Long-term treatment with rituximab is feasible in selected patients with B-CLL: Response-adjusted low-dose maintenance treatment with rituximab in patients with relapsed B-CLL, who achieved a partial or minimal response to prior rituximab therapy

The feasibility and efficacy of flexible, response-adjusted rituximab maintenance therapy in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia ( B-CLL) was investigated in 12 patients with an at least minor response to four weekly cycles of 375 mg/m(2) of rituximab induction therapy. Rituximab maintenance therapy consisted of infusions of 100 mg rituximab every 4 weeks. If disease progression occurred, either the rituximab dose was increased or the time between infusions was shortened. Treatment-related side effects led to discontinuation of rituximab maintenance therapy in three cases. Maintenance therapy was successfully conducted for >= 6 months in seven cases; three of these individuals have been on maintenance therapy for 41 year to 3.5 years so far. Long-term toxicity, as determined based on hematological and immunological parameters, was mild.