The Role of Rituximab in the Treatment of Primary Central Nervous System Lymphoma

Simple Summary Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare form of cancer and the treatment of newly diagnosed patients is challenging. Many chemotherapy regimens are being used, and methotrexate is an important component in most. The role of the immunotherapy rituximab is not as clear. This review focuses on the available evidence for the use of this monoclonal antibody in the treatment of patients with PCNSL. Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a type of non-Hodgkin lymphoma limited to the central nervous system. It has a poor prognosis. Consensus has been reached on the treatment of newly diagnosed patients with high-dose methotrexate-based chemotherapy, but whether the addition of the monoclonal anti-CD20 antibody rituximab improves survival, as it does in systemic B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma, remains disputed. In this review, we reflect on the available evidence of the use of rituximab in PCNSL. Whether rituximab has any beneficial effect remains uncertain.

Automated summary

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare type of cancer limited to the central nervous system, with poor prognosis. The use of high-dose methotrexate-based chemotherapy is agreed upon for newly diagnosed patients, but the addition of rituximab for improving survival remains disputed. The available evidence of rituximab's effectiveness in PCNSL is still uncertain.