title: Impressive and durable response in a case of multiple relapsed mantle cell lymphoma treated with bortezomib and rituximab.
abstract: Relapsed mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) usually represents a hard challenge, especially after the failure of high-dose therapy or in elderly patients, and although new agents have been investigated, responses are often short and a significant proportion of patients finally die from progressive disease. Here, we report a case of a relapsed MCL patient that achieved durable response with bortezomib and rituximab. Treatment regimen consisted of bortezomib 1.6 mg/m(2) and rituximab 375 mg/m(2) intravenously on days 1-8-15-22 for the 1st course, followed by 2 courses of bortezomib with the same schedule. After the third course, patients in CR, PR or SD received other 3 courses. The patient achieved a CR, but because of the high risk of relapse we started a 4-week maintenance therapy with rituximab and bortezomib for 4 courses administered at six month interval. After a follow-up of 62 months, the patient maintained CR. We suggest rituximab plus bortezomib could play an important role in the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory MCL. Maintenance therapy could be an interesting option, especially for patients with a high relapse risk rate.
authors.affiliation: a Unit of Hematology , Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese & University of Siena , Siena , Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuele
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Cencini
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medical, Surgical and Neuro Sciences, Diagnostic Imaging , Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, University of Siena , Siena , Italy.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Guerrini
authors.affiliation: b Department of Medical, Surgical and Neuro Sciences, Diagnostic Imaging , Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese, University of Siena , Siena , Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Antonietta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mazzei
authors.affiliation: c Department of Hematology , Città della Salute e della Scienza Hospital and University , Torino , Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiappella
authors.affiliation: a Unit of Hematology , Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria Senese & University of Siena , Siena , Italy.
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fabbri
mesh_terms: D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D000069286:Bortezomib / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020522:Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000008:administration & dosage*
chemical_list: D000069283:Rituximab; D000069286:Bortezomib
keywords: Bortezomib; MCL; Response duration; Rituximab