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Evidence summaries

Rituximab as Maintenance Therapy for Patients with Follicular Lymphoma

Rituximab appears to improve overall survival in patients with follicular lymphoma. Level of evidence: "B"

A Cochrane review [Abstract] 1 included 5 studies with a total of 1 056 subjects. Four trials (895 patients) were included in the analysis of overall survival. Patients treated with rituximab as maintenance therapy had a significantly better overall survival compared to observation alone (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.38 to 0.73).

Comment: The evidence is downgraded by by study quality (inadequate or unclear allocation concealment and blinding).

References

  • Vidal L, Gafter-Gvili A, Leibovici L, Shpilberg O. Rituximab as maintenance therapy for patients with follicular lymphoma. Cochrane Database Syst Rev 2009 Apr 15;(2):CD006552. [PubMed]

Primary/Secondary Keywords