Thalidomide and rituximab in Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia. Academic Article uri icon

Overview

abstract

  • Thalidomide enhances rituximab-mediated, antibody-dependent, cell-mediated cytotoxicity. We therefore conducted a phase 2 study using thalidomide and rituximab in symptomatic Waldenstrom macroglobulinemia (WM) patients naive to either agent. Intended therapy consisted of daily thalidomide (200 mg for 2 weeks, then 400 mg for 50 weeks) and rituximab (375 mg/m(2) per week) dosed on weeks 2 to 5 and 13 to 16. Twenty-five patients were enrolled, 20 of whom were untreated. Responses were complete response (n = 1), partial response (n = 15), and major response (n = 2), for overall and major response rate of 72% and 64%, respectively, on an intent-to-treat basis. Median serum IgM decreased from 3670 to 1590 mg/dL (P < .001), whereas median hematocrit rose from 33.0% to 37.6% (P = .004) at best response. Median time to progression for responders was 38 months. Peripheral neuropathy to thalidomide was the most common adverse event. Among 11 patients experiencing grade 2 or greater neuropathy, 10 resolved to grade 1 or less at a median of 6.7 months. Thalidomide in combination with rituximab is active and produces long-term responses in WM. Lower doses of thalidomide (ie,

publication date

  • August 19, 2008

Research

keywords

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols
  • Thalidomide
  • Waldenstrom Macroglobulinemia

Identity

PubMed Central ID

  • PMC2597120

Scopus Document Identifier

  • 57649198069

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

  • 10.1182/blood-2008-04-150854

PubMed ID

  • 18713945

Additional Document Info

volume

  • 112

issue

  • 12