Rituximab monotherapy for primary cutaneous B-cell lymphoma: response and follow-up in 16 patients.
BACKGROUND
We have carried out a retrospective analysis to evaluate the therapeutic value of the anti-CD20 antibody rituximab in 16 consecutive patients with primary cutaneous CD20+ B-cell lymphomas.


METHODS
Sixteen patients (4 females, 12 males) with a median age of 54 years received systemic therapy with rituximab 375 mg/m(2) once weekly for four or six consecutive weeks. Eleven patients had primary cutaneous follicle center cell lymphoma and five patients had a primary cutaneous marginal zone B-cell lymphoma.


RESULTS
Of the 16 patients with PCBCL, 14 patients (87.5%) achieved complete remission (CR). In two patients, partial remission was obtained and additional focal radiotherapy was applied, which resulted in final CR. Five to 14 (35%) patients with CR relapsed, in an interval between 6 and 37 months. There were no severe side-effects.


CONCLUSIONS
On the basis of our results, single-agent treatment with i.v. rituximab appears to be feasible and safe and results in a high rate of durable remissions. Judging from our data, it appears to be an attractive treatment option and should be directly compared with local radiotherapy.
Valencak
J
J
Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
Weihsengruber
F
F
Rappersberger
K
K
Trautinger
F
F
Chott
A
A
Streubel
B
B
Muellauer
L
L
Der-Petrossian
M
M
Jonak
C
C
Binder
M
M
Raderer
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007155:Immunologic Factors / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D007155:Immunologic Factors; D000069283:Rituximab