CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab) for therapy of Epstein-Barr virus lymphoma after hemopoietic stem-cell transplantation.
After bone marrow transplantation (BMT) using T-cell-depleted marrow from an unrelated donor or HLA-mismatched related donor, the risk of developing lymphoproliferative disease associated with the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) ranges from 1% to 25%. We have shown that administration of donor-derived EBV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL) is effective prophylaxis and treatment for this complication, and we routinely generate CTL for high-risk patients. However, EBV lymphoma can occur in recipients of matched-sibling transplants for whom CTL are unavailable or in patients for whom CTL administration is contraindicated. We report on 3 such patients, who were successfully and safely treated with rituximab, a CD20 monoclonal antibody. The patients remain disease free 7, 8, and 9 months, respectively, after therapy. We conclude that CD20 antibody may be a useful alternative treatment strategy in patients with EBV lymphoma after BMT. (Blood. 2000;95:1502-1505)
Kuehnle
I
I
Center for Cell and Gene Therapy and Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas 77030, USA.
Huls
M H
MH
Liu
Z
Z
Semmelmann
M
M
Krance
R A
RA
Brenner
M K
MK
Rooney
C M
CM
Heslop
H E
HE
D000293:Adolescent; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D016026:Bone Marrow Transplantation; D002675:Child, Preschool; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D018380:Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation; D004854:Herpesvirus 4, Human / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D016130:Immunophenotyping; D015464:Leukemia, Myelogenous, Chronic, BCR-ABL Positive / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D015470:Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D000069283:Rituximab; D013997:Time Factors
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab