Prolonged remission in a patient with relapsed follicular lymphoma after a single course of rituximab.
BACKGROUND
Rituximab monotherapy can achieve remissions of up to 80% in follicular lymphoma. As the antibody has only been on the market since 1997, long-term observations are still rare.


METHODS
We report about a patient with follicular lymphoma who received a single treatment of 4 x 375 mg/m(2) of the monoclonal antibody rituximab without chemotherapy and has been in complete remission (CR) for 8 years.


CONCLUSIONS
This remarkable response duration highlights the efficacy of rituximab monotherapy. A number of recently published studies have indicated that CR of more than 4 years after rituximab monotherapy may be a regularly occurring event.


CONCLUSIONS
These patients are likely to represent a yet poorly characterized patient group that profits considerably from rituximab monotherapy.
Jensen
Markus
M
Department of Internal Medicine I, University of Cologne, Germany. jensen@uni-koeln.de
Elter
Thomas
T
Engert
Andreas
A
Reiser
Marcel
M
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab