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  • Letter to the Editor
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Reply to ‘Rituximab activity in CD20-positive multiple myeloma’

Leukemia volume 22, page 1083 (2008)Cite this article

We agree with Bergua et al.1 on the possible superior efficacy of combination therapy treatment with rituximab and chemotherapy in CD20-positive multiple myeloma, with respect to rituximab alone, due to its synergism with many cytotoxic drugs. Nevertheless, the intention of our case report2 was to highlight a possible role of subsequent immunotherapy after debulking with chemotherapy to reduce the residual disease. Of note, a strict follow-up in our patient showed the disease recurrence (10% of bone marrow monoclonal plasma cells) again, 6 months after rituximab interruption. We believe that optimal timing of anti-CD20 treatment in this subset of myeloma patients has still to be determined with a possible role for maintenance therapy.

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References

  1. Bergua JM, Cabrera C, Gomez Arteta E, Prieto J . Reply to Rituximab in CD20 positive multiple myeloma. Leukemia 2008; e-pub ahead of print 1 November 2007.

  2. Gozzetti A, Fabbri A, Lazzi S, Bocchia M, Lauria F . Reply to ‘Rituximab in CD20 positive multiple myeloma’. Leukemia 2007; 21: 1842–1843.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medicine and Immunological Sciences, Division of Hematology and Transplants, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    A Gozzetti, A Fabbri, M Bocchia & F Lauria

  2. Department of Human Pathology and Oncology, University of Siena, Siena, Italy

    S Lazzi

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  1. A Gozzetti
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  2. A Fabbri
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  3. S Lazzi
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  4. M Bocchia
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  5. F Lauria
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Correspondence to A Gozzetti.

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Gozzetti, A., Fabbri, A., Lazzi, S. et al. Reply to ‘Rituximab activity in CD20-positive multiple myeloma’. Leukemia 22, 1083 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.leu.2405011

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