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Differential regulation patterns of the anti‐CD20 antibodies obinutuzumab and rituximab in mantle cell lymphoma
Author(s) -
Heinrich Daniel A.,
Weinkauf Marc,
Hutter Grit,
Zimmermann Yvonne,
Jurinovic Vindi,
Hiddemann Wolfgang,
Dreyling Martin
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
british journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.907
H-Index - 186
eISSN - 1365-2141
pISSN - 0007-1048
DOI - 10.1111/bjh.13132
Subject(s) - obinutuzumab , mantle cell lymphoma , rituximab , cd20 , lymphoma , monoclonal antibody , viability assay , medicine , cancer research , chemistry , antibody , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , cell , biology , biochemistry
with a 6% response rate in 93 patients (Bensinger et al, 2009; Kumar et al, 2012), a choice that drives the difference in complete or near-complete response rates between VTD and VCD claimed by the authors. Regarding overall response, the modified arm of the study by Kumar et al (2012) was neglected by the authors. These choices appear quite arbitrary and did not take into account differences in patient characteristics among the studies, which could explain, at least partially, the variability in response rates. In conclusion, the authors used various methodologies developed for meta-analysis for an evaluation that differs fundamentally from the approach typically employed when conducting a meta-analysis, i.e. the inclusion of a number of randomized clinical trials. It is possible that the analysis which the authors intended to perform could be undertaken by using cohort individual data and propensity score methods in order to take into account differences in patient characteristics between the VTD and VCD cohorts.(Rosenbaum & Rubin, 1983) Regrettably, this work is an example of using inappropriate methods in an attempt to answer an interesting question and of a failure in the reviewing process of a well-respected journal. The ongoing Intergroupe Francophone du My elome (IFM) 2013–04 prospective randomized trial comparing four cycles of VTD versus four cycles of VCD (NCT01971658) will try to solve this important issue.