CD20-targeted therapy: the next generation of antibodies.

Tom van Meerten, Anton Hagenbeek

Department of Hematology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands.

Seminars in hematology 2010 Apr

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Targeting the CD20 antigen on B lymphocytes with the monoclonal antibody (MoAb) rituximab has greatly improved the outcome of patients with B-cell malignancies. Despite the success of rituximab, resistance occurs in about half of the patients, resulting in non-response to treatment or early relapse with the original disease. A better understanding of the mechanism of rituximab resistance has led to the development of novel, improved anti-CD20 anti bodies. This review describes the development of CD20-targeted therapy from its historical background towards the next generation of anti-CD20 MoAbs and explains new strategies to overcome resistance.