Emerging role of CD20 blockade in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation.

Abstract

There is growing evidence incriminating B lymphocytes in the pathogenesis of graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). Better understanding of the role of B lymphocytes has uncovered new therapeutic approaches, such as CD20 blockade, which appear to be improving outcomes in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant recipients. Administration of the chimeric murine/human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody, rituximab, prior to hematopoietic cell allografting or as part of preparative regimens appears to reduce treatment-related mortality and to improve posttransplant outcomes mainly by decreasing the incidence and severity of acute GVHD. This beneficial effect of rituximab has not had an impact, to the same extent on the incidence of chronic GVHD, which remains a significant cause of morbidity and mortality following hematopoietic cell allografting. Alternatively, rituximab has been shown to be effective for treatment of cGVHD, but data is limited because of the lack of randomized controlled clinical trials and the small sample size in most of the published series. Incorporation of rituximab into the therapeutic armamentarium of Epstein-Barr virus-associated posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder has clearly improved the overall prognosis of this dreadful disease. This review highlights the evolving role of CD20 blockade in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation and the need to continue to refine B cell depletion strategies in this setting.

• Authors: Mohamed A Kharfan-Dabaja, Ali Bazarbachi
• Journal: Biology of blood and marrow transplantation : journal of the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (Biol Blood Marrow Transplant) Vol. 16 Issue 10 Pg. 1347-54 (Oct 2010) ISSN: 1523-6536 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 20083213 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Review)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2010 American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Chemical References

• Adrenal Cortex Hormones
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived
• Antigens, CD20
• Immunosuppressive Agents
• Rituximab

Topics

• Acute Disease
• Adrenal Cortex Hormones (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Antibodies, Monoclonal, Murine-Derived (administration & dosage, therapeutic use)
• Antigens, CD20 (immunology)
• B-Lymphocytes (drug effects, immunology)
• Chronic Disease
• Drug Resistance
• Drug Therapy, Combination
• Graft vs Host Disease (drug therapy, epidemiology, immunology, prevention & control)
• Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
• Humans
• Immunosuppressive Agents (therapeutic use)
• Incidence
• Lymphocyte Depletion
• Lymphoproliferative Disorders (drug therapy, etiology, immunology)
• Postoperative Complications (drug therapy, etiology, immunology)
• Premedication
• Rituximab
• Transplantation, Homologous (immunology)