Ofatumumab for newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory CLL

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BlankOfatumumab for newly diagnosed and relapsed/refractory chronic lymphocytic

leukemia.

JL Reagan and JJ Castillo

Expert Rev Anticancer Ther, February 1, 2011; 11(2): 151-60.

The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Division of Hematology and

Oncology, The Miriam Hospital, Providence, RI 02906, USA.

Monoclonal antibodies have become an increasingly utilized treatment option for

many hematological malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

Ofatumumab is a second-generation fully human anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody that

binds to the small extracellular loop of CD20, thereby producing

complement-dependent cell lysis and antibody-mediated cell cytotoxicity in cells

expressing CD20. Ofatumumab has shown efficacy in the treatment for relapsed or

refractory CLL. This success has resulted in the recent US FDA approval of

ofatumumab for the treatment of CLL in patients who are refractory to

fludarabine and alemtuzumab-based regimens. Major side effects of ofatumumab

include infusion reactions, neutropenia and increased risk for infection. This

article provides an overview of the current data supporting the use of

ofatumumab for CLL and projects the future role of ofatumumab as monotherapy and

combination therapy.

PMID: 21342032