Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41212511›Full record

SynthesisActa neurologica Belgica2026

Role of rituximab in treatment of patients with primary central nervous system lymphoma: An updated systematic review and meta-analysis.

Kumail Mustafa Ali, Muhammad Farhan Ashraf, Zain Ul Abideen, Armish Rehman, Rumman Javed, Ayena Ghulam Mujtaba, Touba Diwan, Ukasha Khalid, Laiba Ikram

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Acta neurologica Belgica, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

9 authors.

Kumail Mustafa AliDepartment of Medicine, Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan. kumailmustafa.16@gmail.com.
Muhammad Farhan AshrafDepartment of Medicine, Nishtar Medical University, Multan, Punjab, Pakistan.
Zain Ul AbideenDepartment of Medicine, Frontier Medical and Dental College, Abbottabad, KPK, Pakistan.
Armish RehmanDepartment of Medical Oncology, Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Rumman JavedDepartment of Medicine, Ayub Medical College, Abbottabad, KPK, Pakistan.
Ayena Ghulam MujtabaDepartment of Medicine, Sir Syed College of Medical Sciences for Girls, Karachi, Sindh, Pakistan.
Touba DiwanDepartment of Medicine, Aston University, Birmingham, UK.
Ukasha KhalidDepartment of Medicine, Foundation University Medical College, Islamabad, Punjab, Pakistan.
Laiba IkramDepartment of Medicine, Khyber Medical College, Peshawar, KPK, Pakistan.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPrimary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare and aggressive form of extranodal non-Hodgkin lymphoma, most often a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Rituximab, an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody is widely used in PCNSL treatment but its efficacy remains uncertain. Therefore, we conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy of rituximab in newly diagnosed adult PCNSL patients.

methodsMedline/PubMed and Scopus were searched for studies comparing rituximab/rituximab-containing regimens with therapies not including rituximab in adult PCNSL patients. A random-effects meta-analysis was conducted, and risk ratios (RR) and hazard ratios (HR) were reported with 95% confidence interval (CI). Outcomes included 3- and 5-year overall survival (OS), OS independent of time, 3- and 5-year progression-free survival (PFS), and complete response (CR).

resultsSixteen studies (three RCTs, thirteen retrospective) with 2,325 patients (rituximab: 1010; control: 1315) were included. Rituximab-containing therapy was significantly associated with higher 3-year OS (RR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.07-1.76), higher CR rate (RR: 1.37; 95% CI: 1.05-1.79) and reduced hazard of death (HR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.43-0.98). 3-year PFS showed a non-significant trend favoring rituximab (RR: 1.29; 95% CI: 0.99-1.68) which reached statistical significance in sensitivity analysis after excluding one study (RR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.12-1.77). No statistically significant differences were observed for 5-year OS (RR: 1.33; 95% CI: 0.99-1.78) or 5-year PFS (RR: 1.24; 95% CI: 0.79-1.94) between the two groups.

conclusionOur findings indicate that rituximab-containing therapy was associated with improved short-term outcomes in newly diagnosed adult PCNSL. However, long-term advantages remain uncertain. Therefore, there is a need for larger randomized trials with standardized outcome and toxicity reporting and extended follow-up to confirm long-term survival benefit.

Indexed as

Antineoplastic Agents, ImmunologicalCentral Nervous System NeoplasmsLymphomaRituximabHumansAntineoplastic Agents, ImmunologicalRituximabChemotherapyDiffuse large B cell lymphomaMethotrexatePrimary central nervous system lymphoma, PCNSLRituximab

Identifiers

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.