Rituximab maintenance improves overall survival of patients with follicular lymphoma-Individual patient data meta-analysis.

Background: Randomised trials of rituximab maintenance (MR) for patients with follicular lymphoma support improved progression-free survival (PFS), but the effect on overall survival has been inconclusive. To evaluate the effect of MR on overall survival according to patient and disease characteristics, and to explore certain adverse events, we performed an individual patient data (IPD) meta-analysis.

Methods: All investigators of randomised controlled trials that compared MR therapy with observation or treatment only at relapse (no MR) for patients with follicular lymphoma were invited to participate in an IPD meta-analysis.