Ten years of rituximab in NHL.

BACKGROUND

Rituximab, a chimeric mouse/human monoclonal antibody targeting the pan-B-cell antigenic marker CD20, was the first monoclonal antibody licensed for use in the treatment of cancer.

OBJECTIVE

This review focuses on the impact of rituximab in the treatment of patients with B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).

METHODS

Three key areas related to the use of rituximab in B-cell NHL are discussed: mechanism of action, clinical efficacy in both indolent and aggressive disease, and safety of its use as both monotherapy and in combination with chemotherapy.

RESULTS/CONCLUSIONS: Rituximab has demonstrated significant clinical efficacy in the treatment of NHL, particularly in combination with chemotherapy, and its use has revolutionized the treatment of both indolent and aggressive B-cell NHL over the past decade. Furthermore, consistent toxicity data have been obtained with a safe and tolerable profile in most patients.