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.
Department of Dermatology, Medical University of Vienna, Austria.
J
J
Valencak
F
F
Weihsengruber
K
K
Rappersberger
F
F
Trautinger
A
A
Chott
B
B
Streubel
L
L
Muellauer
M
M
Der-Petrossian
C
C
Jonak
M
M
Binder
M
M
Raderer
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