Complete and durable remission of refractory mantle cell lymphoma with repeated rituximab monotherapy

Int J Hematol. 2005 May;81(4):319-22. doi: 10.1532/IJH97.04167.

Abstract

We encountered a 53-year-old man with general fatigue. Bone marrow investigations revealed an infiltration of CD20+CD5+CD23- cells and the presence of cyclin D1 lymphoid cells, leading to a diagnosis of mantle cell lymphoma, clinical stage IV. The first 2 lines of chemotherapy, CyclOBEAP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, bleomycin, etoposide, doxorubicin, and prednisolone) and fludarabine-cyclophosphamide, produced only a transient decrease in serum lactic dehydrogenase levels, without a clinical remission. Because of the persistence of bone marrow hypoplasia, monotherapy with 375 mg/m2 rituximab was administered. The pancytopenia gradually improved, and a complete remission was obtained after 4 cycles of rituximab. The patient remains in complete remission 21 months after the third rituximab therapy for maintenance.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / therapeutic use*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / administration & dosage
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • Bleomycin / administration & dosage
  • Cyclophosphamide / administration & dosage
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Drug Resistance, Neoplasm
  • Etoposide / administration & dosage
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell / drug therapy*
  • Lymphoma, Mantle-Cell / pathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Prednisolone / administration & dosage
  • Rituximab
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Vincristine / administration & dosage

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Bleomycin
  • Rituximab
  • Vincristine
  • Etoposide
  • Doxorubicin
  • Cyclophosphamide
  • Prednisolone

Supplementary concepts

  • PACEBO protocol