Monoclonal Antibodies in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia

Monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs) play a pivotal role in the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). Rituximab, a MoAb against CD20, was initially used as a single agent in the treatment of CLL before being incorporated into newer combination regimens. Integration of rituximab into chemotherapy regimens has led to an improvement in the response rate and overall survival when used in frontline therapy. Despite this, CLL remains an incurable disease, and treatment of relapsed CLL, particularly after failure of purine analog-based regimens, remains challenging. Technological advances relating to development of chimeric and humanized MoAbs are supporting the role of antibody-based regimens for many diseases, including CLL. Currently, MoAbs represent an integral component of CLL therapy. The antitumor efficacy of many therapeutic MoAbs can be potentially improved upon by their use in combination with new targeted therapy agents.