Rituximab

Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody that binds CD20 on B cells, depleting them. It is used to treat certain B-cell cancers and autoimmune diseases.

CD20: CD20 is a protein expressed on most mature B cells and targeted by several therapeutic antibodies. Rituximab binds this surface protein to identify B cells for depletion.
Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma: Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is an aggressive cancer of mature B lymphocytes. Rituximab is commonly combined with chemotherapy to treat this lymphoma.
Lee Nadler: Lee Nadler is an American physician and researcher who helped develop antibody-based treatments for lymphoma. His early work targeting B-cell antigens helped lay groundwork for rituximab.
Obinutuzumab: Obinutuzumab is a glycoengineered anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody used to treat selected B-cell cancers and autoimmune conditions. It is a later anti-CD20 antibody with altered immune-effector activity.
Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity: Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity is immune-cell killing triggered when antibodies coat a target cell. It is one mechanism by which rituximab-coated B cells are killed.
Follicular lymphoma: Follicular lymphoma is an indolent B-cell non-Hodgkin lymphoma arising from germinal-center B cells. Rituximab is used alone or with other therapies in this cancer.
Ronald Levy: Ronald Levy is an American physician-scientist known for pioneering monoclonal-antibody treatment of lymphoma. His research helped establish the clinical strategy that led to rituximab.
Ofatumumab: Ofatumumab is a fully human monoclonal antibody that binds CD20 and is used in B-cell disorders. Its fully human structure and CD20-binding properties distinguish it from chimeric rituximab.
Complement-dependent cytotoxicity: Complement-dependent cytotoxicity is cell damage caused when antibody binding activates the complement cascade. Rituximab can recruit complement to damage CD20-positive cells.
Chronic lymphocytic leukemia: Chronic lymphocytic leukemia is a cancer involving clonal mature B lymphocytes in blood and lymphoid tissues. Rituximab has been used in combination regimens for this B-cell malignancy.

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