| 1. |
- Itälä, M, et al.
(author)
-
Standard-dose anti-CD20 antibody rituximab has efficacy in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia : Results from a nordic multicentre study
- 2002
-
In: European Journal of Haematology. - : Wiley. - 0902-4441 .- 1600-0609. ; 69:3, s. 129-134
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Objectives: This prospective multicentre study was conducted to assess the efficacy of the monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab in patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). Secondary objectives were defined as the tolerability and feasibility of rituximab in patients with CLL. Methods: Twenty-four heavily pretreated patients with CLL were treated with a standard dose of 375 mg m-2 of rituximab given once weekly for four doses. Results: The overall response rate was 35% and all the responses were partial as defined by the revised NCI criteria. In 17 (85%) of 20 patients with initially measurable peripheral lymph nodes the size of lymph nodes decreased by at least 50%, while an improvement of the bone marrow infiltration was observed only in two (11%) of 18 evaluable patients. The median duration of the overall response was 12.5 wk. Rituximab was relatively well tolerated. Although side-effects were common (75%) they were usually mild or moderate. There was only one grade 3 adverse event and no grade 4 events. Conclusions: Standard-dose rituximab has activity in heavily pretreated patients with CLL, although the response is mainly limited to the lymph nodes and of short duration. Since rituximab has in vitro synergism with chemotherapeutic agents and is well tolerated by CLL patients, it is reasonable to investigate rituximab in combination with other treatments.
|
|
| 2. |
- Lundin, J, et al.
(author)
-
Phase 2 study of alemtuzumab (anti-CD52 monoclonal antibody) in patients with advanced mycosis fungoides/Sezary syndrome
- 2003
-
In: Blood. - : American Society of Hematology. - 0006-4971 .- 1528-0020. ; 101:11, s. 4267-4272
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- This phase 2 study evaluated the safety and efficacy of alemtuzumab in 22 patients with advanced mycosis fungoides/Sezary syndrome (MF/SS). Most patients had stage III or IV disease, reduced performance status, and severe itching. The overall response (OR) rate was 55%, with 32% of patients in complete remission (CR) and M in, partial remission (PR). Sezary cells were cleared from the blood in 6 of 7 (86%) patients, and CR in lymph nodes was observed in 6 of 11 (55%) patients. The effect was better on erythro-derma (OR, 69%) than on plaque or skin tumors (OR, 40%) and in patients who had received 1 to 2 previous regimens (OR, 80%) thin in those who had received 3 or more prior regimens (OR, 33%). Itching, self-assessed on a 0 to 10 visual analog scale, was reduced from a median of 8 before treatment to 2 at end. of therapy. Median time to treatment failure was 12 months (range, 5-32+ months). Cytomegalovirus (CMV), reactivation (causing fever without pneumonitis and responding to ganciclovir) occurred in 4 (18%) patients. Six additional patients had suspect or manifest infection (fever of unknown origin, 3, generalized herpes simplex, 1, fatal aspergillosis, 1). One patient had fatal Mycobacterium pneumonia at 10+ months. All serious infectious adverse events (except CMV) occurred in patients who had received 3 or more prior regimens. Progression of squamous cell skin carcinoma was noted in 1 patient. Alemtuzumab shows promising clinical activity and an acceptable safety profile in patients with advanced MF/SS, particularly in patients with erythroderma and severe itching and those who were not heavily pretreated. (C) 2003 by The American Society of Hematology.
|
|
