Radioimmunotherapy of heavily pre-treated, non-Hodgkin's lymphoma patients: efficacy and safety in a routine setting.
The aim of the present study waw to assess efficacy and safety of radio-immunotherapy with Zevalin (RIT-Z) in heavily pre-treated, rituximab-refractory patients.


METHODS
We studied 12 patients with indolent lymphoma and 7 with aggressive lymphoma. The median number of prior rituximab-containing treatments was 2; overall, 3 therapies had been previously given. Ten patients received RIT-Z as salvage therapy, 9 at high risk of relapse received RIT-Z as consolidation. Staging and follow-up were obtained by positron-emission tomography. Outcomes assessed were failure-free survival (FFS) and time to next treatment (TTNT).


RESULTS
Overall FFS and TTNT were 5 and 11 months, respectively; median follow-up 13 months. Major findings were i) no long-term remissions observed in 7 patients who had not responded to their most recent therapy and ii) lack of association between any pre-therapy variables analysed and outcomes. Different subgroups showed no difference in terms of toxicity.


CONCLUSIONS
We encourage the use of RIT-Z as a consolidation for pre-treated patients with both indolent and aggressive lymphoma.
Cicone
Francesco
F
Department of Nuclear Medicine, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy. f.cicone@iol.it
Baldini
Rossella
R
Cox
Maria Christina
MC
Russo
Eleonora
E
Torelli
Fabio
F
Tofani
Anna
A
Scopinaro
Francesco
F
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016499:Radioimmunotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes / Q000008:administration & dosage*
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes; D000069283:Rituximab; C422802:ibritumomab tiuxetan