Rituximab therapy in malignant lymphoma.
Rituximab is the first monoclonal antibody to have been registered for the treatment of B-cell lymphomas. Randomized studies have demonstrated its activity in follicular lymphoma (FL), mantle cell lymphoma and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) in untreated or relapsing patients. Non-comparative studies have shown an activity in all other lymphomas. Because of its high activity and low toxicity ratio, rituximab has transformed the outcome of patients with B-cell lymphoma. A combination of rituximab plus chemotherapy, rituximab+cyclophosphamide+doxorubicin+vincristine+prednisolone (R-CHOP), has the highest efficacy ever described with any chemotherapy in DLBCL and FL. Some patients are refractory to rituximab but the precise mechanisms of this refractoriness are not understood.
Coiffier
B
B
Hematology Department, Hospices Civils de Lyon and Claude Bernard University, Pierre-Benite, France. bertrand.coiffier@chu-lyon.fr
D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000187:drug effects; D004361:Drug Tolerance; D064420:Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008223:Lymphoma / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D000069283:Rituximab
D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000069283:Rituximab