title: Rituximab as treatment for minimal residual disease in hairy cell leukaemia.
abstract: Purine analogues have dramatically improved the outcome of patients affected by hairy cell leukemia (HCL), although complete eradication of disease was achieved in few cases. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of Rituximab in eradicating minimal residual disease (MRD) in HCL patients after a pre-treatment with 2-chloro-deoxy-adenosine (2-CdA). Ten patients received four cycles of Rituximab after administration of Cladribrine. Before starting anti-CD20 antibody, two patients were in complete remission, six in partial remission and two showed no significant response to Cladribrine. All cases resulted IgH-positive. Median time from the last 2-CdA infusion was 5.7 months. Eight of 10 patients [four in partial remission (PR), two in complete remission (CR) and two unresponsive after 2-CdA] were evaluable for response. Two months after the end of anti-CD20 therapy, all evaluated patients presented a complete haematological remission. Moreover, Rituximab increased percentage of molecular remission up to 100% 1 yr after the end of treatment. Interestingly, in all cases but one, including those persistently polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-positive, semi-quantitative molecular analyses showed MRD levels lower than those found before Rituximab administration. Toxicity was very mild. The present results not only confirm the therapeutic effect of Rituximab, but also show its relevance in eradicating MRD in HCL.
authors.affiliation: Section of Hematology, Department of Oncology, Transplants and Advances in Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cervetti
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Galimberti
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andreazzoli
authors.forename: Rita
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fazzi
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Cecconi
authors.forename: Francesco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caracciolo
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Petrini
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017338:Cladribine / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007022:Hypotension / Q000139:chemically induced; D007116:Immunization, Passive; D007943:Leukemia, Hairy Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018365:Neoplasm, Residual; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D017338:Cladribine; D000069283:Rituximab