@article {8077,
	title = {Extended rituximab therapy for previously untreated patients with Waldenstr{\"o}m{\textquoteright}s macroglubulinemia},
	journal = {Clinical Lymphoma},
	volume = {3},
	year = {2002},
	note = {Cited By :48Export Date: 21 February 2017},
	month = {2002},
	pages = {163 - 166},
	abstract = {Waldenstr{\"o}m{\textquoteright}s macroglobulinemia is a low-grade lymphoplasmacytoid lymphoma characterized by CD20 expression on malignant cells. Several studies have indicated that the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab has activity against this disease. Thus, we performed a prospective study in which 17 previously untreated patients with symptomatic macroglobulinemia were treated with rituximab 375 mg/m2 intravenously for 4 weeks. Three months after completion of rituximab, patients without evidence of progressive disease received repeat 4-week courses of this agent. Six patients (35\%) achieved a partial response after extended treatment with rituximab. Median time to response was 3 months. The median time to progression (TTP) for all patients was 13 months. One of 6 responding patients has progressed at 10 months, while the other 5 patients remain progression free with a follow-up range of \&gt; 22-40 months. Eight patients (47\%) were rated as stable disease, and their median TTP was 9 months. Treatment with rituximab was well tolerated and was not associated with myelosuppression; one third of the patients experienced infusion-related toxicity, usually fever and chills of mild degree. Our prospective trial of extended rituximab therapy for previously untreated patients with Waldenstr{\"o}m{\textquoteright}s macroglobulinemia indicates that this agent is active, well tolerated, and might be associated with a long period without the need for further treatment. Studies that will combine rituximab with chemotherapy or with other monoclonal antibodies might be of interest.},
	keywords = {CD20, hyperviscosity, monoclonal antibody, Paraproteinemia, rituximab},
	url = {https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-0036954114\&partnerID=40\&md5=04f7f639d99a3f11fb508ab80cd0efbb},
	author = {Dimopoulos, M.A. and Zervas, C. and Zomas, A. and Hamilos, G. and Gika, D. and Efstathiou, E. and Panayiotidis, P. and Vervessou, E. and Anagnostopoulos, N. and Christakis, J.}
}
