Milatuzumab: a promising new agent for the treatment of lymphoid malignancies.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma are often incurable and respond to a limited set of treatment options. The selective expression of CD74, the invariant chain of the MHC class II molecule, in these malignancies provides an attractive target for antibody-based therapy.

OBJECTIVE:

This review evaluates the preclinical data for milatuzumab, a humanized antibody targeting CD74, as a treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and multiple myeloma.

METHODS:

A review of the literature was carried out using PubMed. Current Phase I protocols using milatuzumab are summarized.

RESULTS/CONCLUSION:

Milatuzumab is cytotoxic to lymphoma and multiple myeloma cell lines and mouse-human xenografts. The efficacy dramatically increases when milatuzumab is attached to a toxin or a radioactive agent. Phase I trials of milatuzumab are now underway in human subjects with lymphoma and multiple myeloma.

• Authors: Tomer Mark, Peter Martin, John P Leonard, Ruben Niesvizky
• Journal: Expert opinion on investigational drugs (Expert Opin Investig Drugs) Vol. 18 Issue 1 Pg. 99-104 (Jan 2009) ISSN: 1744-7658 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 19053886 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)

Chemical References

• Antibodies, Monoclonal
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte
• Histocompatibility Antigens Class II
• invariant chain
• milatuzumab

Topics

• Animals
• Antibodies, Monoclonal (adverse effects, immunology, pharmacokinetics, therapeutic use)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Humanized
• Antigens, Differentiation, B-Lymphocyte (immunology)
• Clinical Trials as Topic
• Drug Evaluation, Preclinical
• Histocompatibility Antigens Class II (immunology)
• Humans
• Immunotherapy
• Lymphoma (drug therapy, immunology)