title: Induction of long-term remission of a relapsed childhood B-acute lymphoblastic leukemia with rituximab chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody and autologous stem cell transplantation.
abstract: Childhood B-cell neoplasms account for approximately 2% of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The short but intensive chemotherapy yields a currently 75% to 85% event-free survival. The prognosis for children with relapsed disease is considered to be dismal. We report a 12-year old boy diagnosed with B-cell ALL with central nervous system (CNS) involvement. He relapsed in the bone marrow immediately after primary chemotherapy. Rituximab as a single agent achieved a complete morphologic remission. After 4 treatments with rituximab an isolated CNS relapse occurred. CNS remission was reinduced with chemotherapy and the patient received an autologous transplant with rituximab for in vivo purging. He is currently in complete clinical and molecular remission for more than 1 year.
authors.affiliation: University Chidren's Hospital Zurich, Department of Oncology, Zurich, Switzerland. selim.corbacioglu@kispi.unizh.ch
authors.forename: Selim
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Corbacioglu
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eber
authors.forename: Tayfun
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gungor
authors.forename: Jorg
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hummerjohann
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Niggli
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000276:immunology; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D016465:Bone Marrow Purging; D002051:Burkitt Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003561:Cytarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003907:Dexamethasone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005047:Etoposide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D017254:Leukemic Infiltration / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy; D008297:Male; D008578:Meninges / Q000473:pathology; D008727:Methotrexate / Q000008:administration & dosage; D036102:Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012008:Recurrence; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D013737:Testis / Q000473:pathology; D019772:Topotecan / Q000008:administration & dosage; D014182:Transplantation, Autologous; D014751:Vindesine / Q000008:administration & dosage
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D003561:Cytarabine; D000069283:Rituximab; D005047:Etoposide; D019772:Topotecan; D003907:Dexamethasone; D014751:Vindesine; D011241:Prednisone; D008727:Methotrexate