title: Rituximab in combination with vinorelbine/gemcitabine chemotherapy in patients with primary refractory or early relapsed T cell rich B cell lymphoma. A pilot study.
abstract: Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that binds specifically to the CD20 antigen expressed in most B cell lymphomas. As single agent or in combination with chemotherapy rituximab has shown significant activity in patients with relapsing or refractory aggressive lymphomas. Because T cell rich B cell lymphomas (TCRBCL) also express the CD20 antigen, we decided to evaluate the efficacy and tolerability of the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab combined with chemotherapy in four patients with either primary refractory or early relapsed TCRBCL. The chemotherapy regiment consisted of vinorelbin and gemcitabine, a combination with known efficacy in patients with refractory aggressive lymphomas. The patients received 6 cycles of rituximab at the dose of 375 mg/m(2), combined with vinorelbine 25 mg/m(2) and gemcitabine 800 mg/m(2) at 3-week intervals. Three complete responses and one partial response were observed among our four patients with refractory or early relapsed TCRBCL without significant adverse effects, indicating considerable efficacy of this combination. Therefore, rituximab should be tested in combination with chemotherapy in the front line treatment of patients with TCRBCL.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Internal Medicine-Propaedeutic, Evangelismos Hospital, University of Athens, Ipsilandou 45-47, 106 76 Athens, Greece. nxiros@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xiros
authors.forename: Theofanis
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Economopoulos
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Valsami
authors.forename: Dimitra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rontogianni
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Fountzilas
authors.forename: Sotirios
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Raptis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D003841:Deoxycytidine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives*; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D003841:Deoxycytidine; D000069283:Rituximab; D014747:Vinblastine; D000077235:Vinorelbine; D000093542:Gemcitabine