title: Serum BLyS levels increase after rituximab as initial therapy in patients with follicular Grade 1 non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
abstract: Serum B-lymphocyte stimulator (BLyS) levels are elevated in a subset of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) patients, particularly those with a family history of B-cell malignancies or a polymorphism in the BLyS gene. BLyS promotes growth of malignant B-cells and increased serum BLyS levels are associated with a poor clinical outcome. In this study, BLyS levels were measured before and after 4 weekly doses of rituximab in 30 patients with previously untreated follicular Grade 1 NHL. A significant increase was seen in the serum levels of BLyS (P = 0.0001) after rituximab therapy. The increase was independent of genetic variability in the BLyS gene.
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota 55905, USA. ansell.stephen@mayo.edu
authors.forename: Stephen M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ansell
authors.forename: Anne J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Novak
authors.forename: Steven
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ziesmer
authors.forename: Tammy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Price-Troska
authors.forename: Betsy
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: LaPlant
authors.forename: Stacey R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Dillon
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Witzig
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D018450:Disease Progression; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000097:blood* / Q000235:genetics; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D053264:B-Cell Activating Factor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; C505719:TNFSF13B protein, human; D000069283:Rituximab