title: Anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies in chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The last decade has witnesd immense progress in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Chemoimmunotherapy (CIT) combining rituximab and fludarabine with cyclophosphamide (FCR) in the frontline setting has clearly been shown to improve outcomes in patients with CLL. Building on the success achieved with rituximab, other anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are being investigated. Novel bioengineering techniques have helped in the development of anti-CD20 mAbs. One antibody, ofatumumab, was recently approved for the treatment of refractory CLL. A type II anti-CD20 mAb, GA-101 (obinutuzumab), is currently in clinical trials. This short review focuses on ongoing clinical trials of anti-CD20 mAbs in CLL.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature search was performed using PubMed ( www.clinicaltrials.gov (till August 2012)), and recent American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American Society of Hematology (ASH), European Hematology association (EHA), International workshop on CLL (iwCLL) abstracts, using the primary search terms 'anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody' with/without CLL. Articles were chosen on the basis of relevance of anti-CD20 mAbs to CLL therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Rituximab, the prototype anti-CD20 mAb, forms the core of CIT in CLL. The success of rituximab and ofatumumab has led investigators to evaluate other anti-CD20 mAbs in the treatment of CLL.
authors.affiliation: Department of Leukemia, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas, USA.
authors.forename: Preetesh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Jain
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: O'Brien
mesh_terms: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D018951:Antigens, CD20 / Q000276:immunology*; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D006801:Humans; D015451:Leukemia, Lymphocytic, Chronic, B-Cell / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D018951:Antigens, CD20; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents