title: Combination of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine induces complete hematologic remission of splenic marginal zone lymphoma.
abstract: Optimal treatment for splenic marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) is not clearly established. Splenectomy has been proposed as the treatment of choice in patients with cytopenias and/or symptoms caused by an enlarged spleen. Splenic MZL, which expresses the CD20 antigen on tumor cell surfaces, is a disease entity candidate to treatment with anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies. We employed an immunochemotherapy regimen with rituximab/cyclophosphamide/vincristine in 3 patients with splenic MZL who had only a partial response following CHOP (cyclophosphamide/doxorubicin/vincristine/prednisone) or CHOP-like therapy. The immunochemotherapy regimen was well tolerated and all patients exhibited complete remission. To our knowledge, this is the first report of splenic MZL showing response to a combination of rituximab with chemotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Italy. luca.arcaini@unipv.it
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Arcaini
authors.forename: Ester
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Orlandi
authors.forename: Monica
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scotti
authors.forename: Ercole
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Brusamolino
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Passamonti
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Burcheri
authors.forename: Nora
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Colombo
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vanelli
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sbalzarini
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lazzarino
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000276:immunology; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000096:biosynthesis; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011241:Prednisone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D000069283:Rituximab; D013160:Splenic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014750:Vincristine / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000069283:Rituximab; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone