Authors: Valencak, J.; Weihsengruber, F.; Rappersberger, K.; Trautinger, F.; Chott, A.; Streubel, B.; Muellauer, L.; Der-Petrossian, M.; Jonak, C.; Binder, M.; Raderer, M.

Source: Annals of Oncology, Volume 20, Number 2, 14 February 2009 , pp. 326-330(5)

Publisher: Oxford University Press

Abstract:

Background: We have carried out a retrospective analysis to evaluate the therapeutic value of the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab in 16 consecutive patients with primary cutaneous CD20 B-cell lymphomas.

Patients and methods: Sixteen patients (4 females, 12 males) with a median age of 54 years received systemic therapy with rituximab 375 mg/m² once weekly for four or six consecutive weeks. Eleven patients had primary cutaneous follicle center cell lymphoma and five patients had a primary cutaneous marginal zone B-cell lymphoma.

Results: Of the 16 patients with PCBCL, 14 patients (87.5%) achieved complete remission (CR). In two patients, partial remission was obtained and additional focal radiotherapy was applied, which resulted in final CR. Five to 14 (35%) patients with CR relapsed, in an interval between 6 and 37 months. There were no severe side-effects.

Conclusions: On the basis of our results, single-agent treatment with i.v. rituximab appears to be feasible and safe and results in a high rate of durable remissions. Judging from our data, it appears to be an attractive treatment option and should be directly compared with local radiotherapy.

Keywords: cutaneous B-cell lymphoma; rituximab; systemic treatment

Document Type: Research article

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdn636

Publication date: 2009-02-14

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• Annals of Oncology is a multidisciplinary journal that publishes articles addressing medical oncology, surgery, radiotherapy, paediatric oncology, basic research and the comprehensive management of patients with malignant diseases.

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