Radiobiology of radioimmunotherapy: targeting CD20 B-cell antigen in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Author(s): Hernandez MC, Knox SJ

Affiliation(s): Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University Medical Center, 269 Campus Drive West, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.

Publication date & source: 2004-08-01, Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys., 59(5):1274-87.

Publication type: Review

The radiobiology of radioimmunotherapy is an important determinant of both the toxicity and the efficacy associated with the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with radiolabeled anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies. The properties of the target, CD20, and the mechanisms of action of both the monoclonal antibodies and the associated exponentially decreasing low-dose-rate radiotherapy are described. The radiation dose and dose-rate effects are discussed and related to both the tumor responses and normal organ toxicity. Finally, the use of either unlabeled or radiolabeled anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies as a component of combined modality therapy (including the sequential or concurrent use of sensitizers) and future directions of the field are discussed.