title: Rituximab and chlorambucil as first-line treatment for low-grade ocular adnexal lymphomas.
abstract: Ocular adnexal lymphomas (OALs) are typically low-grade lymphomas and are largely represented by marginal-zone lymphomas (EMZL). Radiotherapy is the treatment of choice but is frequently associated to local complications. We investigated the association of chlorambucil and rituximab as first-line treatment for primary OALs. Nine consecutive, newly diagnosed OALs patients (eight with a EMZL, one with a follicular lymphoma) with a median age of 78 years were treated with this combination. Eight patients were in stage I-A, and one was in stage IV-A; all patients had low LDH values. Eight patients (89%) obtained a complete remission and one a partial response. All completed the treatment without significant toxicities. After a median follow up of 25 months, all patients are alive; no progressions or late toxicities were observed. Rituximab in combination with chlorambucil proved to be a feasible option as first-line treatment for OALs because of its feasibility and the absence of toxicity and local sequelae.
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Careggi, viale Morgagni 85, 50134, Florence, Italy. l.rigacci@dac.unifi.it
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rigacci
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Nassi
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Puccioni
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mappa
authors.forename: Ennio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Polito
authors.forename: Serena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dal Pozzo
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Alterini
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Carrai
authors.forename: Benedetta
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Puccini
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bosi
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D002699:Chlorambucil / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000009:adverse effects; D005134:Eye Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D002699:Chlorambucil; D000069283:Rituximab