MONOCLONAL-ANTIBODIES IN THE TREATMENT OF NON-HODGKINS-LYMPHOMA - RECENT RESULTS AND FUTURE-PROSPECTS

The availability of monoclonal antibodies with well-defined specificit ies to lymphoma-associated antigens promises to open new therapeutic o pportunities in the treatment of patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Monoclonal antibodies against lineage-specific surface markers such a s CD19, CD20 or CD22 have been generated and employed in native or mod ified forms in clinical phase I/II trials. Modified versions such as t oxin-conjugated antibodies or antibodies with dual specificities (bisp ecific antibodies) were introduced to enhance the cytotoxicity of mono clonal antibodies since native antibodies were not able to induce long -lasting remissions in patients with advanced disease although respons es were seen and side-effects were usually mild. Future efforts should concentrate on patients with minimal residual disease employing genet ically engineered antibody fragments.