What's happened in five years in CLL Research?

[Guest guest]

Here's an excerpt from the 2002 ASH education book (quite interesting

article, as a matter of fact).

The unfortunate thing is that the hopeful tone of the article and the

figure has not been borne out by subsequent events.

To my knowledge, none of these agents listed has been approved by the

FDA, (except for radioactive conjugates, which are really not used in

CLL) or even submitted for approval. And that's almost five years ago!

What's happened to this optimisitic tone???

http://www.asheducationbook.org/cgi/content/full/2002/1/193

Other antibodies that target CLL cells

Several other monoclonal antibodies are currently under clinical

evaluation in the treatment of CLL and low-grade NHL as outlined in

Table 10Go and likely will be explored soon in previously untreated

CLL.44

Hu1D10 is a humanized monoclonal antibody that targets a ß-chain

epitope of HLA-DR and appears to induce apoptosis via a novel pathway

as compared to other monoclonal antibodies. IDEC-152 is a primatized

monoclonal antibody that targets CD23 and appears to accentuate

apoptosis induced by rituximab in CLL. Epratuzumab targets CD22, an

antigen variably expressed on CLL. Finally studies using

radioimmunotherapy using Yttrium-90 Ibritumomab Tiuxetan as

consolidation therapy are currently underway at the M.D.

Cancer Center. Following Phase III testing of rituximab and CAMPATH-1H

combinations, studies with these naked and radio-conjugated antibodies

will likely be the next series of agents to be incorporated in Phase

III studies.

View this table:

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Table 10. Potential targets for the treatment of chronic

lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).