Prolonged molecular and clinical remission after treatment of a patient with follicular lymphoma with rituximab

Leuk Lymphoma. 2001 Apr;41(3-4):451-5. doi: 10.3109/10428190109058004.

Abstract

Rituximab is a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that has approval for single agent therapy in the treatment of relapsed/refractory low grade or follicular non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma. In published phase II trials, molecular remissions of PCR detectable t(14;18) disease in the peripheral blood have been reported in up to 62% of patients by three months. We report a case of a patient who achieved prolonged clinical and molecular remission following a single four week course of Rituximab that has exceeded any previous remission achieved with chemo-radiotherapy. The implications of molecular remission as a surrogate of clinical remission and molecular relapse as a harbinger of clinical relapse are reviewed and discussed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antineoplastic Agents / administration & dosage*
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 14
  • Chromosomes, Human, Pair 18
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • Humans
  • Lymphoma, Follicular / drug therapy*
  • Male
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Recurrence
  • Remission Induction
  • Rituximab
  • Translocation, Genetic / genetics

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antineoplastic Agents
  • Rituximab