title: Rituximab (anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) therapy for progressive intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma after high-dose therapy and autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation.
abstract: We evaluated the response and toxicity of rituximab in the setting of progressive intermediate grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) after autologous peripheral stem cell transplantation (PSCT). Seven patients with a median age of 59 years (45-62), ECOG performance status 0-1, and CD20-positive diffuse large cell lymphoma with progression after PSCT were treated. All patients initially received 4-weekly infusions of rituximab (375 mg/m2). The maximum response was three CR and four PR. Median progression-free survival was 197 days (range 60-282). With a median follow-up of 204 (115-299) days, the patients' disease status is classified as two CR, one PR, and four PD. Four of five patients with ECOG performance status of 1 prior to treatment showed improvement to status 0 after treatment with rituximab. While follow-up is short, these results suggest that rituximab has significant activity in intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma that has relapsed after PSCT.
authors.affiliation: Bone Marrow and Stem Cell Transplant Program, University of Pennsylvania Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Tsai
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hardy
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Porter
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Loh
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vaughn
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Luger
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Schuster
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Stadtmauer
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D006801:Humans; D007116:Immunization, Passive / Q000009:adverse effects; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069283:Rituximab; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000069283:Rituximab