1. ¹Department of Medicine, Center for Lymphoma and Myeloma, Weill Medical College of Cornell University and New York Presbyterian Hospital, New York, NY, USA
2. ²Garden State Cancer Center, Center for Molecular Medicine and Immunology, Belleville, NJ, USA
3. ³Immunomedics, Inc., Morris Plains, NJ, USA

Correspondence: Dr JP Leonard, Center for Lymphoma and Myeloma, Weill Medical College of Cornell University and New York Presbyterian Hospital, Starr Bldg, Room 340, 520 East 70th Street, New York, NY 10021, USA. E-mail: jpleonar@med.cornell.edu

Abstract

The vast majority of non-Hodgkin's lymphomas are of B-cell phenotype. Development of unlabeled or radiolabeled therapeutic monoclonal antibodies against the cell surface antigen, CD20, has revolutionized the treatment of these malignancies. It is clear that antibodies targeting other B-cell-specific molecules, such as CD22, also offer potential therapeutic benefit. Epratuzumab is a humanized anti-CD22 monoclonal, which has undergone preclinical and phase I/II clinical evaluation in patients with indolent or aggressive lymphoma. Data suggest that this agent is well tolerated, and can induce tumor regressions. Trials are currently evaluating its safety and activity in combination with rituximab (chimeric anti-CD20) and standard chemotherapy are ongoing. Initial results suggest that these regimens have acceptable toxicity, and that epratuzumab warrants further evaluation as an adjunct to standard lymphoma treatment regimens.