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Evaluation of CD20-Positive B Cells in Libyan Lymphoma Patients Following Rituximab Treatment
Eman Eshawesh1, Salah Altabal1, Mohamed Elbasir1
1Libyan Biotechnology Research Center, Department of Human Cells and Tissues. Tripoli, Libya.
Objective:
To monitor the depletion of CD20-positive B cells in Libyan lymphoma patients treated with Rituximab using flow cytometry.
Methods:
Peripheral blood samples were collected from 25 newly diagnosed Libyan patients with histologically confirmed CD20+ B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, receiving Rituximab at the Oncology Departments of Tripoli Medical Center and the National Cancer Institute, Sabratha. Patients received intravenous Rituximab (375 mg/m²) combined with CHOP chemotherapy monthly for up to seven months, except one patient treated weekly for six weeks. Flow cytometry using CD19 and CD20 markers was performed on blood samples collected monthly or weekly post-infusion, employing BD TruCOUNT™ tubes and the Lyse No Wash method for accurate quantification of B cells.
Results:
Of the 25 patients, 24 (96%) showed complete depletion of CD19+ and CD20+ B cells by the seventh month of Rituximab treatment. Three out of five patients assessed at two months had complete depletion, while two showed a gradual decline. One patient (4%) remained resistant, with B cell counts exceeding 100 cells/μL up to the seventh month. Weekly monitoring in a single patient showed full B cell depletion by week four. Rituximab had no effect on CD3+ T cells, confirming its specificity.
Conclusion:
This study presents flow cytometry-based assessment of Rituximab efficacy in Libyan B cell lymphoma patients, providing novel population-specific data.
