Fractionated subcutaneous rituximab is well-tolerated and preserves CD20 expression on tumor cells in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia
oleh: Georg Aue, Margaret A. Lindorfer, Paul V. Beum, Andrew W. Pawluczkowycz, Berengere Vire, Thomas Hughes, Ronald P. Taylor, Adrian Wiestner
| Format: | Article |
|---|---|
| Diterbitkan: | Ferrata Storti Foundation 2010-02-01 |
Deskripsi
A pilot study previously demonstrated that thrice-weekly, fractionated-dose intravenous rituximab (RTX) limits CD20 loss from chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) B cells, thereby enhancing immunotherapeutic targeting. Here, we investigated the feasibility of giving 20 mg rituximab subcutaneously thrice weekly for up to 12 weeks in 4 previously treated CLL patients. Subcutaneous rituximab was well-tolerated with minimal injection site reactions; a variable degree of efficacy was observed, likely influenced by the size of the patients’ B cell/CD20 burden. Subcutaneous RTX largely preserved CD20 expression on leukemic cells but the most effective therapeutic dosing regimen needs to be established (ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT00366418).