title: Optimal application of antibodies in the treatment of follicular lymphoma: current standards and future strategies.
abstract: Advanced-stage follicular lymphoma has previously been described as an incurable disease. However, the introduction of monoclonal antibodies such as rituximab has considerably changed the management of the disease in the last decade with a significant subset of patients remaining in remission for a decade or longer. Rituximab, a CD20-targeting antibody, is approved for treatment both upfront and in the relapse setting. The most dramatic impact of this antibody is observed in combinations with conventional chemotherapy regimens. Encouraging results have also been reported from radiolabeled anti-CD20 antibodies. High response rates and durable remissions have been seen with both (90)Y-ibritumomab tiuxetan and (131)I-tositumomab. However, refractoriness to immunochemotherapy still remains a problem, especially in relapsed disease. Several novel targeted agents show encouraging activity in follicular lymphoma. This review will focus on current treatment strategies in this disease.
authors.affiliation: University Hospital Grosshadern, Department of Internal Medicine III, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, Munich, Germany.
authors.forename: Till
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Seiler
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hiddemann
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dreyling
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm; D004357:Drug Synergism; D006801:Humans; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology; D012074:Remission Induction; D000069283:Rituximab
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000069283:Rituximab; C422802:ibritumomab tiuxetan; C119496:tositumomab I-131