Intralesional and systemic rituximab in the treatment of primary cutaneous B‐cell lymphoma

Abstract Background Primary cutaneous B‐cell lymphoma (PCBCL) is a group of B‐cell lymphomas of the skin containing primary cutaneous follicle centre lymphoma (PCFCL) and marginal zone B‐cell lymphoma/lymphoproliferative disorder (PCMZL), which are indolent, and diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma, leg type (PCDLBCL‐LT), which is aggressive. Objectives To evaluate treatment outcomes between PCBCL subtypes after treatment with rituximab and to compare the efficacy of intralesional against systemic rituximab in indolent subtypes. Methods A search for patients diagnosed with PCBCL and treated with rituximab (systemic or intralesional) across all Mayo Clinic sites was performed, yielding 39 patients. Results Eight patients had PCFCL (six treated intralesionally and two systemically), 11 had PCMZL (four intralesional, eight systemic with one dual‐treated) and 20 had PCDLBCL‐LT (all systemic). The average age at diagnosis was 62.1 years (SD = 15.1), with average follow‐up of 1852.6 days (SD = 1473.2). 69.2% of all patients treated with any form of rituximab experienced a complete response (100% PCFCL, 81.8% PCMZL and 50% PCDLBCL‐LT). When comparing all three subtypes, a significant difference was seen in overall treatment response ( p = 0.022), and progressive disease rates ( p = 0.015), but not in retreatment with rituximab ( p = 0.440), time to retreatment ( p = 0.757), recurrence ( p = 0.907) or survival ( p = 0.093). In the indolent subtypes, no difference in overall treatment response ( p = 1.000), progressive disease rates ( p = 1.000), recurrence ( p = 0.650), rituximab retreatment ( p = 0.650) or time to retreatment ( p = 0.724) was observed. Conclusions This study suggests that rituximab, as systemic therapy and intralesional therapy, is effective in the management of PCBCL, and that intralesional therapy should be considered before more aggressive therapy in indolent disease.