Drug Formulary information is intended for use by healthcare professionals. It is not intended to be medical advice. Some of the information, including information about funding for cancer drugs, does not apply to all patients. Cancer treatment plans are unique to each patient. If you are a patient, please speak with your healthcare team to understand how this information applies to you.
RITU(MNT-SC)
Regimen is considered appropriate as part of the standard care of patients; meaningfully improves outcomes (survival, quality of life), tolerability or costs compared to alternatives (recommended by the Disease Site Team and national consensus body e.g. pan-Canadian Oncology Drug Review, pCODR). Recommendation is based on an appropriately conducted phase III clinical trial relevant to the Canadian context OR (where phase III trials are not feasible) an appropriately sized phase II trial. Regimens where one or more drugs are not approved by Health Canada for any indication will be identified under Rationale and Use.
Single agent maintenance therapy of patients with indolent histology, CD20 positive B-cell lymphomas (excluding small lymphocytic lymphoma, CLL), who have responded to induction treatment with combination chemotherapy and/or rituximab. To be considered for NDFP funding, patients must be rituximab naïve prior to induction therapy for indolent histology lymphoma.
riTUXimab (subcut)
New Drug Funding Program
(Rituximab (Biosimilar IV) and Rituximab SC - Maintenance Treatment - Lymphoma)
Note: Different rituximab products are NOT INTERCHANGEABLE.
Rituximab (subcutaneous) can only be given if the patient has previously received at least one full rituximab IV dose.
| riTUXimab (subcut) | 1400 mg | Subcut | Day 1 |
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Maintenance rituximab should be started within 8 weeks of completion of the induction regimen (2015 Hematology disease site group guidelines). Funded by NDFP if maintenance rituximab is started within 6 months of the last dose of induction therapy. |
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If patient responds to induction therapy:
EVERY 3 MONTHS*
For maximum two years (8 doses total, including any maintenance doses given as IV), unless disease progression or unacceptable toxicity
*Refer to Hematology disease site group guideline
Minimal (infusion-related events)
Other Supportive Care:
- Screen for hepatitis B virus in all cancer patients starting systemic treatment. Refer to the hepatitis B virus screening and management guideline.
- If high volume disease, consider steroids and prophylaxis for tumour lysis.
Pre-medication (prophylaxis for infusion reactions)
Administer at least 30 minutes prior to subcut rituximab:
- Oral antipyretic (e.g. acetaminophen)
- H1-receptor antagonist (e.g. diphenhydramine)
- Corticosteroid (e.g. methylprednisolone 80 mg IV) in patients with high bulk disease or pulmonary involvement if no corticosteroids are already being given as part of the chemotherapy regimen.
- In patients who experienced adverse effects with pre-medications, the omission of pre-medications can be considered.
Also refer to the CCO guideline for detailed description of Management of Cancer Medication-Related Infusion Reactions.
See premedication and monitoring sections for supportive care, screening and monitoring recommendations.
Doses should be modified according to the protocol by which the patient is being treated.
Dosage with toxicity
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Toxicity
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Rituximab Dose* / Rate
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Myelosuppression
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No adjustment required.
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Severe administration-related or pulmonary
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Other grade 3 toxicity
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Delay treatment until ≤ grade 2
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Discontinue
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*Missed or delayed doses may be administered at a later time point, based on physician’s discretion. |
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Hepatic Impairment
No adjustment required; stop if evidence of hepatitis.
Renal Impairment
No adjustment required.
Dosage in the Elderly
No dose adjustment required. Exercise caution as older patients are more likely to experience serious adverse events (including cardiac, pulmonary, or other grade 3/4 toxicity).
Refer to riTUXimab (subcut) drug monograph(s) for additional details of adverse effects.
The incidences below were those reported for rituximab IV, unless the subcutaneous formulation (marked with an asterisk, *) was associated with a relevant difference in incidence.
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Common (25-49%) |
Less common (10-24%) |
Uncommon (< 10%), but may be severe or life-threatening |
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Refer to riTUXimab (subcut) drug monograph(s) for additional details. Interactions with subcutaneous rituximab have not been formally studied. The following are based on interactions with rituximab IV.
- Consider withholding antihypertensive medication 12 hours prior to and during rituximab administration.
Refer to riTUXimab (subcut) drug monograph(s) for additional details.
Note: Different rituximab products are NOT INTERCHANGEABLE.
Rituximab IV and subcutaneous formulations are not interchangeable. The dosing and concentrations of these products are different.
Refer to Safety Considerations for the Implementation of Subcutaneous Rituximab Formulation.
Administration:
- Rituximab should be administered in a setting where full resuscitation facilities are immediately available, and under the close supervision of someone experienced and capable of dealing with severe drug-related reactions.
- Do not self-administer rituximab subcut.
- Rituximab subcut is given subcutaneously into the abdominal wall only. Do not give in areas where the skin is red, tender, hard, bruised, or where there are moles or scars.
- Give subcutaneously over approximately 5 minutes
- Observe for at least 15 minutes after administration.
- If there are other subcutaneous medications, they should be given at separate sites.
- Compatible with polypropylene or polycarbonate syringes.
- Keep vials refrigerated in the outer carton; do not freeze. Protect from light.
Also refer to the CCO guideline for detailed description of Management of Cancer Medication-Related Infusion Reactions.
Contraindications:
- Patients with known hypersensitivity and anaphylactic reactions to proteins of similar mouse or human origin, to Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cell proteins or to any component of this product.
- Patients who have or have had PML, have active and/or severe infections, active hepatitis B, or severely immunocompromised (e.g. AIDS patients with very low CD4 or CD8 counts).
- Avoid the use of live vaccines.
Warnings / Precautions:
- Exercise caution in patients with a history of recurring or chronic infections or with underlying conditions which may further predispose patients to serious infection. Patients may have increased risk of infection following rituximab treatment.
- Prior to starting rituximab in HBV seropositive patients, consultation with a liver disease expert is recommended to determine ongoing monitoring of HBV reactivation and its management.
- Exercise caution in patients with neutrophil counts < 1.5 x 109/L and/or platelets < 75 x 109/L due to limited experience in this patient group.
- Use with extreme caution in patients with pre-existing cardiovascular disease or in patients with high tumour burden. Consider steroids ± slow IIV infusions or infusions split over 2 days for patients with bulky disease or > 25 x 109/L circulating malignant cells.
- Use with caution in patients with pulmonary insufficiency or lung tumour infiltration, and in patients with myelosuppression.
- Reduced immunogenicity may occur with use of inactivated vaccines.
Pregnancy/lactation
- This regimen is not recommended for use in pregnancy. Adequate contraception should be used by patients and their partners while on treatment and after the last treatment dose. Recommended methods and duration of contraception may differ depending on the treatment. Refer to the drug monograph(s) for more information.
- Breastfeeding is not recommended during this treatment and after the last treatment dose. Refer to the drug monograph(s) for recommendations after the last treatment dose (if available).
- Fertility effects: Unknown
Treating physicians may decide to monitor more or less frequently for individual patients but should always consider recommendations from the product monograph.
Refer to the hepatitis B virus screening and management guideline for monitoring during and after treatment.
Recommended Clinical Monitoring
- CBC; baseline and at each visit
- LFTs; baseline and at each visit
- Renal functions tests; baseline and at each visit
- Administration-related and hypersensitivity reactions; During and for at least 15 minutes after each injection, longer in patients at higher risk of hypersensitivity reactions.
- Clinical assessment of tumour lysis syndrome, infection (including viral, opportunistic), bleeding, GI, pulmonary, skin, CNS, cardiovascular side effects; At each visit
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Grade toxicity using the current NCI-CTCAE (Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events) version
Suggested Clinical Monitoring
- Monitor closely for cardiovascular symptoms for patients who have cardiac conditions or recurrent cardiac events with rituximab
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Davies A, Merli F, Mihaljević B, et al. Efficacy and safety of subcutaneous rituximab versus intravenous rituximab for first-line treatment of follicular lymphoma (SABRINA): a randomised, open-label, phase 3 trial. Lancet Haematol 2017 Jun;4(6):e272-e282.
Forstpointner R, Unterhalt M, Dreyling M, et al. Maintenance therapy with rituximab leads to a significant prolongation of response duration after salvage therapy with a combination of rituximab, fludarabine, cyclophosphamide, and mitoxantrone (R-FCM) in patients with recurring and refractory follicular and mantle cell lymphomas: results of a prospective randomized study of the German Low Grade Lymphoma Study Group (GLSG). Blood. 2006;108:4003-8.
Panizo C, Bekadja MA, Meddeb B, et al. Safety of subcutaneous administration of rituximab during the first-line treatment of patients with non-Hodgkin lymphoma: the MabRella study. Haematologica. 2017;102(s2):1–882. (P640)
Salles G, Seymour JF, Offner F, et al. Rituximab maintenance for 2 years in patients with high tumour burden follicular lymphoma responding to rituximab plus chemotherapy (PRIMA): a phase 3, randomised controlled trial. Lancet 2011;377(9759):42-51.
van Oers MH, Van Glabbeke M, Giurgea L, et al. Rituximab maintenance treatment of relapsed/resistant follicular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: long-term outcome of the EORTC 20981 phase III randomized intergroup study. J Clin Oncol 2010;28(17):2853-8.
Rituximab (subcut) drug monograph, Cancer Care Ontario.
November 2023 Modified Pregnancy/breastfeeding section
Regimen Abstracts
A Regimen Abstract is an abbreviated version of a Regimen Monograph and contains only top level information on usage, dosing, schedule, cycle length and special notes (if available). It is intended for healthcare providers and is to be used for informational purposes only. It is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for medical advice, and all uses of the Regimen Abstract are subject to clinical judgment. Such information is provided on an “as-is” basis, without any representation, warranty, or condition, whether express, or implied, statutory or otherwise, as to the information’s quality, accuracy, currency, completeness, or reliability, and Cancer Care Ontario disclaims all liability for the use of this information, and for any claims, actions, demands or suits that arise from such use.
Information in regimen abstracts is accurate to the extent of the ST-QBP regimen master listings, and has not undergone the full review process of a regimen monograph. Full regimen monographs will be published for each ST-QBP regimen as they are developed.
Regimen Monographs
Refer to the New Drug Funding Program or Ontario Public Drug Programs websites for the most up-to-date public funding information.
The information set out in the drug monographs, regimen monographs, appendices and symptom management information (for health professionals) contained in the Drug Formulary (the "Formulary") is intended for healthcare providers and is to be used for informational purposes only. The information is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, drug interactions or adverse effects of a particular drug, nor should it be construed to indicate that use of a particular drug is safe, appropriate or effective for a given condition. The information in the Formulary is not intended to constitute or be a substitute for medical advice and should not be relied upon in any such regard. All uses of the Formulary are subject to clinical judgment and actual prescribing patterns may not follow the information provided in the Formulary.
The format and content of the drug monographs, regimen monographs, appendices and symptom management information contained in the Formulary will change as they are reviewed and revised on a periodic basis. The date of last revision will be visible on each page of the monograph and regimen. Since standards of usage are constantly evolving, it is advised that the Formulary not be used as the sole source of information. It is strongly recommended that original references or product monograph be consulted prior to using a chemotherapy regimen for the first time.
Some Formulary documents, such as the medication information sheets, regimen information sheets and symptom management information (for patients), are intended for patients. Patients should always consult with their healthcare provider if they have questions regarding any information set out in the Formulary documents.
While care has been taken in the preparation of the information contained in the Formulary, such information is provided on an “as-is” basis, without any representation, warranty, or condition, whether express, or implied, statutory or otherwise, as to the information’s quality, accuracy, currency, completeness, or reliability.
CCO and the Formulary’s content providers shall have no liability, whether direct, indirect, consequential, contingent, special, or incidental, related to or arising from the information in the Formulary or its use thereof, whether based on breach of contract or tort (including negligence), and even if advised of the possibility thereof. Anyone using the information in the Formulary does so at his or her own risk, and by using such information, agrees to indemnify CCO and its content providers from any and all liability, loss, damages, costs and expenses (including legal fees and expenses) arising from such person’s use of the information in the Formulary.