Related Experiment Video

Updated: Aug 6, 2026

A Murine Ommaya Xenograft Model to Study Direct-Targeted Therapy of Leptomeningeal Disease
07:17

A Murine Ommaya Xenograft Model to Study Direct-Targeted Therapy of Leptomeningeal Disease

Published on: January 29, 2021

Rituximab therapy for CNS lymphomas: targeting the leptomeningeal compartment

James L Rubenstein1, Dan Combs, Jay Rosenberg

  • 1Division of Hematology/Oncology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cancer Research Institute, Department of Neurosurgery, UCSF, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA. jamesr@medicine.ucsf.edu

Blood
|October 24, 2002
PubMed

Insights

Direct intrathecal administration of rituximab showed no toxicity in monkeys, suggesting a potential new treatment for central nervous system lymphomas. Further studies will investigate its safety and pharmacokinetics in patients.

Area of Science:

  • Neuro-oncology
  • Pharmacology
  • Immunotherapy

Background:

  • Central nervous system (CNS) lymphomas are typically CD20-positive B-cell neoplasms.
  • Intravenous rituximab achieves low cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels (0.1% of serum), limiting its efficacy for CNS disease.
  • Lymphomatous meningitis is a common complication of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the safety and pharmacokinetics of direct intrathecal rituximab administration.
  • To determine the feasibility of intrathecal rituximab for CNS lymphoma treatment.

Main Methods:

  • Cynomolgus monkeys received direct intrathecal administration of rituximab.
  • Safety was assessed through observation for acute and delayed toxicity, including neurological effects.
  • Pharmacokinetics were analyzed by measuring drug clearance from CSF.

Main Results:

  • No significant acute or delayed toxicity, including neurological adverse events, was observed.
  • CSF drug clearance exhibited biphasic kinetics.
  • The terminal half-life of rituximab in CSF was determined to be 4.96 hours.

Conclusions:

  • Direct intrathecal administration of rituximab appears safe in a non-human primate model.
  • The pharmacokinetic profile supports further investigation in human clinical trials.
  • These findings provide a basis for a Phase 1 study of intrathecal rituximab in patients with recurrent lymphomatous meningitis.

More Related Videos

Intracranial Cannula Implantation for Serial Locoregional Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cell Infusions in Mice05:22

Intracranial Cannula Implantation for Serial Locoregional Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T Cell Infusions in Mice

Published on: February 24, 2023

Minimally Invasive Cisterna Magna Injection Model for Leptomeningeal Metastasis Studies in Mice07:14

Minimally Invasive Cisterna Magna Injection Model for Leptomeningeal Metastasis Studies in Mice

Published on: May 23, 2025

Related Concept Videos

Targeted Cancer Therapies02:57

Targeted Cancer Therapies

The targeted cancer therapies, also known as “molecular targeted therapies,” take advantage of the molecular and genetic differences between the cancer cells and the normal cells. It needs a thorough understanding of the cancer cells to develop drugs that can target specific molecular aspects that drive the growth, progression, and spread of cancer cells without affecting the growth and survival of other normal cells in the body.
There are several types of targeted therapies against specific...
Tumor Immunotherapy01:27

Tumor Immunotherapy

Immunotherapy is a treatment that boosts or manipulates the immune system to fight diseases, including cancer. For instance, by stimulating an immune response through vaccinations against viruses that cause cancers, like hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus, these diseases can be prevented. Nonetheless, some cancer cells can avoid the immune system due to their rapid mutation and division. The immune response to many cancers involves three phases: elimination, equilibrium, and escape.