Rituximab monotherapy as a first-line treatment for pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma.
Pulmonary mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a rare extranodal lymphoma with a 5-year survival rate of 80-95 %. There is no standard treatment strategy for pulmonary MALT lymphoma. In the present study, we performed a retrospective evaluation of systemic rituximab monotherapy (375 mg m(-2) day(-1), 4-8 cycles) as first-line treatment in patients with pulmonary MALT lymphoma. Of the eight patients enrolled, five achieved complete response, one achieved partial response, and two showed stable disease. Median progression-free survival was 66.0 months (range 9.7-87.2 months). Treatment was well tolerated and all patients were alive during the median follow-up period of 64.0 months. Rituximab monotherapy was efficacious in patients with pulmonary MALT lymphoma, demonstrating long-term disease stabilization and symptom reduction. Larger prospective studies are warranted to further assess the efficacy of rituximab monotherapy. In conclusion, rituximab monotherapy may be considered for first-line therapy in patients with pulmonary MALT lymphoma.
Division of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Shizuoka Cancer Center, 1007 Shimonagakubo, Nagaizumi-chou, Suntou-gun, Shizuoka, 411-8777, Japan.
Ikue
I
Okamura
Hisao
H
Imai
Keita
K
Mori
Kazuto
K
Ogura
Atsushi
A
Isoda
Keichiro
K
Mihara
Morio
M
Matsumoto
Ryusei
R
Saito
Toshiaki
T
Takahashi
Takashi
T
Ikeda
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000473:pathology; D018442:Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D049268:Positron-Emission Tomography; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D000069283:Rituximab; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab