title: Rituximab in lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin disease (LPHD) differs in biology and clinical behaviour from classic Hodgkin disease. Almost 100% of LPHD neoplastic cells express CD20 and thus rituximab could be effective; yet limited data are available.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective analysis on patients with LPHD who were treated with rituximab at our institution to determine the magnitude of benefit offered by this drug.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven patients were identified; 4 received the drug as single agent while the rest received it in combination with chemotherapy. All except 2 received the drug in the salvage setting. Response rate was 100% with 6 of 7 patients achieving complete remission. At a median follow-up of 2 years, 4 patients are still disease free while the rest relapsed at a median time of 27 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rituximab is effective in LPHD and should be considered; however, the optimal schedule remains to be determined.
authors.affiliation: Division of Haematology-Oncology, Department of Medicine, European Institute of Oncology, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Hatem A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Azim
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pruneri
authors.forename: Emilia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cocorocchio
authors.forename: Saverio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cinieri
authors.forename: Paola R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Raviele
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bassi
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Preda
authors.forename: Giovanni
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martinelli
authors.forename: Fedro A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Peccatori
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006689:Hodgkin Disease / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab