Prospective study of rituximab in chemotherapy-dependent human immunodeficiency virus associated multicentric Castleman's disease: ANRS 117 CastlemaB Trial.
OBJECTIVE
Single-agent chemotherapy is usually effective in HIV-associated multicentric Castleman's disease (MCD). However, in most patients, chemotherapy cannot be discontinued.


METHODS
To evaluate the efficacy of four weekly rituximab infusions (375 mg/m(2)) after discontinuation of chemotherapy in HIV-associated MCD, 24 patients were enrolled onto a prospective open-label trial.


RESULTS
At study entry, the median time from MCD diagnosis was 21 months. All patients had stable disease on chemotherapy and were dependent on chemotherapy for a median time of 13 months. The median CD4 cell count was 270 x 10(6)/L, and the plasma HIV RNA was less than 50 copies/mL in 18 patients. One patient died with progressive disease at day 15, and 23 patients completed the four cycles of rituximab. Sustained remission (SR) off treatment at day 60 (primary end point) was achieved in 22 patients (92%). From day 60 to day 365, one patient died with acute respiratory failure of undetermined origin, and four patients experienced relapse. Seventeen patients (71%) were alive in SR at day 365 without specific treatment, and the overall survival rate was 92% (95% CI, 71% to 98%). Rituximab was well tolerated, and the majority of adverse events were mild to moderate infections. Mild exacerbation of Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) lesions was observed in eight of 12 patients with previous KS.


CONCLUSIONS
Rituximab was both effective and safe in HIV-infected patients with chemotherapy-dependent MCD.
Department of Clinical Immunology, Laboratory of Virology, Paris VII University, Paris, France. laurence.gerard@sls.aphp.fr
Laurence
L
Gérard
Alice
A
Bérezné
Lionel
L
Galicier
Véronique
V
Meignin
Martine
M
Obadia
Nathalie
N
De Castro
Christine
C
Jacomet
Renaud
R
Verdon
Isabelle
I
Madelaine-Chambrin
Emmanuelle
E
Boulanger
Sylvie
S
Chevret
Felix
F
Agbalika
Eric
E
Oksenhendler
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D005871:Castleman Disease / Q000150:complications* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000821:virology; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011446:Prospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D016019:Survival Analysis; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000069283:Rituximab