Rituximab in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma – a critical evaluation of randomized controlled trials

Abstract

In conclusion this paper has critically evaluated the use of rituximab in the treatment mainly of DLBCL, FL and MCL both at diagnosis and relapsed disease, and briefly discuses its use in other subtypes of lymphoma. Rituximab has significantly improved the outcome of patients with B cell NHL, in particular those with DLBCL and FL. Patients usually tolerate the treatment well, and studies have shown it to be a cost effective treatment.

Targeting B-cell neoplasia with T-cell receptors recognizing a CD20-derived peptide on patient-specific HLA

“…Anti-CD20 antibodies are now part of the standard treatment of B-cell lymphomas and have dramatically improved the prognosis of these diseases, although the treatment is not curative when used as single agent. [1][2][3] By engrafting fusion proteins conferring the specificity of anti-CD19 antibodies combined with T-cell activation domains onto T cells (CARs), it is possible to obtain complete remission in patients with several types of B-cell malignancies who are resistant to standard treatment. [4][5][6][7][8][9][10] However, the benefit appears to come at the cost of profound depletion of normal B cells.…”

KIR/HLA Interactions Negatively Affect Rituximab- but Not GA101 (Obinutuzumab)-Induced Antibody-Dependent Cellular Cytotoxicity

“…Introduced in 1997, the chimeric Ab rituximab is the standard of care in the treatment of these malignancies and remains the reference molecule against which novel Abs are compared. The success of rituximab is based on its efficacy to induce remission in both low-grade and high-grade lymphomas, either as a single agent and/or in combination with cytotoxic chemotherapy (3). However, significant portions of patients do not respond to, or relapse after, rituximab treatment, which has led to the development of novel CD20 Abs.…”

Høydosebehandling med autolog stamcellestøtte ved lymfom i Norge 1987 – 2008

“…This may be attributed in part to the fact that primary treatment for several lymphoma types has substantially improved in the past 10 -15 years, which is reflected in the Cancer Registry of Norway's survival figures for lymphoma (5). The main reason for this is most likely the introduction of rituximab (anti-CD20 antibody), which has resulted in fewer and later relapses of all types of B-cell lymphomas (6). The primary treatment of Burkitt's lymphoma over these 25 years has improved greatly, so that these patients now seldom need HDT (7).…”