Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody (rituximab) for therapy of CD20-positive nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma in an 10-year-old girl.

Biologic treatments including antibody-based therapies are still in early-phase development in Hodgkin lymphoma. The authors present the case of a 10-year-old girl with massive, solid, unilateral cervical, nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. Chemotherapy (doxorubicin, bleomycin, vinblastine, and dacarbazine [ABVD]) and radiotherapy were given, according to the Italian Association of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology (AIEOP) MH-96 study protocol, but the patient failed to enter complete remission. Soon after, 6 intravenous infusions of the chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab 375 mg/m(2) were administered, resulting in complete remission. The patients is still in continuous complete remission for 2 years. Novel therapies, such as rituximab, may be useful for children with CD20(+) nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of CD20(+) nodular lymphocyte-predominant Hodgkin lymphoma treated with rituximab in children. Further controlled trials and long-term outcome studies are warranted to define its clinical application and to improve the care of patients.