Rituximab-based treatments in Waldenström's macroglobulinemia.
The anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab has shown activity in approximately one third of patients with Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia (WM). Because this agents is nonmyelosuppressive, several studies have assessed its combination with chemotherapeutic agents such as fludarabine, cladribine, cyclophosphamide, and doxorubicin. These regimens induce at least partial response in > 70% of previously untreated patients. Recent data suggest that prolonged exposure to nucleoside-containing regimens should be avoided because of concerns of myelodysplasia and disease transformation. Rituximab has also been combined with thalidomide, which is an active and nonmyelosuppressive regimen. The rituximab-based combination represents today the most commonly used primary treatment for WM.
Department of Clinical Therapeutics, University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece. mdimop@med.uoa.gr
Meletios A
MA
Dimopoulos
Efstathios
E
Kastritis
Maria
M
Roussou
Evangelos
E
Eleutherakis-Papaiakovou
Magdalini
M
Migkou
Maria
M
Gavriatopoulou
Anna
A
Tassidou
Evangelos
E
Terpos
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D017338:Cladribine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D003520:Cyclophosphamide / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004317:Doxorubicin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D000069283:Rituximab; D014740:Vidarabine / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D008258:Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia / Q000188:drug therapy*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D017338:Cladribine; D000069283:Rituximab; D004317:Doxorubicin; D003520:Cyclophosphamide; D014740:Vidarabine; C024352:fludarabine