RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Progress in immunotherapy Rituximab
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 1635
OP 1644
VO 28
IS 11
A1 El-Habbash, Manal M.
A1 Alwindi, Abukris M.
YR 2007
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/28/11/1635.abstract
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.