title: Obinutuzumab  for the treatment of lymphoproliferative disorders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Targeted therapy against CD20 with the mAb rituximab has led to significant improvements in survival for patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Despite these improvements, many patients relapse and/or become refractory after rituximab-containing therapies and thus better therapies are required for NHL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Obinutuzumab is a novel, humanized, anti-CD20 mAb currently being investigated in Phase III studies in comparison to rituximab. An overview of obinutuzumab, its mechanisms of action and the results of pre-clinical and Phase I/II studies are presented.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Pre-clinical studies suggest that obinutuzumab is a more potent anti-CD20 mAb than Rituximab at inducing antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and direct cell death (DCD). Obinutuzumab is safe and effective in CD20 + NHL and further study is warranted. Results of ongoing Phase III clinical trials comparing Obinutuzumab to Rituximab in different disease settings and with different chemotherapy regimens are eagerly awaited.
authors.affiliation: Tom Baker Cancer Centre & University of Calgary, 1331-29th St NW, Calgary, Alberta, Canada.
authors.forename: Carolyn
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: Douglas A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Stewart
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology*; D017326:Clinical Trials, Phase III as Topic; D004353:Drug Evaluation, Preclinical; D006801:Humans; D008232:Lymphoproliferative Disorders / Q000276:immunology / Q000628:therapy*
chemical_list: D061067:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized; D018951:Antigens, CD20