Comparison on therapeutic effects of RFT and RCTVP regimen in the treatment of patients with indolent B-cell lymphoma in China

To compare the efficacy and safety of RFT (retuximab, fludarabine, pirarubicin) with RCTVP (retuximab, cyclophophamide, pirarubicin, vindesine and prednisone) in 248 indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) patients. Two hundred and forty-eight patients with indolent B-cell NHL were treated with combined chemotherapy, including RFT and RCTVP, from January 2002 to December 2010 in Tianjin Cancer Hospital. The rate of response, toxicity and long-term survival for the two regimens were analyzed retrospectively. For the previously untreated patients, overall response rate for RFT arm and RCTVP arm was 71.7 and 70.6%, and complete response rate was 47.5 and 54.9%, respectively (P > 0.05). For the refractory and relapsed patients, overall response (OR) rate and complete response (CR) rate were significantly improved in the RFT arm versus the RCTVP arm (P < 0.05). There were no statistically significant differences in overall survival (OS) between treatment groups. Comparing with RCTVP regimen, fludarabine-based treatment was associated with superior PFS both in previously untreated, refractory and relapsed patients. WHO grades 3 and 4 hematological adverse events were more common in the RFT arm. Neurotoxicity was more common in the RCTVP arm. For the previously untreated patients, there was no difference between RFT arm and RCTVP arm on OR and CR rates. For the refractory and relapsed indolent B-cell NHL patients who received RFT regimen achieved higher OR and CR rates compared with RCTVP-treated patients. No differences in OS were noted. RFT regimen was associated with superior PFS both in previously untreated, refractory and relapsed patients. RFT regimen is effective and well tolerated for patients with untreated, refractory and relapsed indolent B-cell NHL.