Combination of rituximab, cyclophosphamide, and vincristine induces complete hematologic remission of splenic marginal zone lymphoma.
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.
Arcaini
Luca
L
Division of Hematology, IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, University of Pavia, Italy. luca.arcaini@unipv.it
Orlandi
Ester
E
Scotti
Monica
M
Brusamolino
Ercole
E
Passamonti
Francesco
F
Burcheri
Sara
S
Colombo
Nora
N
Vanelli
Laura
L
Sbalzarini
Giovanni
G
Lazzarino
Mario
M
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*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000069283:Rituximab; D014750:Vincristine; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D011241:Prednisone