Overview of alemtuzumab therapy for the treatment of T-cell lymphomas.

Alemtuzumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody that recognizes the CD52 antigen expressed on malignant and normal B lymphocytes. It has come to be used therapeutically in B-cell malignancies and, in addition, it shows interesting activity also in T-cell lymphomas. Published literature and abstract proceedings were scanned, and a systematic review of phase II studies administering alemtuzumab in patients with T-cell lymphomas was performed. Alemtuzumab is an effective alternative option for patients with peripheral T-cell lymphomas and cutaneous T-cell lymphomas. Alemtuzumab may belong to the current standard of care for nodal and cutaneous T-cell lymphomas.