SWOG-9704 A Randomized Phase III Trial Comparing Early High Dose Chemoradiotherapy and an Autologous Stem Cell Transplant to Conventional Dose CHOP Chemotherapy Plus Rituximab for CD20+ B Cell Lymphomas (With Possible Late Autologous Stem Cell Transplant) for Patients With Diffuse Aggressive Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in the High-Intermediate and High Risk International Classification Prognostic Groups
SWOG-9704 A Randomized Phase III Trial Comparing Early High Dose Chemoradiotherapy and an Autologous Stem Cell Transplant to Conventional Dose CHOP Chemotherapy Plus Rituximab for CD20+ B Cell Lymphomas (With Possible Late Autologous Stem Cell Transplant) for Patients With Diffuse Aggressive Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma in the High-Intermediate and High Risk International Classification Prognostic Groups
RATIONALE: Drugs used in chemotherapy use different ways to stop cancer cells from dividing so they stop growing or die. Radiation therapy uses high-energy x-rays to damage cancer cells. Peripheral stem cell transplantation may allow the doctor to give higher doses of chemotherapy and radiation and kill more cancer cells. It is not yet known whether chemoradiotherapy plus peripheral stem cell transplantation is more effective than combination chemotherapy alone in treating non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
PURPOSE: This randomized phase III trial is studying chemoradiotherapy and peripheral stem cell transplantation to see how well they work compared to combination chemotherapy in treating patients with stage II, stage III, or stage IV non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.
OBJECTIVES:
OUTLINE: This is a randomized study. Patients are stratified according to disease risk (intermediate-high vs high).
Patients receive CHOP chemotherapy comprising cyclophosphamide IV over 15 minutes, doxorubicin IV, and vincristine IV on day 1 and oral prednisone on days 1-5. Patients with CD20-positive disease also receive rituximab IV on day 1 (or day 0 during course 1 only). Treatment repeats every 3 weeks for 5 courses in the absence of disease progression or unacceptable toxicity.
Within 35 days of completing the fifth course, patients with partial or complete response are randomized to one of two treatment arms.
Patients are followed every 6 months for 2 years and then annually thereafter.
PROJECTED ACCRUAL: Approximately 360 patients (at least 135 per treatment arm) will be accrued for this study within 5 years.
DISEASE CHARACTERISTICS:
Histologically proven intermediate- or high-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma
Ann Arbor classification of "bulky" stage II, III, or IV
Must be classified as high-intermediate or high-risk according to International Age Adjusted Index
Bidimensionally measurable disease
No lymphoblastic, transformed, or mantle cell lymphomas
No CNS involvement by lymphoma
CD20 status confirmed by immunocytochemistry or flow cytometry
Must have either bilateral or unilateral bone marrow aspiration and biopsy ≥ 42 days before first course of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) therapy (or CHOP plus rituximab [CHOP-R] for CD20+ disease) OR within 42 days prior to registration if CHOP/CHOP-R therapy has not begun
Must have bilateral bone marrow aspiration and biopsy within 28 days of randomization
No prior lymphoma, Hodgkin's lymphoma, myelodysplastic syndromes, or leukemia NOTE: A new classification scheme for adult non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has been adopted by PDQ. The terminology of "indolent" or "aggressive" lymphoma will replace the former terminology of "low", "intermediate", or "high" grade lymphoma. However, this protocol uses the former terminology.
PATIENT CHARACTERISTICS:
Age:
Performance status:
Life expectancy:
Hematopoietic:
Hepatic:
Renal:
Cardiovascular:
Pulmonary:
Other:
PRIOR CONCURRENT THERAPY:
Biologic therapy:
Chemotherapy:
Endocrine therapy:
Radiotherapy:
Surgery: