Durable remission induced by rituximab-containing chemotherapy in a patient with primary refractory Burkitt's lymphoma

Ann Hematol. 2004 Feb;83(2):120-3. doi: 10.1007/s00277-003-0758-2. Epub 2003 Sep 26.

Abstract

We describe a 65-year-old man diagnosed with Burkitt's lymphoma arising from the intestine. The tumor cells had a mature B-cell immunophenotype and rearrangement of the c-myc gene. The patient was treated with intensive multiagent chemotherapy. After four courses of chemotherapy, an ileus developed due to a residual abdominal disease. We administered rituximab in combination with the same chemotherapy regimen. A dramatic clinical improvement was observed and abnormal uptake by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography disappeared. The patient experienced complete remission for 1 year. This encouraging result indicates that rituximab might be an important treatment choice in management of Burkitt's lymphoma.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal / administration & dosage
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / therapeutic use*
  • B-Lymphocytes / cytology
  • B-Lymphocytes / drug effects
  • Burkitt Lymphoma / diagnostic imaging
  • Burkitt Lymphoma / drug therapy*
  • Burkitt Lymphoma / genetics
  • Burkitt Lymphoma / pathology
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18 / metabolism
  • Genes, myc / genetics
  • Humans
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase / blood
  • Male
  • Radiopharmaceuticals / metabolism
  • Remission Induction
  • Rituximab
  • Tomography, Emission-Computed / methods

Substances

  • Antibodies, Monoclonal
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • Radiopharmaceuticals
  • Fluorodeoxyglucose F18
  • Rituximab
  • L-Lactate Dehydrogenase