Chemotherapy Plus Rituximab Combination for Adult Lymphoblastic Leukemia (B-ALL) and Burkitt's Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma

Summary

The study was set up to assess the efficacy and tolerability of a chemotherapy-immunotherapy combination programme originally introduced by GMALL (the German cooperative group for adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia)in 2002, to improve remission rate, overall and disease-free survival rates of adult patients with Burkitt's leukemia and lymphoma. The therapy includes a maximum of six chemotherapy courses (two with high doses of methotrexate and cytarabine) plus anti-CD20 antibody (Rituximab, up to 8 total doses), supplemented by local radiation therapy in the case of initial mediastinal or central nervous system (CNS) involvement or a residual tumor after chemotherapy.

Timeline

Start

2002-11

Primary completion

2014-06

Completion

2014-06

Publications

• Intermesoli T, Rambaldi A, Rossi G, Delaini F, Romani C, Pogliani EM, Pagani C, Angelucci E, Terruzzi E, Levis A, Cassibba V, Mattei D, Gianfaldoni G, Scattolin AM, Di Bona E, Oldani E, Parolini M, Gokbuget N, Bassan R. High cure rates in Burkitt lymphoma and leukemia: a Northern Italy Leukemia Group study of the German short intensive rituximab-chemotherapy program. Haematologica. 2013 Nov;98(11):1718-25. doi: 10.3324/haematol.2013.086827. Epub 2013 Jun 10.

Drugs

Indications