A Study of Rituximab (MabThera) Subcutaneous (SC) Versus Rituximab (MabThera) Intravenous in Participannts With Follicular Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Overall Response comprised complete response (CR), CR unconfirmed (CRu), or PR. A participant was defined as a responder if they sustained a CR, CRu or PR at the end of induction treatment. Response assessment was based on clinical examination and computed tomography (CT) scans. Assessment of tumor response was performed according to the International Working Group response criteria for NHL. CR: complete disappearance of all detectable clinical and radiographic evidence of disease and disappearance of all disease-related symptoms if present before therapy; CRu: CR along with regression in lymph node mass by more than (>) 75% in the sum of the products of greatest diameters (SPD); PR: Greater than or equal to (≥) 50% decrease in SPD of 6 largest dominant nodes or nodal masses. The 95% CI was estimated for one sample binomial using Pearson-Clopper.

Overall Response comprised CR, CRu, or PR. A participant was defined as a responder if they sustained a CR, CRu or PR at the end of induction treatment. Response assessment was based on clinical examination and CT scans. Assessment of tumor response was performed according to the International Working Group response criteria for NHL. CR: complete disappearance of all detectable clinical and radiographic evidence of disease and disappearance of all disease-related symptoms if present before therapy; CRu: CR along with regression in lymph node mass by >75% in the SPD; PR: ≥50% decrease in SPD of 6 largest dominant nodes or nodal masses. The 95% CI was estimated for one sample binomial using Pearson-Clopper.

Overall Response comprised of CR, CRu, or PR. A participant was defined as a responder if they sustained a CR, CRu or PR at the end of induction treatment. Response assessment was based on clinical examination and CT scans. Assessment of tumour response was performed according to the International Working Group response criteria for NHL. CR: complete disappearance of all detectable clinical and radiographic evidence of disease and disappearance of all disease-related symptoms if present before therapy; CRu: CR along with regression in lymph node mass by >75% in SPD; PR: ≥50% decrease in SPD of 6 largest dominant nodes or nodal masses. The 95% CI for the response rates was estimated for one sample binomial using Pearson-Clopper.

Complete Response was comprised CR and CRu. A participant was defined as a responder if they sustained a CR or CRu at the end of induction treatment. Response assessment was based on clinical examination and CT scans. Assessment of tumor response was performed according to the International Working Group response criteria for NHL. CR: complete disappearance of all detectable clinical and radiographic evidence of disease and disappearance of all disease-related symptoms if present before therapy; CRu: CR along with regression in lymph node mass by >75% in SPD. The 95% CI for the response rates was estimated for one sample binomial using Pearson-Clopper.

Complete Response comprised of CR and CRu. A participant was defined as a responder if they sustained a CR or CRu at the end of induction treatment. Response assessment was based on clinical examination and CT scans. Assessment of tumor response was performed according to the International Working Group response criteria for NHL. CR: complete disappearance of all detectable clinical and radiographic evidence of disease and disappearance of all disease-related symptoms if present before therapy; CRu: CR along with regression in lymph node mass by >75% in SPD. The 95% CI for the response rates was estimated for one sample binomial using Pearson-Clopper.

Complete Response comprised of CR and CRu. A participant was defined as a responder if they sustained a CR or CRu at the end of induction treatment. Response assessment was based on clinical examination and CT scans. Assessment of tumor response was performed according to the International Working Group response criteria for NHL. CR: complete disappearance of all detectable clinical and radiographic evidence of disease and disappearance of all disease-related symptoms if present before therapy; CRu: CR along with regression in lymph node mass by >75% in SPD. The 95% CI for the response rates was estimated for one sample binomial using Pearson-Clopper.

Complete Response comprised of CR and CRu. A participant was defined as a responder if they sustained a CR or CRu at the end of induction treatment. Response assessment was based on clinical examination and CT scans. Assessment of tumor response was performed according to the International Working Group response criteria for NHL. CR: complete disappearance of all detectable clinical and radiographic evidence of disease and disappearance of all disease-related symptoms if present before therapy; CRu: CR along with regression in lymph node mass by >75% in SPD. The 95% CI for the response rates was estimated for one sample binomial using Pearson-Clopper.

Overall Response comprised of CR, CRu, or PR . A participant was defined as a responder if they sustained a CR, CRu or PR at the end of induction treatment. Response assessment was based on clinical examination and CT scans. Assessment of tumor response was performed according to the International Working Group response criteria for NHL. CR: complete disappearance of all detectable clinical and radiographic evidence of disease and disappearance of all disease-related symptoms if present before therapy; CRu: CR along with regression in lymph node mass by >75% in SPD. The 95% CI for the response rates was estimated for one sample binomial using Pearson-Clopper.

Disease progression: ≥50% increase from nadir in the SPD of any previously identified abnormal node or appearance of any new lesion during or at the end of therapy or ≥50% increase in the greatest diameter of any previously identified node >1 cm in its short axis or in the SPD of more than one node. Baseline, D1 of all cycles (Cy 1-20) (1 Cy=3 weeks for Cy1-8 & 8 weeks for Cy9-20), at early withdrawal, at follow-up, every 12 weeks for 96 weeks or until documented disease progression/relapse or death (up to median of 27 months; up to data cutoff of 31 Oct 2017 [up to 6 years])

PFS was defined as the time from randomization to disease progression/relapse or death due to any cause. If the specified event (disease progression/relapse, death) did not occur, PFS was censored at the last tumor assessment date showing no disease progression, either during treatment or follow-up. Disease progression: ≥50% increase from nadir in the SPD of any previously identified abnormal node or appearance of any new lesion during or at the end of therapy or ≥50% increase in the greatest diameter of any previously identified node >1 cm in its short axis or in the SPD of more than one node. PFS analysis was performed using Kaplan - Meier curves. Baseline, D1 of all cycles (Cy 1-20) (1 Cy=3 weeks for Cy1-8 & 8 weeks for Cy9-20), at early withdrawal, at follow-up, every 12 weeks for 96 weeks or until documented disease progression/relapse or death (up to median of 27 months; up to data cutoff of 31 Oct 2017 [up to 6 years])

Disease progression: ≥50% increase from nadir in the SPD of any previously identified abnormal node or appearance of any new lesion during or at the end of therapy or ≥50% increase in the greatest diameter of any previously identified node >1 cm in its short axis or in the SPD of more than one node. Baseline, D1 of all cycles (Cy 1-20) (1 Cy=3 weeks for Cy1-8 & 8 weeks for Cy9-20), at early withdrawal, at follow-up, every 12 weeks for 96 weeks or until documented disease progression/relapse or death (up to a median of 27 months; up to data cutoff of 31 Oct 2017 [up to 6 years])

Event-free survival was defined as the time from randomization to disease progression/relapse, death or initiation of new NHL therapy. If the specified event (progression/relapse, death or new anti-lymphoma treatment) did not occur, event-free survival was censored at the last tumor assessment date either during treatment or follow up. Event-free survival analysis was performed using Kaplan-Meier curves. Baseline, D1 of all cycles (Cy 1-20) (1 Cy=3 weeks for Cy1-8 & 8 weeks for Cy9-20), at early withdrawal, at follow-up, every 12 weeks for 96 weeks or until documented disease progression/relapse or death (up to a median of 27 months; up to data cutoff of 31 Oct 2017 [up to 6 years])

OS was defined as the time from randomization to death due to any cause. Participants without event were censored at the time of last follow-up information for survival, ie, at the last time known to be alive.

AUC is a measure of the serum concentration of the drug over time. It is used to characterize drug absorption. Predose (within 2 hr) and 24 hrs postdose on Cy 7 (D1,3,7,15), predose (0 hr) on Cy 8 D1 (1 Cy=3 weeks); additionally within 15 minutes after end of infusion (infusion duration=30 minutes) on Cy 7 D1 for rituximab IV (up to data cutoff of 11 Apr 2012 [up to 26 months])

Predose (within 2 hr) and 24 hrs postdose on Cy7 (D1,3,7,15), predose (0 hr) on Cy8 D1 (1 Cy=3 weeks); additionally within 15 minutes after end of infusion (infusion duration=30 minutes) on Cy7 D1 for rituximab IV (up to data cutoff of 11 Apr 2012 [up to 26 months])

Stage I and II (Induction): Rituximab IV: Predose (within 2 hr) on D1 of Cy1-8 (1 Cy=3 weeks & 4 weeks for Cy8); Rituximab SC: Predose (within 2 hr) on D1 of Cy1 & Cy3-8 (1 Cy=3 weeks and 4 weeks for Cy8), predose (within 2 hr) on D0 of Cy2 (up to data cutoff of 31 Oct 2013 [up to 32 months])

Stage I and II (maintenance): D29 of Cy8 (induction; 1 Cy=4 weeks), predose (within 2 hr) on D1 of Cy9 to 19 (maintenance Cy1 to 12 [1 Cy=8 weeks]; up to data cutoff of 11 Jan 2016 [up to 6 years])

Depletion is defined as a cluster of differentiation (CD) 19 value <80 cells per cubic millimeter (cells/mm^3).

Depletion is defined as a CD19 value <80 cells/mm^3.

Levels of HACA in serum were detected at Day 1 of each cycle up to Cycle 8 and at follow-up visit. Stage I and II: Baseline: pre-dose (72 hours prior) D1 of Cy1, Cy 3-20, D0 of Cy2 (1 Cy=3 weeks for Cy1-8 & 8 weeks for Cy9-20), post-baseline: every 12 weeks after last rituximab administration until 96 weeks (a median of 27 months; up to data cutoff of 11 Jan 2016 [up to 6 years])

Levels of HAHA in serum were detected at Day 1 of each cycle up to Cycle 8 and at follow-up visit. Stage I and II: Baseline: pre-dose (72 hours prior) D1 of Cy1, Cy 3-20, D0 of Cy2 (1 Cy=3 weeks for Cy1-8 & 8 weeks for Cy9-20), post-baseline: every 12 weeks after last rituximab administration until 96 weeks (a median of 27 months; up to data cutoff of 11 Jan 2016 [up to 6 years])

All investigator physicians and nurses involved in this study were asked to provide the staff time that could be saved with each administration of rituximab SC as compared with rituximab IV to participants in routine practice afetr Cy 8, 15, 20 and categorized as less than (<) 1 hr, at least 1 hr but <2 hrs, at least 2 hrs but <3 hrs, at least 3 hrs but <4 hrs, >/=4 hrs. Staff were asked not to consider the time needed for the first IV administration. Analysis was done in all participants to show a comparison on the time saved by staffs when administered via SC and IV.

All investigator physicians and nurses involved in this study were asked to complete question i.e. "Which formulation of rituximab (SC or IV) do you think is more convenient?" based on their experience with the rituximab SC and IV formulations across all participants and presented as rituximab SC is much more convenient; rituximab SC is a little more convenient; both formulations are equally convenient; rituximab IV is a little more convenient; and rituximab IV is much more convenient.