title: Rituximab blocks protective serologic response to influenza A (H1N1) 2009 vaccination in lymphoma patients during or within 6 months after treatment.
abstract: Cancer patients are often encouraged to receive seasonal influenza vaccination. The monoclonal antibody rituximab is widely used in treatment of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. This results in a prolonged depletion of normal B cells, which might impair humoral responses. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether lymphoma patients undergoing rituximab-containing treatment regimens or having received such regimens within the past 6 months were able to mount protective antibody responses to the influenza A(H1N1) 2009 virus vaccine Pandemrix during the 2009 "swine flu" pandemic. Contrary to the control group, where 82% responded adequately to the vaccine, none of the 67 patients achieved protective antibody titers, suggesting that lymphoma patients receiving rituximab-containing regimens might not benefit from this vaccine. It is important that doctors who care for such patients are aware that they may fail to respond not only to the influenza vaccine, but also to other common vaccines.
authors: Clinic for Surgery and Cancer Medicine, Department of Oncology, Oslo University Hospital, Norway. olav.yri@rr-research.no
authors: Olav Erich
authors: OE
authors: Yri
authors: Dag
authors: D
authors: Torfoss
authors: Olav
authors: O
authors: Hungnes
authors: Anne
authors: A
authors: Tierens
authors: Kristian
authors: K
authors: Waalen
authors: Tone
authors: T
authors: Nordøy
authors: Susanne
authors: S
authors: Dudman
authors: Anette
authors: A
authors: Kilander
authors: Karin Fahl
authors: KF
authors: Wader
authors: Bjørn
authors: B
authors: Ostenstad
authors: Roald
authors: R
authors: Ekanger
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Meyer
authors: Arne
authors: A
authors: Kolstad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000818:Animals; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype / Q000276:immunology*; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000276:immunology*; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000145:classification / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009976:Orthomyxoviridae Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology; D058873:Pandemics / Q000517:prevention & control; D000069283:Rituximab; D013552:Swine; D013553:Swine Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000276:immunology / Q000821:virology; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014611:Vaccination; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D007252:Influenza Vaccines; C556153:pandemrix; D000069283:Rituximab