A quality-adjusted survival analysis (Q-TWiST) of rituximab plus CVP vs CVP alone in first-line treatment of advanced follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Background:

To evaluate the impact of treatment on health states that affect patients'' quality of life in advanced follicular lymphoma.

Methods:

A quality-adjusted time without symptoms of disease or toxicity of treatment (Q-TwiST) analysis was performed on data from a phase III clinical trial (Marcus et al, 2008).

Results:

Cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone plus rituximab (R-CVP)-treated patients gained a mean of 15.17 months in TWiST, 8.33 months in Q-TwiST, and 11.30 months less in disease relapse, without increase in toxicity compared with cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (CVP)-treated patients.

Conclusion

Rituximab plus CVP-treated patients reached a significant and clinically meaningful improvement within 12 months in quality-adjusted survival compared with CVP.