Preliminary clinical observation of combinational chemo-immunotherapy of R-CHOP and interleukin-2 in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma / 白血病·淋巴瘤

ABSTRACT

Objective To explore the feasibility of expansion for NK cells and the therapeutic efficacy improvement of rituximab by combinational Chemo-immunotherapy of rituximab and inter]eukin-2. To establish a clinical chemo-immunotherapy therapy regime of rituximab and interleukin-2(IL-2) for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Methods The clinical data of 24 initially treated inpatients with DLBCL from Aug 2008 to Mar 2009 were analyzed by prospective non-randomized study. Patients in the treatment group (12 cases) were treated by IL-2 plus R-CHOP regime and those in the control group (12 cases)only by R-CHOP. The absolute quantity of NK cells before and after IL-2 and/or R-CHOP treatment in both groups were detected with FCM and compared, and the therapy efficacy and adverse reactions were evaluated.Results The complete remission (CR) rate was 60%(6/10) and the overall response (OR)rate was 80%(8/10)in the treatment group. The CR rate was 50%(5/10) and the OR rate was 70 %(7/10) in the control group.The proliferation of the NK cells in the treatment group was significantly effective compared with that in the control group (P=0.015). The descending range of NK cells between pre-and post-treatment in the treatment group was significantly lower than that in the control group(P =0.005). The quantity of NK cells after treatment by IL-2 was significantly increased than that before treatment by IL-2 in the treatment group (P=0.03). Among 10 patients in the treatment group, 3 cases have got diarrhea and 3 fever. Conclusion Treatment by IL-2 plus R-CHOP can increase the NK cell quantity in patients with DLBCL and may reduce lethal effect for NK cells by chemotherapy. The patients can tolerant the adverse reactions of IL-2 combined with R-CHOP therapy.