Radioimmunotherapy for disseminated lymphoma

James S. Welsh, Christine Berta
From: Science & Medicine: Volume 8 Number 5: Page 246 (October 2002)

Abstract: Most patients with low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma present with advanced-stage disease that is not considered curable by current treatment approaches, including chemotherapy. Radioimmunotherapy uses radioisotopes conjugated to monoclonal antibodies directed against tumor cell antigens. The antibody seeks out tumor cells at disseminated sites, where the radioisotope provides short-range ionizing radiation over a period of hours to days to achieve tumor cell apoptosis. Through the "crossfire" effect, radiation is also able to eradicate nearby tumor cells that do not bear the target antigen. Encouraging results have been reported from recent clinical trials using several radioimmunoconjugates.

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