CAMPATH (alemtuzumab) for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and beyond |
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| Affiliation: | 1. Department of Medicine, Pathobiology Graduate Program, Hematology Division, Oncology, the Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine,Baltimore, MD, USA &2. Linda MS Resar Department of Medicine, Pathobiology Graduate Program, Hematology Division, Oncology, the Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine,Baltimore, MD, USAlresar@jhmi.edu |
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| Abstract: | CAMPATH® (CAMPATH-1H, alemtuzumab, MabCAMPATH), is a lymphocyte-depleting humanized monoclonal antibody that was recently approved in the USA and Europe for the treatment of chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL). It targets CD52 – a small glycosylphosphatidylinositol-anchored glycoprotein that is highly expressed on normal T- and B-lymphocytes and on a large proportion of lymphoid cell malignancies – but not on hematopoietic progenitor cells. CAMPATH was shown to be effective against CLL refractory to chemotherapy with an acceptable toxicity profile. CAMPATH is also active against T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia and has been extensively used to prevent graft-versus-host disease associated with bone marrow transplantation. CAMPATH is owned by ILEX Pharmaceuticals LP and distributed by Schering AG and its US affiliate Berlex Laboratories. |
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| Keywords: | antibody-dependent-cellular cytotoxicity apoptosis bone marrow transplantation CAMPATH (alemtuzumab MabCAMPATH) CD52 antigen chronic lymphocytic leukemia complement-dependent cytolysis first-dose reaction fludarabine immunosuppression lymphoid malignancies lymphopenia monoclonal antibody non-Hodgkin lymphoma rituximab T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia |
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