title: Antitumor activity of rituximab plus thalidomide in patients with relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma.
abstract: We evaluated a treatment strategy targeting both lymphoma cells (by rituximab) and the microenvironment (by thalidomide) in 16 patients with relapsed/refractory mantle cell lymphoma (MCL). Rituximab was administered at 375 mg/m(2) for 4 weekly doses concomitantly with thalidomide (200 mg daily, with a dose increment to 400 mg on day 15), which was continued as maintenance therapy until progression/relapse. Thirteen patients (81%) experienced an objective response, with 5 complete responders (31%). Median progression-free survival (PFS) was 20.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.3-23.6 months), and estimated 3-year survival was 75%. In patients achieving a complete response, PFS after rituximab plus thalidomide was longer than PFS after the preceding chemotherapy. Severe adverse events included 2 thromboembolic events and 1 grade IV neutropenia associated with thalidomide. Our results suggest that rituximab plus thalidomide has marked antitumor activity in relapsed/refractory MCL and a low toxicity profile, which warrants further evaluation in MCL.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Vienna, Department of Medicine I, Clinical Division of Oncology, Waehringer Guertel 18-20, A-1090 Vienna, Austria.
authors.forename: Hannes
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raderer
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wöhrer
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Püspök
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bankier
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Zielinski
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chott
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Drach
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D020522:Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012008:Recurrence; D000069283:Rituximab; D015996:Survival Rate; D013792:Thalidomide / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab; D013792:Thalidomide