Multimodality therapies and optimal schedule of antibodies: rituximab in lymphoma as an example.

Rituximab was the first humanized antibody widely used on patients, so research on its optimal use was a clinical challenge. Many studies have been performed to optimize its dose and schedule, and more are ongoing. The dose of 375 mg/m(2) has become standard, mainly because it shows activity and has little associated toxicity. The combination of rituximab with chemotherapy has been shown to prolong remission in all types of lymphomas, and in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma it can improve survival. As a single agent, particularly when the treatment is prolonged over several months, results are similar to chemotherapy but with fewer side effects. Finally, used as maintenance therapy it can prolong the duration of chemotherapy-obtained remissions. Based on available data, the administration of 375 mg/m(2) before each chemotherapy cycle can be recommended for first line treatment of patients with curable B-cell lymphomas and for patients with high-risk indolent lymphoma who are rituximab-naïve. Single-agent treatment at a prolonged schedule is recommended for cases of indolent disease not in need of urgent response and for patients who are unlikely to tolerate chemotherapy.