title: [Rituximab in the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma].
abstract: Rituximab, a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, has become a part of standard treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma in the last several years. Depleting CD20+ cells by various mechanisms, it is active as a single agent and particularly when combined with chemotherapy. It is effective in "in vivo" elimination of neoplastic cells from the hematopoetic stem cell transplant. Side-effects are mostly infusion related, mild to moderate, mediated by cytokine release. Because of different mechanisms of action, adding rituximab to chemotherapy does not cause additional toxicity. Combination of rituximab and chemotherapy improves response rates in indolent lymphomas and survival in aggressive lymphomas.
authors.affiliation: Zavod za hematologiju, Klinika za unutarnje bolesti, Medicinski fakultet i Klinicki bolnicki centar, Zagreb.
authors.forename: Zdravko
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Mitrović
authors.forename: Igor
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Aurer
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D016393:Lymphoma, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab