Yttrium-90 ibritumomab tiuxetan radioimmunotherapy in primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas: first results of a prospective, monocentre study

Abstract

Radioimmunotherapy with Yttrium-90 (90Y) ibritumomab tiuxetan (IT) has been shown to be effective in systemic B-cell lymphomas. We conducted a pilot study to evaluate the outcome and assess complications of 90Y IT therapy in patients with primary cutaneous B-cell lymphomas (PCBCL). Ten patients, all but one, with relapsed PCBCL were included and treated with rituximab (250 mg m−2/body surface) on days 1 and 8 followed by a single dose of 90Y IT (11–15 MBq kg−1). The overall response rate was 100%. The complete response rate was 100%. The median time to relapse was 12 months. Ongoing remissions were achieved in four patients (median follow-up 19 months). Transient and reversible myelosuppression (grade 3–4) was the most frequent adverse event. Radioimmunotherapy with 90Y IT is an effective treatment in relapsed primary cutaneous follicle centre lymphomas and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma leg-type. Further investigations in controlled randomised clinical trials evaluating the role of 90Y IT versus rituximab in PCBCL are needed.