Impact of targeted treatment in non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma with primary lymph node involvement

Background: Non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL) are malignant tumors that develop from lymphoid tissue. Primary lymph node (LN) involvement is the most common localization (52-70%). The integration of Rituximab (R) in the NHL treatment represented a turning point. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic impact of the use of R in combination with conventional polychemotherapeutic (PChT) in the treatment of nodal onset NHL. Material and methods: A descriptive cohort study was performed on 80 patients diagnosed with NHL. Results: In the study participated: men – 39(48.8%), women – 41(51.2%). The mean age of the patients was 56.09 ± 13.6 years. The onset of NHL occurred in peripheral l/n in 85.0% of cases, in mediastinal LN – 7.5%, and abdominals in 7.5%. Stages I-II were identified in 21(26.2%) patients, stages III-IV in 59(73.8%) cases. Aggressive NHLs were diagnosed in 54(67.5%) patients, indolent NHLs in 26(32.5%) cases. In 61(76.3%) patients, first-line R+PChT treatment was applied – group 1(G1), and in 19(23.8%) cases conventional PChT was applied – group 2(G2). The overall response rate (ORR) in G1 was 86.8%, in G2 – 63.1%. Complete remissions (CR) were obtained in G1 in 63.9% of patients, in G2 – 47.3% of cases. Progression-free survival (PFS) in G1 had a median of 20 months, and in G2 the median was 12 months (p <0.05). Conclusions: The use of Rituximab increased the ORR rate (86.8% vs 63.1%), the frequency of CR (63.9% vs 47.3%) and PFS (20 months vs 12 months (p <0.05).