Isabelle Madelaine

Rituximab, dexamethasone, cytarabine, and oxaliplatin (R-DHAX) is an effective and safe salvage regimen in relapsed/refractory B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

BACKGROUND Salvage therapy for patients with refractory/relapsed B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) is based on polychemotherapy, followed by high-dose therapy and autologous stem cell transplantation in eligible patients (HDT/ASCT). R-DHAP combines rituximab with cisplatin, cytarabine, and dexamethasone. PATIENTS AND METHODS We substituted cisplatin with oxaliplatin to avoid nephrotoxicity and retrospectively analyzed a large series of 91 patients with refractory/relapsed B-cell NHL to evaluate toxicities, response rates (RRs), and survival. Median age at R-DHAX (rituximab/dexamethasone/cytarabine/oxaliplatin) treatment was 60 years (range, 28-82 years). Renal insufficiency was present in 18 patients. The most frequent histologic subtypes were diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (n = 42) and follicular lymphoma (n = 30). Seventeen patients (19%) were naive to rituximab at time of R-DHAX. RESULTS Grade III/IV toxicities were mainly hematologic, including anemia (n = 9), neutropenia (n = 44), and thrombocytopenia (n = 47). Grade I/II neurologic toxicities, sensitive or motor, were observed, and these were mainly transient except for 3 cases of motor neuropathy associated with previous exposure to vincristine. Neither renal toxicities nor degradation of previous renal insufficiency were observed. The overall RR was 75%, with a complete RR of 57%, with no statistical difference between patients previously treated with rituximab versus without rituximab. At a median follow-up of 23 months, 2-year probability rates of overall survival and progression-free survival were 75% and 43%, respectively, with a significant difference between patients treated with HDT/ASCT and patients not eligible for HDT/ASCT. CONCLUSION R-DHAX is an efficient regimen in patients with relapsed/refractory B-cell NHL even in elderly patients if hematologic toxicities are closely managed.

High-dose therapy and autologous stem-cell transplantation can improve event-free survival for indolent lymphoma: a study using patients as their own controls.

High‐dose therapy (HDT) and autologous stem‐cell transplantation (ASCT) remain controversial for indolent lymphoma patients.

4CPS-167 Assessment of adherence to immunosuppressive therapy in kidney-transplanted patients

Background The non-adherence with medication regimens is a major public health issue. In kidney-transplanted patients, it results in late acute rejections and graft losses. Purpose The aim of this study was to identify noncompliant kidney-transplanted patients to their immunosuppressive drugs (ISD), thanks to a self-report instrument, an indirect measure of adherence. Material and methods From June to October 2017, our hospital’s kidney-transplanted recipients answered to Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medication Scale (BAASIS). They were interviewed by a pharmacy resident before their consultation with a nephrologist. The self-report’s recall period was limited to the last 4 weeks preceding the consultation. Five items were assessed: dose taking (missing a dose), drug holidays (missing two or more doses in a row), timing deviation (postponing 2 hours from the prescribed time), reduction of dose and persistence (stopping completely the intake of ISD). Results A total of 174 patients answered to the self-report: 37% (65/174) were noncompliant to their ISD. Among them, 18% (12/65) missed one to more than four doses, 62% (40/65) admitted they were used to postponing once to almost daily doses and 18% (12/65) combined both missing and postponing doses. One patient took drug holidays, two reduced their doses themselves and one stopped completely her ISD. Taking ISD at a fixed time was the most common difficulty. The major part of the noncompliant patients (78%) received an initial therapeutic education. This prospective study led by an external person to the transplant team enabled a high participation rate in a short period but excluded patients who did not speak local language. Conclusion This preliminary study highlighted a large number of transplanted patients who were noncompliant with their ISD. The results of the self-report will be combined with ISD blood levels, a direct measure of adherence. The study will also be deepened by the research of factors influencing the non-compliance. A closer monitoring must be developed as part of therapeutic education, especially for the noncompliant patients in a long-term follow-up. No conflict of interest