title: A molecular perspective on rituximab: A monoclonal antibody for B cell non Hodgkin lymphoma and other affections.
abstract: Rituximab (a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody) is the first Food and Drug Administration approved anti-tumor antibody. Immunotherapy by rituximab, especially in combination-therapy, is a mainstay for a vast variety of B-cell malignancies therapy. Its therapeutic value is unquestionable, yet the mechanisms of action responsible for anti-tumor activity of rituximab and rituximab resistance mechanisms are not completely understood. Investigation of the mechanisms of action that contribute to the rituximab activity have eventually directed to a suite of novel combinations and novel treatment schedules, and also have resulted new generations of antibodies with more desired effects. Although, further investigations are needed to define the mechanisms of rituximab resistance and prominent effector activity of the altered next generation anti-CD20 to improve their efficacies and develop new anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies in NHL treatment. This article focuses on the properties of CD20 which led scientists to select it as an effective therapeutic target and the molecular details of mechanisms of rituximab action and resistance. We also discuss about the impact of rituximab in monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy regimens. Finally, we comparatively summarize the next generations of anti CD20 monoclonal antibodies to highlight their advantages relative to their ancestor: Rituximab.
authors.affiliation: Immunology Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. Electronic address: Narges.Seyfizadeh@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Narges
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seyfizadeh
authors.affiliation: Umbilical Cord Stem Cell Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran; Department of Clinical Biochemistry and Laboratories, Faculty of Medicine, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran.
authors.forename: Nayer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Seyfizadeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Haematology and Oncology, Georg-August-University Goettingen, Robert-Koch-Str. 40, 37099 Goettingen, Germany.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hasenkamp
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación en Enfermedades Oncológicas, Hospital Infantil de México, Federico Gómez, SSa, México.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Huerta-Yepez
mesh_terms: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D019008:Drug Resistance, Neoplasm / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000188:drug therapy*; D000069283:Rituximab / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014481:United States
chemical_list: D058846:Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D000069283:Rituximab
keywords: Immunotherapy; Monoclonal antibody; Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL); Rituximab