Impressive and durable response in a case of multiple relapsed mantle cell lymphoma treated with bortezomib and rituximab

Relapsed mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) usually represents a hard challenge, especially after the failure of high-dose therapy or in elderly patients, and although new agents have been investigated, responses are often short and a significant proportion of patients finally die from progressive disease. Here, we report a case of a relapsed MCL patient that achieved durable response with bortezomib and rituximab. Treatment regimen consisted of bortezomib 1.6 mg/m(2) and rituximab 375 mg/m2 intravenously on days 1-8-15-22 for the 1st course, followed by 2 courses of bortezomib with the same schedule. After the third course, patients in CR, PR or SD received other 3 courses. The patient achieved a CR, but because of the high risk of relapse we started a 4-week maintenance therapy with rituximab and bortezomib for 4 courses administered at six month interval. After a follow-up of 62 months, the patient maintained CR. We suggest rituximab plus bortezomib could play an important role in the treatment of patients with relapsed/refractory MCL. Maintenance therapy could be an interesting option, especially for patients with a high relapse risk rate.