| Abstract: | Background: Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and multiple myeloma are often incurable and respond to a limited set of treatment options. The selective expression of CD74, the invariant chain of the MHC class II molecule, in these malignancies provides an attractive target for antibody-based therapy. Objective: This review evaluates the preclinical data for milatuzumab, a humanized antibody targeting CD74, as a treatment for non-Hodgkin's lymphomas and multiple myeloma. Methods: A review of the literature was carried out using PubMed. Current Phase I protocols using milatuzumab are summarized. Results/conclusion: Milatuzumab is cytotoxic to lymphoma and multiple myeloma cell lines and mouse–human xenografts. The efficacy dramatically increases when milatuzumab is attached to a toxin or a radioactive agent. Phase I trials of milatuzumab are now underway in human subjects with lymphoma and multiple myeloma. |
