PURPOSE: Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM) is a low-grade lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma in which ... more PURPOSE: Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM) is a low-grade lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma in which CD20 is usually expressed on tumor cells. There is evidence that patients with WM may benefit from treatment with the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab. We performed a prospective phase II study to clearly define the activity of rituximab in patients with this disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with WM were treated with rituximab 375 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) for 4 weeks. Three months after completion of rituximab, patients without evidence of progressive disease received repeat 4-week courses of this agent. All patients were symptomatic, their median age was 72 years, and 15 patients were previously untreated. RESULTS: Twelve patients (44%; 95% confidence interval, 25.5% to 64.7%) achieved a partial response after treatment with rituximab. Median time to response was 3.3 months (range, 2.2 to 7.1 months). Responses occurred in six (40%) of 15 previously untreated ...
Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology / ESMO, 2001
Thalidomide is effective in approximately 30% of patients with refractory multiple myeloma. Dexam... more Thalidomide is effective in approximately 30% of patients with refractory multiple myeloma. Dexamethasone is active in 25% of patients with disease resistant to alkylating agents. We investigated the combination of thalidomide with dexamethasone as salvage treatment for heavily pretreated patients with multiple myeloma, in order to assess its efficacy and toxicity. Forty-four patients with refractory myeloma were treated with thalidomide, 200 mg p.o. daily at bedtime, with dose escalation to 400 mg after 14 days, and dexamethasone, which was administered intermittently at a dose of 20 mg/m2 p.o. daily for four days on day 1-4, 9-12, 17-20, followed by monthly dexamethasone for four days. Patients' median age was 67 years. All patients were resistant to standard chemotherapy, 77% were resistant to dexamethasone-based regimens and 32% had previously received high-dose therapy. On an intention-to-treat basis twenty-four patients (55%) achieved a partial response with a median time ...
PURPOSE: Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM) is a low-grade lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma in which ... more PURPOSE: Waldenström’s macroglobulinemia (WM) is a low-grade lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma in which CD20 is usually expressed on tumor cells. There is evidence that patients with WM may benefit from treatment with the anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab. We performed a prospective phase II study to clearly define the activity of rituximab in patients with this disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with WM were treated with rituximab 375 mg/m2 intravenously (IV) for 4 weeks. Three months after completion of rituximab, patients without evidence of progressive disease received repeat 4-week courses of this agent. All patients were symptomatic, their median age was 72 years, and 15 patients were previously untreated. RESULTS: Twelve patients (44%; 95% confidence interval, 25.5% to 64.7%) achieved a partial response after treatment with rituximab. Median time to response was 3.3 months (range, 2.2 to 7.1 months). Responses occurred in six (40%) of 15 previously untreated ...
Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology / ESMO, 2001
Thalidomide is effective in approximately 30% of patients with refractory multiple myeloma. Dexam... more Thalidomide is effective in approximately 30% of patients with refractory multiple myeloma. Dexamethasone is active in 25% of patients with disease resistant to alkylating agents. We investigated the combination of thalidomide with dexamethasone as salvage treatment for heavily pretreated patients with multiple myeloma, in order to assess its efficacy and toxicity. Forty-four patients with refractory myeloma were treated with thalidomide, 200 mg p.o. daily at bedtime, with dose escalation to 400 mg after 14 days, and dexamethasone, which was administered intermittently at a dose of 20 mg/m2 p.o. daily for four days on day 1-4, 9-12, 17-20, followed by monthly dexamethasone for four days. Patients' median age was 67 years. All patients were resistant to standard chemotherapy, 77% were resistant to dexamethasone-based regimens and 32% had previously received high-dose therapy. On an intention-to-treat basis twenty-four patients (55%) achieved a partial response with a median time ...
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Papers by O. Economou