Single-agent rituximab and ultra-low-dose adaptive radiotherapy for the treatment of indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas

TL;DR

This study shows that combining rituximab with ultra-low-dose radiation therapy effectively controls indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas with minimal side effects.

Contribution

The novel approach combines adaptive ultra-low-dose radiotherapy with rituximab for treating iNHLs, achieving high response rates and minimal toxicity.

Findings

90% overall response rate with 61% complete response in patients treated with rituximab and ULDRT.

2-year in-field and overall progression-free survival rates were 91% and 78%, respectively.

No patients experienced disease transformation or significant toxicity.

Abstract

For indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphomas (iNHLs), ultra-low-dose radiation therapy (ULDRT) with 4 Gy has demonstrated durable local control (70%), although distal relapses may occur. Concurrent systemic chemotherapy with radiation therapy (RT) extends progression-free survival (PFS) but is often avoided due to toxicity. We hypothesize that the combination of adaptive ULDRT, with repeat treatment as needed, and single-agent rituximab results in excellent local and systemic control with minimal toxicity.

We conducted an institutional review board (IRB)-approved retrospective review of patients with iNHLs (n=26) who were treated with both ULDRT and rituximab (four weekly doses of 375 mg/m2), either concurrently or within a short interval (median 16 days), at our institution from 2017 to 2024. Treatment response and disease control (local and distant) were measured by PET/CT. Overall survival (OS) and PFS were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE) v4 was used to record acute and long-term toxicities.

Overall response rate (ORR) at the first follow-up was 28/31 (90%), of which 19 sites (61%) achieved complete response (CR) and nine (26%) achieved partial response (PR). One (3%) patient had stable disease (SD). In our cohort, the 2-year in-field, out-of-field, and overall PFS rates were 91%, 78%, and 78%, respectively, and OS was 92%. No patient had disease transformation.

The combination of rituximab and ULDRT demonstrates sustained local and distant disease control with minimal side effects in iNHLs.

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