Immunotherapy for Low-Grade Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma of the Orbit

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To report five patients with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the orbit whose disease responded to immunotherapy with rituximab and Zevalin^TM (yttrium-90 ibritumomab tiuxetan), monoclonal antibodies against CD20. Methods: Between October 99 and May 2001, five patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the orbit were treated with monoclonal antibodies against CD20. Three patients received rituximab, and two received rituximab followed by yttrium-90 ibritumomab tiuxetan. Patient age, sex, the stage and histologic classification, and immunophenotype of lymphoma were recorded in each case. For each patient, clinical records and imaging studies were reviewed to establish the diagnosis and document response. Follow-up time ranged from 12 months to 28 months (mean, 20.5 months) after completion of immunotherapy. Results: All five patients experienced resolution of the orbital tumor in response to treatment with monoclonal antibodies against CD20. There were no serious systemic or ocular side effects during the study period. Conclusions: Monoclonal antibody therapy with rituximab or rituximab and yttrium-90 ibritumomab tiuxetan should be considered as an alternative treatment modality for low-grade B-cell follicular non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the orbit.

Keywords: oncology • tumors • orbit