Rituximab therapy in cutaneous infiltration of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
RIS ID
81117
Abstract
Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) is a common adult leukaemia in patients over 50 years of age, with a median age at diagnosis of around 65 years [1,2]. While it remains an incurable disease, its indolent nature results in a varied prognosis with a median survival of greater than 10 years reported in early-stage disease. However, others may die rapidly even with aggressive treatment strategies [1, 2]. Treatment is typically initiated when patients become symptomatic [2]. Standard treatments for CLL include alkylating agents such as chlorambucil or cyclophosphamide, but combination chemotherapy with vincristine, prednisolone, fludarabine, or rituximab may be required in some patients [3-6]. Rituximab, a chimeric anti-C020 monoclonal antibody, has shown significant activity in a variety of B cell lymphomas [7-15]. The C020 antigen is also found on B cells in CLL and singleagent rituximab has shown activity in these patients [16- 19,22].
Publication Details
Ramakrishna, R., Sarathy, K. & Sarathy, T. (2013). Rituximab therapy in cutaneous infiltration of chronic lymphocytic leukaemia. Acta Haematologica, 130 (1), 47-51.