High-dose rituximab therapy in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

摘要: Rituximab (Rituxan; Genentech, Inc, South San Francisco, CA and IDEC Pharmaceutical Corporation, Diego, CA) is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that targets mature B cells in most lymphoid B-cell malignancies. approved by the US Food Drug Administration for therapy recurrent lymphoma. In initial clinical trials activity small lymphocytic lymphoma, counterpart of chronic leukemia (CLL), was less than 20%. an attempt to increase level rituximab CLL, we conducted phase I dose-escalation study overcome both lower CD20 antigen density on CLL compared with lymphoma shorter half-life Cohorts patients were treated escalated doses weeks 2, 3, 4 after dose 375 mg/m2 day 1. The maximum evaluated 2,250 mg/m2. There clear evidence dose-response relationship. Severe toxicity (grades 3 4) noted following first variant forms namely mantle cell prolymphocytic leukemia, uncommon typical CLL. No unusual at higher doses. Further exploration dosing schedule development combination therapies necessary. This agent shows promise interaction combined chemoimmunotherapy strategies front-line relapsed