Rituximab (Chimeric Anti-CD20 Monoclonal Antibody) in the Treatment of Non-Hodgkin’sLymphomas. Our Initial Experience

Overview

Rituximab (chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) is the first widely available and effective antibodyin the treatment of non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas (NHL). In the submitted paper the authors describeretrospectively their experience with its administration in treatment of CD20 positive B-cell, mainlyindolent NHL.A total of 29 patients were treated with rituximab. Individual doses were 375 mg/m2. Four doses wereadministered slowly by intravenous infusion. In 16 patients (55%) rituximab was administered duringthe first or second partia remission of the disease (PR), incl. 7 patients (24%) where eradication ofresidual disease after autologous transplantation of peripheral stem cells was the indication. Theresponse to treatment with rituximab was recorded in 23 (79%) patients. In 14 patients (48%) completeremission of the disease was achieved (CR). In 5 patients with follicular lymphom bcl-2/IgH positivecells disappeared from the peripheral blood stream (PCR reaction), in 4 also from bone marrow. By thedate of evaluation a total of 8 patients (35% of the responding subjects) relapsed or progressed. Themedian of the period of relapse/progression of the disease was 6 months (3–20 months). In generalhowever the median of persistence of the response in responding patients was not attained so far, themedian of the follow up of the group was 12 months. The results confirmed the great effectiveness ofrituximab and its low toxic profile. Early initiation of treatment increases the percentage of responsesand the ratio of CR, its potential is particularly high in the eradication of minimal residual disease.

Key words:
autologous transplantation, bcl-2, minimal residual disease, monoclonal antibody, non-Hodgkinlymphomas, rituximab