An effective salvage treatment using ifosfamide, etoposide, cytarabine, dexamethasone, and rituximab (R-IVAD) for patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive B-cell lymphoma

We evaluated the efficacy and toxicity of a new salvage regimen, consisting of rituximab (375 mg/m 2 , day 1), ifosfamide (1500 mg/m 2 on days 3–7), etoposide (150 mg/m 2 , days 3–5), cytarabine (100 mg/m 2 , days 3–5) and dexamethasone (40 mg/body, days 3–5) (R-IVAD) for relapsed or refractory aggressive B-cell lymphoma. In this study, a total of 32 patients with a median age of 64 years (range 38–79) who received an average of 2.6 cycles of R-IVAD from 2001 to 2009 in our institution were retrospectively analyzed. R-IVAD was given every 3 weeks up to a total of three courses with support by granulocyte colony stimulating factor. The overall response rate was 72%, with 56% complete response. On a median follow-up of 16 months (range 2–99), estimated 2-year overall survival (OS) and event-free survival were 55% and 36%, respectively. Of these patients, 10 successfully proceeded to consolidating high-dose chemotherapy followed by autologous stem cell transplantation, accounting for 90% of the 2-year OS. No treatment-related mortality was observed during the investigation. We, therefore, conclude that R-IVAD regimen is a safe and efficacious alternative for patients with relapsed or refractory aggressive B-cell lymphoma.