Impaired booster-induced SARS-CoV-2 antibody responses in rituximab-treated B-cell lymphoma patients despite peripheral B-Cell Recovery

Jurca, Tomaž (avtor), Boltežar, Lučka (avtor), Oražem, Miha (avtor), Fujs Komloš, Kristina (avtor), Pohar, Katka (avtor), Jevnikar, Sara (avtor), Poljak, Mario (avtor), Mlakar-Mastnak, Denis (avtor), Rotovnik-Kozjek, Nada (avtor), Vratanar, Bor (avtor), Ocvirk, Janja (avtor), Ihan, Alojz (avtor)

Rituximab-treated patients with B-cell lymphoma exhibit profound B-cell depletion and impaired vaccine-induced antibody responses. However, it remains uncertain whether recovery of peripheral B-cell counts after rituximab is sufficient to restore effective humoral immunity following booster vaccination. Patients and methods In this prospective, single-center observational study at the Institute of Oncology Ljubljana, adult B-cell lymphoma patients treated with or previously exposed to rituximab received the Comirnaty® mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Antibody responses to the SARS-CoV-2 spike and nucleoprotein were measured at baseline, 14 days after the second dose, and at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months. A third dose was administered at 6 months. T-cell responses (IFN-γ release) were assessed in patients before and after the primary series and booster dose. Lymphocyte subsets were analysed pre-vaccination. Adverse events and nutritional status were monitored. Results Patients undergoing anti-CD20 therapy showed absent antibody responses. Longer intervals since rituximab correlated with peripheral B-cell repopulation. However, even after reaching normal B-cell counts, patients’ antibody responses after revaccination remained significantly lower than in controls. Conclusions Rituximab is associated with impaired vaccine-induced antibody responses. Despite recovery of peripheral B-cell counts, patients with B-cell lymphoma show reduced humoral responses compared with healthy individuals following booster COVID-19 vaccination.

• Jezik: Angleški jezik
• Ključne besede: lymphoma, B-cell, rituximab, COVID-19 vaccines
• Vrsta gradiva: Članek v reviji
• Tipologija: 1.01 - Izvirni znanstveni članek
• Organizacija: MF - Medicinska fakulteta
• Status publikacije: Objavljeno
• Različica publikacije: Objavljena publikacija
• Leto izida: 2026
• Št. strani: Str. 76-85
• Številčenje: Vol. 60, no. 1
• PID: 20.500.12556/RUL-185261
• UDK: 616-006
• ISSN pri članku: 1318-2099
• COBISS.SI-ID: 276354563
• Datum objave v RUL: 30.07.2026

Gradivo je del revije

• Naslov: Radiology and oncology
• Skrajšan naslov: Radiol. oncol.
• Založnik: Association of Radiology and Oncology
• ISSN: 1318-2099
• COBISS.SI-ID: 32649472

Licence

• Licenca: CC BY 4.0, Creative Commons Priznanje avtorstva 4.0 Mednarodna
• Povezava: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.sl
• Opis: To je standardna licenca Creative Commons, ki daje uporabnikom največ možnosti za nadaljnjo uporabo dela, pri čemer morajo navesti avtorja.

Sekundarni jezik

• Jezik: Slovenski jezik
• Ključne besede: limfom, B-celični limfom, rituksimab, cepljenje proti covid-19

Projekti

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P3-0083
• Naslov: Odnosi parazitskega obstajanja

• Financer: ARIS - Javna agencija za znanstvenoraziskovalno in inovacijsko dejavnost Republike Slovenije
• Številka projekta: P3-0321
• Naslov: Napovedni dejavniki poteka bolezni in odgovora na zdravljenje pri različnih vrstah raka