PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - El-Habbash, Manal M.
AU  - Alwindi, Abukris M.
TI  - Progress in immunotherapy Rituximab
DP  - 2007 Nov 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 1635--1644
VI  - 28
IP  - 11
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/28/11/1635.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/28/11/1635.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2007 Nov 01; 28
AB  - Rituximab is an anti-CD20 chimeric monoclonal antibody that has shown substantial activity. Since its discovery, rituximab has been used with great success in a variety of hematological malignancies. Its success in the management of aggressive lymphomas led to expansion of its use in other conditions such as stem cell transplantation, post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder, and other non-malignant conditions where B cell activation is thought to be important, such as idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura and rheumatoid arthritis. The side effects have been remarkably few, particularly, infection is not more common than with chemotherapy alone. This article reviews the structure, mechanism of action, and uses of rituximab as monotherapy or in combination with chemotherapy.