CCL19, a B cell chemokine, is related to the decrease of blood memory B cells and predicts the clinical response to rituximab in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective: Migration of B cells from peripheral blood to the synovium in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) may predict clinical response to rituximab (RTX). We undertook this study to investigate whether serum levels of chemokines involved in B cell trafficking are correlated with blood levels of memory B cells or serum levels of B cell activation biomarkers before B cell depletion and whether chemokine levels predict RTX responsiveness.

Methods: Blood B cell subsets were analyzed by flow cytometry (CD27, IgD), and serum B cell activation biomarkers (rheumatoid factor, anti-cyclic citrullinated peptide, free light chains, IgG, IgA, IgM, and BAFF) were measured in 208 RA patients and 70 control subjects.

Evaluation of low-dose rituximab for the retreatment of patients with active rheumatoid arthritis: a non-inferiority randomised controlled trial.

Background: The licensed dose of rituximab in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is two doses of 1000 mg given 2 weeks apart. A lower dose has never been specifically studied in patients with an inadequate response to anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents.

Objective: To compare the efficacy and safety of rituximab repeat treatment with two doses (1000 mg×1 and 1000 mg×2) following initial treatment with 1000 mg×2.

A French national survey on infiltrating breast cancer: analysis of clinico-pathological features and treatment modalities in 1159 patients.

Background: Despite the approximate 42,000 yearly new cases of breast cancer in France, there have been very few exhaustive studies on the clinicopathological features and treatment options of this disease.

Methods: Thus, a prospective, non-selective, nationwide survey on infiltrating breast cancer (IBC) was conducted in France from September 2001 to April 2002, in order to assess the epidemiological features of newly diagnosed disease, the prognostic and predictive variables with a special emphasis on hormone receptors, and the current approaches to therapy in everyday clinical practice.

Results: In total, 1159 patients were evaluable (median age 57 years); two-thirds of women were postmenopausal and 38% had undergone hormonal replacement therapy (HRT).