Authors' objectives:

To summarise the current research evidence on rituximab for aggressive B-cell lymphoma.

Authors' recommendations: - Clinical impact: An estimated 3,400 people present with aggressive NHL per year. Rituximab is a complementary treatment with the potential to reduce mortality. The side effects of rituximab will probably not add significantly to the adverse effects experienced by patients undergoing CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisolone) chemotherapy. - Service impact: There will be little additional impact on the current services. - Additional factors: Patients and carers will welcome an additional drug that increases survival. - Financial and overall NHS impact: The cost of rituximab is not insignificant and is additional to current treatment. If all the estimated 3,700 patients were given rituximab the drug costs would increase by up to 33.2M GBP. This amount will increase, if patients who relapse after rituximab/CHOP are re-treated.

Authors' methods: Overview

Project Status: Completed

Year Published: 2002

URL for published report: http://www.hsric.nihr.ac.uk/search

English language abstract: An English language summary is available

Publication Type: Not Assigned

Country: England, United Kingdom

Organisation Name: NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre

Contact Address: The NIHR Horizon Scanning Centre, Department of Public Health, Epidemiology, and Biostatistics, School of Health and Population Sciences, University of Birmingham, 90 Vincent Drive, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2SP. United Kingdom. Tel: +44 121 414 7831, Fax: +44 121 2269

Contact Name: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Contact Email: c.packer@bham.ac.uk

Copyright: National Horizon Scanning Centre (NHSC)