title: Intralesional rituximab in the treatment of indolent primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas: an epidemiological observational multicentre study. The Spanish Working Group on Cutaneous Lymphoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Intravenous rituximab is a safe and effective option for the treatment of systemic non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma. The effectiveness of intralesional rituximab (ILR) in primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (PCBL) has been described in a small number of patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness, tolerance and adverse effects of ILR in patients with follicle centre (FCL) and marginal zone (MZL) PCBL.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was an epidemiological observational multicentre study of patients with PCBL treated with ILR.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seventeen patients with MZL and 18 with FCL PCBL were included. The median number of lesions treated was two per patient. The treatment regimen used in 74% of the patients was a course of three injections in a single week at 1-month intervals. The dose per lesion and day of treatment was 10 mg in 71% of the patients. The median cumulative dose of rituximab per lesion was 60 mg (range 13-270) and per patient was 150 mg (range 20-360 mg). Complete response (CR) and partial response were achieved in 71% and 23% of patients, respectively. The median time to CR in patients who received 10 mg of ILR per lesion was 8 weeks. Similar response rates were observed in MZL and FCL. Median disease-free survival was 114·1 weeks. No parameters that significantly predicted CR were identified. Adverse reactions were recorded in 19 patients; the most frequent was localized pain at the injection site. Median follow-up was 21 months.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Intralesional rituximab is a well-tolerated and effective treatment for FCL and MZL PCBL. It should be considered a useful alternative in patients with recurrent lesions and in which the sequelae of radiotherapy or surgery would be significant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Complejo Hospitalario Universitario Insular Materno-Infantil, Gran Canaria, Las Palmas de GC, Spain.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Peñate
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hernández-Machín
authors.forename: L I
authors.initials: LI
authors.lastname: Pérez-Méndez
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Santiago
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rosales
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Servitje
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Estrach
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fernández-Guarino
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Calzado
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Acebo
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Gallardo
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salar
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Izu
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Ortiz-Romero
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Pujol
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fernández-de-Misa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000069283:Rituximab; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab