Intralesional rituximab for lymphoma – pro
Rituximab is not only a systemic drug, but it also can be used intralesionally. Typically, it is used for indolent and slow growing lymphomas that are localized to one place. most often skin. Intralesional administration of this drug has increased local disease control in cases of cutaneous mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma. Ferreri and co-workers (2011) evaluated the tolerability and activity of the intralesional administration of rituximab in patients with conjunctival B-cell lymphoma. A recent review by Peate et al found that Intravenous rituximab is a safe and effective option for the treatment of systemic non-Hodgkin B-cell lymphoma. This was the largest case series thus far. However, the effectiveness of intralesional rituximab (ILR) in primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (PCBL) has been described in a small number of patients.
Unfortunately, however, no prospective trials had been performed and there are no guidelines that recommend this therapy.
IY. Peate et al, Intralesional rituximab in the treatment of indolent primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas: an epidemiological observational multicentre study. The Spanish Working Group on Cutaneous Lymphoma British Journal of Dermatology Volume 167, Issue 1, pages 174179, July 2012
Ferreri AJ, Govi S, Colucci A, et al. Intralesional rituximab: A new therapeutic approach for patients with conjunctival lymphomas. Ophthalmology. 2011;118(1):24-28.
Jason J. Emer, MD; Claire Wolinsky, BS, Rituximab: A Review of Dermatological Applications
JCAD Online http://www.jcadonline.com/rituximab-a-review-of-dermatological-applications/