Rituximab for primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma-leg type.
Primary cutaneous diffuse large B-cell lymphoma leg type (PCDLBCL-LT) is a rare type of lymphoma, of poor prognosis, which affects elderly people. Rituximab is an anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody and has demonstrated its efficiency in the treatment of nodal lymphomas. Rituximab with polychemotherapy has been reported in PCDLBCL-LT with a good response but many adverse effects. We evaluated the risk-benefit ratio of treatment with single-agent rituximab in a retrospective study on 8 patients with PCDLBCL-LT treated with rituximab. The main evaluation clinical endpoint was the rate of objective responses to the treatment. The secondary endpoints were the adverse effects, disease-free survival and overall survival. After 4 courses of single-agent rituximab, 75% of objective responses were achieved. 100% of patients relapsed (median disease-free survival: 5.25 months, median follow-up: 17.7 months). The tolerance was excellent with one adverse event (Grade I). Rituximab monotherapy induces a rate of objective responses which is less than rituximab with polychemotherapy, with no lasting therapeutic response. The tolerance of rituximab monotherapy is higher than rituximab with polychemotherapy. The risk-benefit ratio is a bit lower but rituximab is well tolerated and may be useful for short term palliative treatment.
Department of Dermato-Oncology, Nantes University Hospital Centre, Nantes Cedex, France.
Marion
M
Fenot
Gaelle
G
Quereux
Anabelle
A
Brocard
Jean-Jacques
JJ
Renaut
Brigitte
B
Dreno
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity; D016403:Lymphoma, Large B-Cell, Diffuse / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D008297:Male; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000069283:Rituximab; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000069283:Rituximab