Intralesional rituximab for cutaneous B-cell lymphoma.
Rituximab, a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, has been approved for systemic treatment of relapsed or refractory CD20-positive B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. As cutaneous B-cell lymphoma (CBCL) also expresses the CD20 molecule, three patients with histologically and immunohistochemically confirmed CBCL without systemic involvement were treated with low-dose intralesional rituximab in a pilot study. Single doses applied ranged from 10 to 30 mg per lesion, according to lesion extent, with a cumulative dose of up to 350 mg. Injections were given two or three times weekly for 3-5 weeks, with a second cycle after 6 weeks in one patient with incomplete remission. Complete and lasting remission was achieved in each patient; this has persisted for up to more than 1 year. The observed adverse events were of grade 1 severity. Results suggest that intralesional rituximab may be a safe and effective new therapy modality for CBCL.
Paul
T
T
Department of Dermatology, University of Tübingen, Liebermeisterstr. 25, D-72076 Tübingen, Germany.
Radny
P
P
Kröber
S M
SM
Paul
A
A
Blaheta
H J
HJ
Garbe
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D000069283:Rituximab; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab