Safety of fludarabine, mitoxantrone, and dexamethasone combined with rituximab in the treatment of stage IV indolent lymphoma

Semin Oncol. 2000 Dec;27(6 Suppl 12):37-41.

Abstract

Rituximab (Rituxan; Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA and IDEC Pharmaceutical Corporation, San Diego, CA) is an effective agent for the treatment of CD20-positive B-cell lymphomas. Because its toxicities are minimal and do not overlap with the toxicities of standard chemotherapy, it is an appealing agent to use in combination with chemotherapy. Moreover, there is evidence for synergy between rituximab and some chemotherapeutic agents. The combination of fludarabine/ mitoxantrone/dexamethasone (FND) has been a well-tolerated and effective regimen for the treatment of indolent lymphomas. When given together with prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii, infectious complications with FND have been modest. We report on preliminary safety data using FND in conjunction with rituximab, along with maintenance alpha interferon. Toxicity has been modest. The concurrent use of rituximab with FND modestly increases neutropenia, but has not resulted in any change in the pattern of infectious or other toxicity that occurs with FND alone.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Randomized Controlled Trial
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / adverse effects
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Dexamethasone / administration & dosage
  • Dexamethasone / adverse effects
  • Genes, bcl-2
  • Humans
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / drug therapy*
  • Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / pathology
  • Lymphoma, Follicular / drug therapy*
  • Lymphoma, Follicular / genetics
  • Lymphoma, Follicular / pathology
  • Mitoxantrone / administration & dosage
  • Mitoxantrone / adverse effects
  • Neoplasm Staging
  • Neutropenia / chemically induced
  • Rituximab
  • Vidarabine / administration & dosage
  • Vidarabine / adverse effects
  • Vidarabine / analogs & derivatives*

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Rituximab
  • Dexamethasone
  • Mitoxantrone
  • Vidarabine
  • fludarabine