Rituximab plus liposomal doxorubicin in HIV-infected patients with KSHV-associated multicentric Castleman disease

Blood. 2014 Dec 4;124(24):3544-52. doi: 10.1182/blood-2014-07-586800. Epub 2014 Oct 20.

Abstract

Kaposi sarcoma (KS) herpesvirus-associated multicentric Castleman disease (KSHV-MCD) is a lymphoproliferative disorder, most commonly seen in HIV-infected patients, that has a high mortality if untreated. Concurrent KS is common. Although rituximab has reported activity in KSHV-MCD, its use is often associated with KS progression. Within a natural history study of KSHV-MCD, we prospectively evaluated rituximab 375 mg/m(2) combined with liposomal doxorubicin 20 mg/m(2) (R-Dox) every 3 weeks in 17 patients. Patients received a median of 4 cycles (range 3-9). All received antiretroviral therapy, 11 received consolidation interferon-α, and 6 received consolidation high-dose zidovudine with valganciclovir. Using NCI KSHV-MCD response criteria, major clinical and biochemical responses were attained in 94% and 88% of patients, respectively. With a median 58 months' potential follow-up, 3-year event-free survival was 69% and 3-year overall survival was 81%. During R-Dox therapy, cutaneous KS developed in 1 patient, whereas 5 of 6 patients with it had clinical improvement. R-Dox was associated with significant improvement in anemia and hypoalbuminemia. KSHV viral load, KSHV viral interleukin-6, C-reactive protein, human interleukin-6, and serum immunoglobulin free light chains decreased with therapy. R-Dox is effective in symptomatic KSHV-MCD and may be useful in patients with concurrent KS. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT00092222.

Publication types

  • Clinical Trial
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / administration & dosage
  • Anti-Retroviral Agents / adverse effects
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / administration & dosage*
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic / adverse effects
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / administration & dosage*
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / adverse effects
  • C-Reactive Protein / metabolism
  • Castleman Disease / blood
  • Castleman Disease / complications
  • Castleman Disease / drug therapy*
  • Castleman Disease / mortality
  • Disease-Free Survival
  • Doxorubicin / administration & dosage
  • Doxorubicin / adverse effects
  • Doxorubicin / analogs & derivatives*
  • Female
  • Follow-Up Studies
  • HIV Infections / blood
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / drug therapy*
  • HIV Infections / mortality
  • Herpesviridae Infections / blood
  • Herpesviridae Infections / complications
  • Herpesviridae Infections / drug therapy*
  • Herpesviridae Infections / mortality
  • Herpesvirus 8, Human*
  • Humans
  • Interleukin-6 / blood
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polyethylene Glycols / administration & dosage
  • Polyethylene Glycols / adverse effects
  • Prospective Studies
  • Rituximab
  • Survival Rate
  • Viral Load

Substances

  • Anti-Retroviral Agents
  • Antibiotics, Antineoplastic
  • Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
  • IL6 protein, human
  • Interleukin-6
  • liposomal doxorubicin
  • Polyethylene Glycols
  • Rituximab
  • Doxorubicin
  • C-Reactive Protein

Supplementary concepts

  • Multi-centric Castleman's Disease

Associated data

  • ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT00092222