Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (Rituximab) for therapy of mediastinal CD20-positive large B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma with a local tumor extension into the lung of a 10-year-old girl.
Intravenous therapy with the anti-CD20 antibody Rituximab has been recently approved for the treatment of CD20 positive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) in adults but not in children. The authors present the benefits of its application for mediastinal NHL CD 20+ with a local extension into the lung of a 10-year-old-girl. Receiving the chemotherapy according to study NHL-BFM-95 for high-risk lymphoma the girl did not reach complete remission. Before the last chemotherapy block was started, a computed tomography scan of the thorax showed residue in the right lung. Twenty-five days after the last chemotherapy she received Rituximab at a dose of 375 mg/m(2) by intravenous infusion once a week for a total of four doses without the adverse reactions. Complete remission was achieved. The patient was high risk with lung involvement of lymphoma suggesting a pure prognosis. The results suggest that Rituximab may improve the outcome in high-risk patients and appeared to be safe and effective in children also.
Culić
Srdjana
S
Paediatrics Clinic, Clinical Hospital Split, Split, Croatia. srdjana.culic@st.tel.hr
Culić
Vida
V
Armanda
Visnja
V
Kuljis
Dubravka
D
Pesutić-Pisac
Valdi
V
Janković
Stipan
S
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008479:Mediastinal Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D000069283:Rituximab; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab