RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Rituximab in the Treatment of EBV-positive Low Grade B-Cell Lymphoma JF Anticancer Research JO Anticancer Res FD International Institute of Anticancer Research SP 5693 OP 5698 VO 33 IS 12 A1 PANAGIOTIS T. DIAMANTOPOULOS A1 KATERINA POLONYFI A1 MARIA SOFOTASIOU A1 VASILIKI PAPADOPOULOU A1 FANI KALALA A1 THEODOROS ILIAKIS A1 KOSTANTINOS ZERVAKIS A1 GERASSIMOS TSILIMIDOS A1 PANAGIOTIS KOUZIS A1 MARIE-CHRISTINE KYRTSONIS A1 THEODOROS VASSILAKOPOULOS A1 MARIA ANGELOPOULOU A1 MARINA SIAKANTARIS A1 GEORGE VAYOPOULOS A1 PANAGOULA KOLLIA A1 GERASSIMOS PANGALIS A1 NORA-ATHINA VINIOU YR 2013 UL http://ar.iiarjournals.org/content/33/12/5693.abstract AB Background: Following infection of B lymphocytes by Epstein Barr virus (EBV), the viral genome remains in the nucleus, and a latency phase is established, during which only a small proportion of the viral genes are expressed. Among them, LMP1 is essential for transformation. Rituximab is a potent agent used in the treatment of low grade B-cell lymphomas and is also widely used for the treatment of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders caused by EBV. The effect of rituximab treatment on the latent EBV infection in non-transplant patients with lymphoproliferative disorders has never been studied to our knowledge. Patients and Methods: We studied, the effect of rituximab-based immunochemotherapy on the EBV status of 44 patients with leukemic low grade B-cell lymphoma. Results: After three cycles of rituximab-based treatment, only 1/17 patients was still positive for EBV. Discussion: Our results suggest that rituximab used in the treatment of EBV-positive low-grade lymphoma is efficient in eradicating the virus from the peripheral blood, a fact with potential implications in the course and prognosis of the disease.