Abstract | BACKGROUND:
Pentostatin has demonstrated significant activity as a single agent in patients with low-grade B-cell and T-cell lymphomas and is less myelosuppressive than other purine analogues. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We conducted a phase II trial with the combination regimen of PC-R ( pentostatin/ cyclophosphamide with or without rituximab) in 14 patients with Waldenstrom's macroglobulinemia (WM) and 3 patients with lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma (LL) without monoclonal serum immunoglobulin M ( IgM), followed by a maintenance regimen with rituximab (375 mg/m2 every 3 months) for patients exhibiting a complete response (CR) or a partial response (PR) after 4-6 cycles. Nine patients were untreated, and 8 had been previously treated with 1-3 regimens. The first 9 patients received PC therapy ( pentostatin 4 mg/m2 plus cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m2), and 8 patients received the same combination with rituximab 375 mg/m2 on day 1. Cycles were repeated every 3 weeks. RESULTS: An objective tumor response after PC and PC-R was confirmed in 11 of 17 evaluable patients (64.7%), with 2 CRs (11.7%) and 9 PRs (52.9%). In patients who received rituximab (n = 13) simultaneously or subsequently, the overall response rate was 76.9%. Grade 2/3 nausea and grade 2 vomiting was generally mild based on World Health Organization criteria. Grade 3 hematologic toxicity occurred after 9 of 49 cycles (18.3%), and grade 4 toxicity occurred after 2 cycles (4%). Ten patients were subsequently treated with rituximab every 3 months for 2-9 cycles to date (median, 4 cycles). No patients have had disease relapse to date, and all exhibited stable IgM serum levels. In 3 patients with a PR after completion of chemotherapy, remission has improved further, with normalization of the IgM level in 1 patient and another patient exhibiting a CR. CONCLUSION: Our data indicate that PC-R is safe and highly effective in patients with WM. Maintenance therapy with rituximab for WM as a single infusion every 3 months can be administered safely and can improve remission status.
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Authors | Manfred Hensel, Matthias Villalobos, Martin Kornacker, Fatime Krasniqi, Anthony D Ho |
Journal | Clinical lymphoma & myeloma
(Clin Lymphoma Myeloma)
Vol. 6
Issue 2
Pg. 131-5
(Sep 2005)
ISSN: 1557-9190 [Print] United States |
PMID | 16231851
(Publication Type: Clinical Trial, Phase II, Comparative Study, Journal Article)
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Chemical References |
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
- Antineoplastic Agents
- Immunoglobulin M
- Pentostatin
- Rituximab
- Cyclophosphamide
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Topics |
- Adult
- Aged
- Antibodies, Monoclonal
(administration & dosage, adverse effects)
- Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
- Antineoplastic Agents
(administration & dosage, adverse effects)
- Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
(administration & dosage, adverse effects)
- Cyclophosphamide
(administration & dosage, adverse effects)
- Disease-Free Survival
- Female
- Humans
- Immunoglobulin M
(blood)
- Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell
(blood, drug therapy)
- Male
- Middle Aged
- Pentostatin
(administration & dosage, adverse effects)
- Remission Induction
- Rituximab
- Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia
(blood, drug therapy)
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