Survival Impact of Rituximab and Chemotherapy in Chilean FL

Follicular lymphoma (FL) is the most common indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the U.S. and Europe, but data from Latin America are limited.

María Elena Cabrera and their team aimed to examine the clinical features, treatment patterns, and outcomes of patients with FL in Chile, with a focus on POD24 as a key prognostic factor.

The study conducted a retrospective analysis of 722 patients aged 15 years or older diagnosed with FL and treated at 17 cancer centers in Chile between 2000 and 2019.

Key outcomes, including time to first treatment (TTFT), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS), were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox regression models were applied to investigate prognostic factors.

The results demonstrated a median patient age of 62, with a female predominance (63%). Advanced-stage disease was present in 73% of patients, and bone marrow involvement in 68%.

The 1-year TTFT rate was 96%, and 30% received chemoimmunotherapy. Patients who received rituximab in addition to chemotherapy had higher complete response rates (69% vs. 60%; P< 0.001) and superior OS (16 vs. 8 years; P< 0.001). Patients who experienced POD24 had a significantly lower median OS (2.4 vs. 15 years).

The study concluded that adding rituximab to chemotherapy significantly improves response rates and survival in patients with FL in Chile, while POD24 is associated with markedly worse outcomes.

Funding received by AbbVie, AstraZeneca, Beigene, Cellectar, Janssen, Kite, LOXO, Mustang Bio, and Pharmacyclics.

Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39307921/

Cabrera ME, Peña C, Vega V, et al. (2024). “Follicular Lymphoma in Chile in the Adult Public Cancer Program: The Impact of Chemoimmunotherapy.” Cancer Rep (Hoboken). 2024;7(9):e2126. doi:10.1002/cnr2.2126