Platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) retains independent prognostic significance in advanced stage marginal zone lymphoma patients treated with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone combination chemotherapy (R-CVP): Consortium for Improvi

BACKGROUND: Rituximab plus cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (R-CVP) is one of the effective chemotherapeutic regimens for patients with advanced stage marginal zone lymphoma (MZL). However, prognostic factors that affect the outcome of treatment for MZL are not well understood. METHODS: Between August 2006 and June 2013, patients with newly diagnosed stage III and IV MZL treated with R-CVP as a first-line therapy from 15 institutions were retrospectively analyzed. Patients' clinical and laboratory data at diagnosis were collected by review of medical records. RESULTS: A total of 80 patients were analyzed. Bone marrow involvement was observed in 30% cases. Twelve patients (15%) had nodal MZL, and 41.3% patients exhibited multiple mucosa-associated lymphoma tissue sites. Overall response rate was 91.3%, including 73.8% achieving complete response. Advanced MZL patients treated with R-CVP showed a 3-year progression-free survival (PFS) rate of 69.6%. Prognostic markers significantly affecting PFS in univariate analysis were platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR, 3.9 g/dL, P=0.008), and the International Prognostic Index (IPI) score (1 vs. 2–4, P=0.032). In multivariate analysis, only PLR (<95 vs. ≥95, HR 0.367, 95% CI, 0.139–0.971, P=0.043) was an independent risk factor for PFS. CONCLUSION: PLR ≥95 at diagnosis is an independent prognostic marker for PFS in advanced stage MZL patients treated with R-CVP. This marker may aid clinicians in predicting the response to R-CVP chemotherapy in stage III and IV MZL patients.

The Effect of Rituximab, Cyclophosphamide, Vincristine, and Prednisolone (R-CVP) Chemotherapy in Patients with Ocular Adnexal Extranodal Marginal Zone B Cell Lymphoma of the Mucosa-Associated Lymphoid Tissue (MALT) Lymphoma

PURPOSE: To report the effectiveness of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisolone (R-CVP) combination chemotherapy in patients with ocular adnexal mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma (OAML). METHODS: R-CVP chemotherapy was performed in 7 patients (8 eyes) with a confirmed histopathological diagnosis of OAML from January 2012 to December 2012. A total of 6 cycles were administered at a 3-4 week interval and 2 cycles of rituximab were added at the third week. Response evaluation was performed 3 times, with the first evaluation 3 weeks after the third cycle, the second 3 weeks after the sixth cycle, and the last after the second rituximab cycle. RESULTS: In all 7 patients (8 eyes) with R-CVP, symptoms were improved, and the mass was markedly resolved based on orbit CT and MRI scan at first response evaluation. Clinically complete remission (CR) was achieved in 6 patients and partial response (PR) in 1 patient. At final response assessment, there was no detectable mass on orbit CT or MRI. There were no severe infections or hematologic adverse effects including neutropenia or decreased immunoglobulin during the follow-up period. CONCLUSIONS: In OAML, R-CVP combination chemotherapy is considered an effective, safe and important therapeutic approach, reducing the limitations of classic localized radiotherapy and combination chemotherapy and improving the remission rate.