New strategies in radioimmunotherapy for lymphoma.
Treatment options for patients with indolent non-Hodgkin's lymphoma historically involved radiation or chemotherapy. Although initial response rates are excellent, treatment is increasingly less effective with each successive relapse. The advent of immunotherapy heralds a new era for the treatment of these patients. Radioimmunotherapy adds the benefits of cytotoxic radiation to immunotherapy and represents a significant addition to the treatment armamentarium. Various antigens for lymphoma have been targeted, of which anti-CD20 antibodies are the furthest in development. Ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin; IDEC Pharmaceuticals, San Diego, CA), a (90)yttrium-labeled agent, and (131)iodine-labeled tositumomab (Bexxar; Corixa, Seattle, WA) are approved by the US Food and Drug Administration. Both agents have shown utility in therapy for relapsed and refractory low-grade and transformed lymphomas. This review highlights features of radioimmunotherapy that are relevant to non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, focusing on the two anti-CD20 antibodies.
Pandit-Taskar
Neeta
N
Department of Radiology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10021, USA. pandit-n@mskcc.org
Hamlin
Paul A
PA
Reyes
Susan
S
Larson
Steven M
SM
Divgi
Chaitanya R
CR
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D000075202:Contraindications; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D011874:Radiometry; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D015021:Yttrium Radioisotopes; C422802:ibritumomab tiuxetan; C119496:tositumomab I-131