How effective is Rituximab for lymphoma?
Significantly more patients in the two rituximab arms avoided chemotherapy at 3 years, leading the investigators to conclude that single-agent rituximab should be considered an option for untreated low-burden FL. Of note, almost half the patients in the watchful waiting arm had not initiated treatment for FL after 3 years.
Do I need Rituxan maintenance?
Your doctor may decide to prescribe RITUXAN as maintenance therapy if you achieve remission after using RITUXAN and chemotherapy as initial treatment. RITUXAN is prescribed alone, without chemotherapy, every 8 weeks for 12 doses during this phase of the journey. Your goal here is to help keep your disease in remission.
Is Rituxan a chemo drug?
One is evaluating the BI-1206 combination with rituximab for the treatment of Non-Hodgkin lymphoma, which includes patients with follicular lymphoma, MCL and marginal zone lymphoma (MZL) who have relapsed or are refractory to rituximab.
Can lymphoma be treated without chemotherapy?
When you skip chemotherapy, you won't get symptoms like sickness, infection, and hair loss. Another benefit is your lymphoma cells won't get resistant to medicine, which is a problem for some people. When that happens, treatment may not work as well anymore. You'll also avoid hospital stays and continue to enjoy the activities that you like.
How long has Rituxan been used?
Rituximab, initially approved in 1997 by the US FDA for use in relapsed/refractory indolent non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and subsequently in other indications, was the first monoclonal antibody (mAb) utilized in oncology and remains widely used over two decades later [1].
When did Rituxan launch?
Rituxan was approved in November 1997 and is manufactured by Genentech. With the Truxima approval, the FDA has approved 15 biosimiliars.
How long is maintenance rituximab?
In closing, Smith described 500 mg and 1,000 mg as “reasonable choices” for rituximab maintenance dosing. “Maintenance dosing should be at least 2 years, but one could consider extending in high-risk individuals,” she said. “At present, the optimal interval is 6-monthly dosing.”
When was Rituxan approved for CLL?
FDA approves rituximab plus hyaluronidase combination for Treatment of FL, DLBCL and CLL. On June 22, 2017, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted regular approval to the combination of rituximab and hyaluronidase human (RITUXAN HYCELA, Genentech Inc.)
What is the difference between Rituxan and rituximab?
Rituxan is the trade name for rituximab. In some cases, health care professionals may use the trade name rituxan when referring to the generic drug name rituximab. Drug type: Rituximab is a monoclonal antibody. (For more detail, see "How this drug works" section below).
How long does Rituxan suppress immune system?
While plasma cells and existing antibody levels are not affected, depletion of B cells following rituximab decreases humoral immune responses to primary antigens; in addition, as a result of prolonged decrease in MBCs, antibody production to recall antigens is decreased even 6-10 months after treatment (6).
How often is Rituxan given for lymphoma?
Rituxan is given once weekly for 4 to 8 weeks. After, Rituxan may be given once weekly for 4 more weeks as needed. Previously untreated NHL. For this type of NHL, Rituxan is given with chemotherapy.
What is maintenance treatment for lymphoma?
What is maintenance therapy? Maintenance therapy is sometimes given after initial treatment has put the lymphoma into remission (no evidence of disease). It is used to make the remission last as long as possible by suppressing any lymphoma cells that can't be detected by scans after the main treatment has finished.
How is Rituxan maintenance given?
If you are having rituximab as maintenance therapy, you have it once every 2 to 3 months, usually for 2 years. You have it in one of the following ways: As an injection just underneath your skin (subcutaneously). This takes a few minutes and is the most common way of having rituximab maintenance therapy.
How often is Rituxan given for CLL?
Following completion of six cycles, rituximab 500 mg/m2 was given as maintenance therapy once every three months until relapse.
Does rituximab cause immunosuppression?
Rituximab may in addition cause immunosuppression through several other mechanisms such as delayed-onset cytopenia, particularly neutropenia and hypogammaglobulinemia. Clinical trials have shown conflicting results regarding the association of rituximab with infections.
Is rituximab a chemotherapy?
RITUXAN is not chemotherapy. RITUXAN is a type of antibody therapy that can be used alone or with chemotherapy. They work in different ways to find and attack the cells where cancer starts. RITUXAN targets and attaches to the CD20 protein found on the surface of blood cells with cancer and some healthy blood cells.
How long does it take for a B cell to deplete after taking Rituximab?
Under the approved dose and schedule of once per week for 4 weeks, often results in B-cell depletion that lasts for up to 6 months.
When was the Rituximab study designed?
Since this study was designed in 1996 before rituximab was a standard. part of initial therapy this trial cannot answer questions about the. benefit of rituximab maintenance in patients who were initially treated. with the current standard treatment using chemotherapy plus rituximab.
What type of lymphoma is 282?
Of these, 282 had follicular lymphoma, which is a common type of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL). It is a slow growing lymphoma that arises from B-cells, a type of white blood cell. All had received a combination chemotherapy regimen of cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (CVP).
What are the toxicities of rituximab?
Grade 3 infections occurred in 1% in both groups. Other grade 3 toxicities in the rituximab group included lung, heart, allergy, weight gain, and nerve problems, affecting 1% or less.
Does rituximab increase the length of time before cancer resumes?
The researchers in this study wanted to determine if giving rituximab over a long period to patients with advanced-stage, slow-growing (indolent) lymphoma after standard chemotherapy would increase the length of time before the cancer resumed growing (progression-free survival).
Does rituximab have a long progression free survival?
Patients treated with maintenance rituximab had three times longer progression-free survival . This is a summary of an article published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, a respected scientific journal. The full text of a medical article such as this is not commonly available free for patients, and if it is, it can be difficult for ...
Can indolent lymphoma be treated again?
However, in most cases the cancer comes back, and may or may not be treated again.
Where to report RITUXAN side effects?
You may report side effects to the FDA at (800) FDA-1088 or www.fda.gov/medwatch. You may also report side effects to Genentech at (888) 835-2555.
What is Rituximab used for?
RITUXAN® (rituximab) is a prescription medicine used to treat adults with: Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL): alone or with other chemotherapy medicines. Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL): with the chemotherapy medicines fludarabine and cyclophosphamide.
What to tell your healthcare provider before taking Rituximab?
Before receiving RITUXAN, tell your healthcare provider if you: Have had a severe reaction to RITUXAN or a rituximab product. Have a history of heart problems, irregular heartbeat, or chest pain. Have lung or kidney problems. Have had an infection, currently have an infection, or have a weakened immune system.
How long after a Rituxan infusion can you have a reaction?
Serious infusion-related reactions can happen during your infusion or within 24 hours after your infusion of RITUXAN. Your healthcare provider should give you medicines before your infusion of RITUXAN to decrease your chance of having a severe infusion-related reactions.
What is PML on Rituxan?
Progressive Multifocal Leukoencephalopathy (PML):PML is a rare, serious brain infection caused by a virus that can happen in people who receive RITUXAN.
Can Rituxan cause heart problems?
Cuts, scrapes, or incisions that are red, warm, swollen, or painful. Heart Problems:RITUXAN may cause chest pain, irregular heartbeats, and heart attack. Your healthcare provider may monitor your heart during and after treatment with RITUXAN if you have symptoms of heart problems or have a history of heart problems.
What is Rituximab used for?
Rituxan (rituximab) is a CD20-directed cytolytic antibody indicated for the treatment of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, rheumatoid arthritis, granulomatosis with polyangiitis, microscopic polyangiitis, and pemphigus vulgaris. Rituxan is indicated for the treatment of:
What is non-Hodgkin's lymphoma?
Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) in adult patients with:#N#relapsed or refractory, low grade or follicular, CD20-positive Bcell NHL as a single agent.#N#previously untreated follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL in combination with first line chemotherapy and, in patients achieving a complete or partial response to a rituximab product in combination with chemotherapy, as single-agent maintenance therapy.#N#non-progressing (including stable disease), low-grade, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL as a single agent after first-line cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (CVP) chemotherapy.#N#previously untreated diffuse large B-cell, CD20-positive NHL in combination with (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) (CHOP) or other anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens. 1 relapsed or refractory, low grade or follicular, CD20-positive Bcell NHL as a single agent. 2 previously untreated follicular, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL in combination with first line chemotherapy and, in patients achieving a complete or partial response to a rituximab product in combination with chemotherapy, as single-agent maintenance therapy. 3 non-progressing (including stable disease), low-grade, CD20-positive, B-cell NHL as a single agent after first-line cyclophosphamide, vincristine, and prednisone (CVP) chemotherapy. 4 previously untreated diffuse large B-cell, CD20-positive NHL in combination with (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone) (CHOP) or other anthracycline-based chemotherapy regimens.
Is Rituxan a single agent?
Rituxan is indicated for the treatment of: Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma (NHL) in adult patients with: relapsed or refractory, low grade or follicular, CD20-positive Bcell NHL as a single agent.
How long does rituximab last?
Although studies are ongoing, there are no available data regarding the safety and efficacy of treatment for more than 24 months. Many patients who benefit from maintenance rituximab and stop treatment after an arbitrary 24 months of therapy retain sensitivity to rituximab and respond again at the time of disease progression. [10] In such patients, it is reasonable to infer that continuation of maintenance rituximab beyond 24 months would have further prolonged their remission duration.
Is rituximab a monoclonal antibody?
Recent trials have demonstrated improvements in progression-free and overall survival with the inclusion of the chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituxim ab (Rituxan) in chemotherapy regimens for treatment-naive and relapsed patients with advanced-stage follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). As rituximab therapy has significant single-agent activity in follicular NHL, is generally well tolerated, and has no dose-limiting or significant hematologic toxicity, a number of approaches evaluating maintenance therapy with extended dosing of rituximab are being tested. Trials have demonstrated prolonged progression-free survival in patients treated with maintenance rituximab using a variety of schedules following treatment with single-agent rituximab, induction or salvage chemotherapy, or salvage therapy with rituximab and chemotherapy combinations. Small increases in neutropenia and infections have been reported with extended rituximab use. Ongoing trials are evaluating the optimal use of rituximab (maintenance vs retreatment) and the benefit of rituximab maintenance following treatment of therapy-naive patients treated with rituximab-containing chemoimmunotherapy induction regimens. This article discusses the risks and benefits of maintenance rituximab for follicular NHL.