Treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with anti CD 20 monoclonal antibody Rituximab

Rituximab is a chimeric anti CD-20 monoclonal antibody containing human IgG1 kappa constant regions, with murine variable regions. The anti-lymphoma effects of Rituximab are probably due to complement and antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity, and induction of apoptosis. Phase II trials have demonstrated a strong activity of rituximab alone in indolent B non-Hodgkin lymphoma, especially in patients with follicular lymphoma. The most utilized dose-schedule is 375 mg/m(2) weekly x 4. The association with chemotherapy or with interferon-alpha increases Rituximab efficacy. More recently, Rituximab have showed activity also in diffuse large cell lymphoma, mantle cell lymphoma and in other B-malignancies. Good results have also been obtained utilizing Rituximab for in vivo purging. However, we are still far from having found a definite position for Rituximab in the treatment of lymphoproliferative disorders. The aim of future studies should be to develop new strategies that will hopefully produce the most effective Rituximab-based regimens in order to find the Rituximab key position in the treatment of B-malignancies (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.