title: Monoclonal antibodies for the treatment of hematologic malignancies: schedule and maintenance therapy.
abstract: In the last decade rituximab, alemtuzumab, and gemtuzumab ozogamicin (GO) have been used to treat patients with hematologic malignancies. Their efficacy and safety are now well established. Since their preclinical development, many studies have been performed to optimize dose and schedule. Rituximab is usually given at 375 mg/m(2), a dose that shows activity and little toxicity. It is normally administered as single agent or in combination with chemotherapy to induce remission in B-cell neoplasias. Moreover, given its low toxicity and long half-life, rituximab also can be used as maintenance therapy. Alemtuzumab is administered with a schedule of 30 mg, three times per week, after an initial dose escalation in the first week, showing activity against chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) and some T-cell neoplasias. GO is administered at a dose of 9 mg/m(2) at 2-week intervals for two doses; it is the first monoclonal antibody approved for the treatment of relapsed or refractory CD33(+) acute myeloid leukemia (AML).
authors.affiliation: Oncology Institute of Southern Switzerland (IOSI), Ospedale San Giovanni, Bellinzona, Switzerland. Alden.Moccia@eoc.ch
authors.forename: Alden
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Moccia
authors.forename: Michele
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ghielmini
mesh_terms: D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D000617:Aminoglycosides / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D000079982:Gemtuzumab; D019337:Hematologic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab; D016879:Salvage Therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000617:Aminoglycosides; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000912:Antibodies, Neoplasm; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000074323:Alemtuzumab; D000069283:Rituximab; D000079982:Gemtuzumab