Neutrophil to Lymphocyte Ratio as a Prognostic Factor in European Patients with Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor-Mutant Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors.

Background: A high neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) has been associated with adverse outcomes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, information on epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mutant advanced NSCLC is scarce, and most of the studies published have been conducted in Asian populations. We aimed to assess the influence of pretreatment NLR on progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) in Western European patients treated with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs).

Critical appraisal of rituximab in the maintenance treatment of advanced follicular lymphoma.

Rituximab is an IgG1, chimeric monoclonal antibody specifically designed to recognize the CD20 antigen expressed on the surface of normal and malignant B-lymphocytes, from the B-cell precursor to the mature B-cells of the germinal center, and by most neoplasms derived from B-cells. After 2 decades of use, rituximab is firmly positioned in the treatment of follicular lymphoma (FL), both in the front line and in the relapsing disease, improving previous results by including it in classical chemotherapy regimens. However, the pharmacology of rituximab continues to generate controversial issues especially regarding the mechanisms of action in vivo.

Late-Onset Neutropenia After Rituximab-Containing Therapy for Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma.

Background: Late-onset neutropenia (LON) is a known adverse effect to rituximab therapy. Information about its real incidence and clinical implications comes from case reports and few retrospective studies specifically designed to study LON. However, large prospective studies of LON are lacking in the literature.

Therapeutic approaches in patients with newly diagnosed follicular lymphoma.

The prognosis of follicular lymphoma (FL) has significantly improved over the last decade, particularly following the introduction of the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab, which has challenged the old concept of FL as an incurable disease. However, the decision whether to start treatment in a patient with advanced FL or adopt a watch-and-wait policy remains a subject of controversy. Furthermore, the optimal first-line treatment for FL remains a clinical challenge owing to the numerous different therapeutic options available.

Treatment of gastric marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue with rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone.

There is no standard treatment for patients with gastric marginal zone B-cell lymphoma of the mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT lymphoma) who are resistant to, or ineligible for, anti-Helicobacter pylori (anti-HP) therapy. In this study, we investigated the activity of the rituximab, cyclophosphamide, vincristine and prednisone (R-CVP) regimen in patients with gastric MALT lymphoma. Patients were included provided they had untreated gastric MALT lymphoma (except for anti-HP therapy) and were resistant to, or ineligible for, anti-HP therapy.