title: Monoclonal antibody therapy with rituximab for acute lymphoblastic leukemia.
abstract: Significant advances have been achieved in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with the incorporation of targeted therapy agents. Targeting leukemia surface antigens with monoclonal antibodies is another promising strategy. This article comprehensively reviews available data regarding the use of rituximab for the treatment of Burkitt-type leukemia/lymphoma and CD20-positive precursor B-cell ALL. The incorporation of rituximab into frontline chemotherapy regimens for Burkitt-type leukemia/lymphoma appears to improve outcome. Preliminary data regarding the use of rituximab in frontline therapy for CD20- positive precursor B-cell ALL suggest its use may also be beneficial, particularly for the younger subsets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Leukemia, University of Texas M D Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd, Unit 428, Houston, TX 77030, USA. debthomas@mdanderson.org
authors.forename: Deborah A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Brien
authors.forename: Hagop M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kantarjian
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab