Gan to kagaku ryoho. Cancer & chemotherapy
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Gan To Kagaku Ryoho · Mar 2002
Review[Rituximab, a chimeric anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, in the treatment of B-cell lymphoma].
In September 2001, rituximab, a chimeric mouse-human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, was approved for the treatment of B-cell lymphoma by the Japanese government. Rituximab is the first monoclonal antibody that was approved for the treatment of malignant neoplasms by the U. S. ⋯ Several clinical trials of rituximab conducted in USA, Europe and Japan revealed its promising therapeutic efficacy for B-cell lymphoma. Its minimal myelotoxicity allows rituximab to be combined with full doses of anticancer agents. Ongoing clinical trials will define the future role of rituximab in the treatment of B-cell lymphoma.