Rituximab in the Treatment of EBY-positive Low Grade B-Cell Lymphoma

• Published in: Anticancer research 2013-12, Vol.33 (12), p.5693-5698
• Main Authors: Diamantopoulos, Panagiotis T, POLONYFI, KATERINA, SOFOTASIOU, MARIA, Papadopoulou, Vasiliki, Kalala, Fani, Iliakis, Theodoros, Zervakis, Kostantinos, TSILIMIDOS, GERASSIMOS, Kouzis, Panagiotis, KYRTSONIS, MARIE-CHRISTINE, VASSILAKOPOULOS, THEODOROS, Angelopoulou, Maria, SIAKANTARIS, MARINA, VAYOPOULOS, GEORGE, Kollia, Panagoula, PANGALIS, GERASSIMOS, Viniou, Nora-Athina
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Epstein-Barr virus
• ISSN: 0250-7005; 1791-7530

Background: Following infection of B lymphocytes by Epstein Barr virus (EBV), the viral genome remains in the nucleus, and a latency phase is established, during which only a small proportion of the viral genes are expressed. Among them, LMP1 is essential for transformation. Rituximab is a potent agent used in the treatment of low grade B-cell lymphomas and is also widely used for the treatment of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders caused by EBV. The effect of rituximab treatment on the latent EBV infection in non-transplant patients with lymphoproliferative disorders has never been studied to our knowledge. Patients and Methods: We studied, the effect of rituximab-based immunochemotherapy on the EBV status of 44 patients with leukemic low grade B-cell lymphoma. Results: After three cycles of rituximab-based treatment, only 1/17 patients was still positive for EBV. Discussion: Our results suggest that rituximab used in the treatment of EBV-positive low-grade lymphoma is efficient in eradicating the virus from the peripheral blood, a fact with potential implications in the course and prognosis of the disease.