Editorial Perspective—Advances in B-Cell Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma

Abstract

Radioimmunotherapy (RIT) represents an exciting new therapeutic option for the treatment of B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), emerging at a time when significant advances have been made in NHL classification, molecular genetics and treatment. Despite recent treatment advances, including the use of fludarabine phosphate-based combination chemotherapies, able to eradicate minimal residual disease, there remains much room for improvement. The incorporation of RIT into treatment schedules is an attractive option to exploit the extreme sensitivity of lymphoma cells to irradiation. In this supplement, we examine the potential future roles for RIT in the light of past and present therapies, existing RIT clinical data and the unique attributes of radiolabeled monoclonal antibodies.

• Radioimmunotherapy (RIT)
• NHL
• 90Y-Ibritumomab tiuxetan (Zevalin™)
• 131I-Tositumomab (Bexxar®)