-free survival time (time from treatment to disease progression) was 22 months. The 5-year overall survival rate (time from treatment to death from any cause) was 70%.

No treatment-related deaths occurred. Few grade 3 or 4 side effects occurred. The most common side effect was thrombocytopenia, a low blood platelet level (cells involved in clotting). 

The authors concluded that bortezomib plus rituximab produces good outcomes in patients with relapsed follicular lymphoma. 

This study included patients who had a good prognosis before treatment. More research will need to be conducted on patients who have a worse prognosis, such as B symptoms, bulky disease, or others.