HealthTree Foundation for Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia, rituximab Treatment Details

rituximab (Riabni, Rituxan, Ruxience, Truxima)

Monoclonal Antibodies

How it is administered

Rituximab is given as an intravenous (IV) infusion, meaning it is slowly injected into a vein by a healthcare professional. The dose and schedule depend on the specific condition being treated, your body size, and whether it is used alone or with other chemotherapy medicines. For blood cancers, such as certain lymphomas and leukemias, rituximab is often given in cycles, sometimes in combination with other chemotherapy drugs. The first infusion is usually given more slowly to monitor for any reactions, and subsequent infusions may be given more quickly if tolerated well.

There is also a subcutaneous (under the skin) form of rituximab (rituximab and hyaluronidase), but this is only used after at least one full IV dose has been given safely.

How it works

Rituximab is a type of medicine called a monoclonal antibody. It is designed to target a specific protein called CD20, which is found on the surface of certain white blood cells known as B lymphocytes (B cells). These B cells can become cancerous in diseases like lymphomas, leukemias, and Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia.

When rituximab attaches to the CD20 protein on these cells, it marks them for destruction by your immune system. This process helps reduce the number of abnormal B cells in your body, which can slow or stop the progression of the disease. Rituximab can also reduce the number of normal B cells, which may affect your immune system temporarily, but most people recover their normal B cell levels within a year after treatment ends.

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Common side effects

Infusion-related reactions (fever, chills, nausea, rash, low blood pressure, breathing problems)
Infections (including serious or fatal infections)
Low white blood cell counts (neutropenia, lymphopenia)
Low red blood cell count (anemia)
Low platelet count (thrombocytopenia)
Nausea
Fatigue
Headache
Cough
Muscle or joint pain
Increased risk of hepatitis B reactivation

Serious but less common side effects include severe skin reactions, heart problems, kidney problems, and bowel obstruction or perforation. Always report any unusual symptoms to your healthcare provider.

Who Should take it

Rituximab is used to treat several types of blood cancers, including non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, and can be used off-label for Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia. It may be given alone or in combination with other chemotherapy medicines, depending on the type and stage of the cancer.

For Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia, rituximab is often considered when the disease is causing symptoms or when there is evidence of disease progression. Your doctor will determine if rituximab is appropriate for you based on your overall health, the specifics of your disease, and any previous treatments you have received.

Who should not take it

Rituximab should not be used in patients who have had a severe allergic reaction to rituximab or any of its components. It is also not recommended for people with severe, active infections, as rituximab can further weaken the immune system.

Before starting rituximab, patients should be screened for hepatitis B infection, as the medication can cause the virus to reactivate, sometimes leading to serious liver problems. Rituximab should be used with caution in people with heart problems, a history of severe infections, or those who are pregnant or breastfeeding. Always discuss your full medical history with your healthcare provider before starting rituximab.

Get solutions for side effects from rituximab

Our community-based side effects solutions tool tells you what other patients have tried that has helped aliviate these side effects.

HealthTree Cure Hub is an app for blood cancer patients where you can:

Find your next treatment

Explore clinical trials you can join

Find solutions for side effects

Help advance research

Find your Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia “twins"

Track your disease, and spot out-of-range values in your labs

Commonly used with

Rituximab is often used in combination with other chemotherapy drugs, such as cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone (CVP), doxorubicin (as in CHOP), fludarabine, and bendamustine. The combination depends on the specific type of blood cancer being treated.

For Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia, rituximab may be combined with chemotherapy agents like cyclophosphamide or bendamustine, or with targeted therapies, depending on your treatment plan.

Commonly tested with

Rituximab has been studied in combination with various chemotherapy regimens, including CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, prednisone), CVP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone), and FC (fludarabine, cyclophosphamide). It is also tested with other targeted therapies in clinical trials for blood cancers.

For Waldenström's Macroglobulinemia, clinical studies have evaluated rituximab both as a single agent and in combination with other drugs to determine the most effective treatment strategies.

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