Experience of using rituximab for recurrent non-Hodgkin lymphoma in elderly patients of the Orel region

This article summarizes the results of 10 patients (6 men and 4 women) with recurrent non-Hodgkin lymphoma treating with using of rituximab. The diagnosis was confirmed by histological examination with immunohistochemistry. The average patient age was 61.1 years. All patients received from 6 to 8 chemotherapy courses and 8 rituximab injections, no one patient was withdrawn from therapy. Rituximab treatment in combination with chemotherapy was successful in 7 (70 %) of 10 patients. The major therapy response was a high frequency of CR — 40 %, slightly exceeding the rate of PR — 30 %. Rituximab has been used successfully in the treatment of elderly patients without additional toxicity, which makes it possible to use the drug on an outpatient basis.