Analysis of Factors Influencing Clinical Efficacy of Rituximab on Patients with Epstein-Barr Virus Positive Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Abstract

To analyze the clinical efficacy and safety of rituximab therapy for patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), and to explore the factors influencing the clinical efficacy. According to therapeutic regimen, 66 patients with EBV-positive DLBCL were divided into two groups: CHOP group (32 cases) and R-CHOP group (CHOP+ rituximab, 34 cases). The clinical efficacy and the incidence of complication were compared between two groups. The clinical risk factors for the clinical efficacy in patients with EBV-positive DLBCL were confirmed by multivariate Logistic analysis. Compared with CHOP group, the complete remission rate, partial remission rate and the overall effective rate in R-CHOP group all were high (P＜0.05), moreover the disease progression rate in R-CHOP group were low (P＜0.05). The occurrences rate of myelotoxicity, hepatic injury and gastrointestinal reaction were not statistically significantly different between two groups (P＞0.05). Multivariate Logistic analysis showed that the Ann Arbor staging, IPI risk score and Ki-67 positive rate were independent risk factors for the clinical efficacy in patients with EBV-positive DLBCL (OR=2.689, P=0.038; OR=3.232, P=0.025; OR=2.919, P=0.023). The clinical efficacy and safety of the therapy with rituximab on the patients with EBV-positive DLBCL are better. The poor Ann Arbor stage, high IPI risk score and the Ki-67 positive rate are factors affecting the clinical efficacy for the patients with EBV-positive DLBCL.