The role of rituximab in autologous and allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma

Elizabeth Naparstek*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

1 Scopus citations

Abstract

The addition of rituximab to chemotherapy has substantially changed the treatment strategies for patients with B-cell lymphomas. Rituximab, combined with standard chemotherapy regimens, shows consistently improved results compared with chemotherapy alone and has been extensively employed in both newly diagnosed and relapsed patients with B-cell lymphoma. Because of its low toxicity profile and its potent antilymphoma activity mediated through direct apoptotic and indirect effector mechanisms, rituximab also has been actively incorporated into stem cell transplantation (SCT) protocols to attain a state of minimal disease, provide a safe and effective method for in vivo purging prior to autologous SCT, and promote graft-versus-lymphoma effects in allogeneic SCT. This review compiles the still immature but rapidly growing data on this combined modality.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)220-229
Number of pages10
JournalCurrent Hematologic Malignancy Reports
Volume1
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 2006

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