Rituximab and CHOP Induction Therapy for Newly Diagnosed Mantle-Cell Lymphoma: Molecular Complete Responses Are Not Predictive of Progression-Free Survival

Favorable clinical and molecular response rates associated with rituximab and CHOP chemotherapy do not translate into prolonged PFS in MCL. Nevertheless, rituximab and combination chemotherapy may transiently clear PB or BM of detectable tumor cells, prompting additional consideration of antibody-based in vivo purging in subsequent clinical trials.