High dose methylprednisolone and rituximab is an effective therapy in advanced refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia resistant to fludarabine therapy.
The combination of high dose methylprednisolone and rituximab induces superior overall (93%) and complete (14%) response rates compared to high dose methylprednisolone alone (overall 43%, complete remission 0%) in heavily pre-treated chronic lymphocytic leukemia patients with advanced disease. Despite its efficacy the combination is not easily manageable because of the high rate of opportunistic infections.
Dungarwalla
Moez
M
Evans
Steve O
SO
Riley
Unell
U
Catovsky
Daniel
D
Dearden
Clare E
CE
Matutes
Estella
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D017053:Infection Control; D007239:Infections / Q000209:etiology; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000628:therapy*; D008297:Male; D008775:Methylprednisolone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069283:Rituximab; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine; D008775:Methylprednisolone