Abstract
Follicular lymphoma is second most common type of lymphoma. First line treatment with chemotherapy can lead to the clinical remission in part of patients but other patients have residual disease.
The aim was to evaluate the efficiacy of monoclonal antibody anti CD20 rituximab as a consolidation therapy after induction treatment of CHOP in patients with newly diagnosed follicular NHL. 40 patients with residual lymphoma after CHOP regimen were treated with rituximab, either in monotherapy or in combination with salvage chemotherapy followed by high dose therapy with stem cell support. We assessed efficacy and tolerance of the treatment.
In 28 patients (70%) complete remission was achieved and no progression during treatment of rituximab was noticed.