title: Molecular engineering to improve antibodies' anti-lymphoma activity.
abstract: The human/mouse chimeric CD20 antibody rituximab has significantly improved the survival of lymphoma patients. However, translational research into pharmacology and effector mechanisms of rituximab has identified several limitations of this prototypic antibody. For example, humanized or fully human next-generation antibodies demonstrated reduced immunogenicity, which may translate into improved applicability in certain patient populations. Furthermore, novel technologies of antibody engineering offer the potential to tailor antibody effector functions. Here, glyco- or protein engineering of antibodies' Fc region has demonstrated promising activity in preclinical models. However, these novel molecules are still in early phases of clinical development, and data from on-going and future studies will determine whether promising preclinical results will indeed translate into improved drugs for the treatment of lymphoma patients.
authors.affiliation: Division for Stem Cell Transplantation and Immunotherapy, Department of Medicine II, Christian-Albrechts-University, Schittenhelmstr 12, 24105 Kiel, Germany. m.peipp@med2.uni-kiel.de
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Peipp
authors.forename: Jan G J
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: van de Winkel
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Valerius
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000737:chemistry / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology*; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000187:drug effects; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007111:Immunity, Cellular; D056724:Immunity, Humoral; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000235:genetics / Q000494:pharmacology; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008224:Lymphoma, Follicular / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D051379:Mice; D023421:Models, Animal; D009154:Mutation; D011323:Primates; D000069283:Rituximab; D013045:Species Specificity
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D007141:Immunoglobulin Fc Fragments; D007132:Immunoglobulin Isotypes; D000069283:Rituximab